SENATOR SEEKS TO EXTEND STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IN SEX ASSAULTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                   Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Contact: Senator Lou D’Allesandro

(603) 271-2600

SENATOR SEEKS TO EXTEND STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IN SEX ASSAULTS

CONCORD – Senator Lou D’Allesandro (D-Manchester) testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee this week in favor of a bill to give childhood victims of sexual abuse more time to file civil suits against their abusers.

Senate Bill 311, sponsored by D’Allesandro, would extend the statute of limitations to 22 years for civil actions based on sexual assault cases where the victim was under age 18. It has the support of more than a dozen organizations in the state that serve children, including the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, Seacare Health Services, Girls Inc. and the New Hampshire Board of Pediatricians.

“Sexual assault is difficult to talk about and victims, particularly children, often believe they were complicit in the acts perpetrated against them,” D’Allesandro said. “It takes a great deal of support and strength for survivors to come forward. It often takes years.”

The current statute of limitations is only seven years.

“We do not expect flood gates of litigation to open as a result of this legislation,” D’Allesandro said, ‘”but the few it will help will benefit greatly. We are asking that offenders of childhood sexual abuse pay for the damage they have caused.”

D’Allesandro noted that the state of Delaware lifted its statute of limitations for lawsuits based on sexual abuse claims – granting victims, particularly those who suffered abuse by clergy, a two-year period through July of 2009 to seek damages regardless of when the abuse occurred.

Senate co-sponsors of Senate Bill 311 are Sen. Sheila Roberge (R-Bedford) and Sen. David Gottesman (D-Nashua).