Opinion ID: 2394870
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Commencing the Action Within the Statute of Limitations

Text: This brings into play Missouri's rule for determining whether a lawsuit is timely filed when a petition is filed before the date upon which the statute of limitations is scheduled to run but service of process is not made until after that date. The statute of limitations is written in terms of when an action can be commenced. [2] Rule 53.01 provides that [a] civil action is commenced by filing a petition with the court. We held in Ostermueller v. Potter, 868 S.W.2d 110 (Mo. banc 1993), that an action is commenced when filed regardless of whether service is obtained. In Ostermueller , the action was filed within the statute of limitations but service was not obtained and the action was dismissed for failure to prosecute. It was refiled after the statute of limitations had run but within the one year period within which a dismissed action may be re-filed under section 516.230. Prior Missouri cases have held that commencing the action within the statute of limitations is dependent on the plaintiff exercising due diligence in attempting to serve the defendant. Watson v. E.W. Bliss, 704 S.W.2d 667 (Mo. banc 1986). The Court in Ostermueller pointed to the fact that Rule 53.01 had been amended to eliminate the requirement of suing out of process; it only requires the filing of a petition with the court to commence the action. Ostermueller , therefore, eliminates the requirement that the plaintiff exercise due diligence in serving process on the defendant. Thus, once the plaintiff's First Amended Petition adding the manufacturer was filed, the requirements of the statute of limitations were met.