Simple English definitions for legal terms
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A statute of repose is a law that prevents someone from making a claim against another person or entity after a certain amount of time has passed, even if the person has not yet been harmed. This time period starts from the date of the action taken by the defendant, and is usually more favorable to the defendant than a statute of limitations.
Definition: A law that prevents claims from being made against a defendant after a certain period of time has passed, even if the plaintiff has not yet been injured. This time period starts from the date of the defendant's action, and is generally more favorable to defendants than a statute of limitations.
One example of a statute of repose is in the construction industry. In some states, there is a statute of repose that prevents claims from being made against a contractor or architect after a certain number of years have passed since the construction was completed, regardless of whether or not any injuries or damages have occurred.
Another example is in product liability cases. Some states have a statute of repose that prevents claims from being made against a manufacturer after a certain number of years have passed since the product was sold, even if the product has not yet caused any harm.
These examples illustrate how a statute of repose can limit a plaintiff's ability to bring a claim against a defendant, even if the defendant's actions may have caused harm in the future. This can be beneficial for defendants, as it provides them with a certain level of protection from potential lawsuits that may arise years after their actions have taken place.