Opinion ID: 1203209
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Rejection of the Nullum Tempus Doctrine

Text: At least one jurisdiction has rejected the nullum tempus doctrine as applied to both the state and its agencies, based on its relationship to sovereign immunity. New Jersey Educ. Facilities Auth. v. Gruzen Partnership, 125 N.J. 66, 592 A.2d 559 (1991). [8] The New Jersey Supreme Court rejected the doctrine after finding that nullum tempus is but an aspect of sovereign immunity ... [and] the doctrine of sovereign or governmental immunity, in the areas of the State's tort and contract liability, does not accord with notions of fundamental justice applicable to our elected representative form of government. Id. 592 A.2d at 561. The New Jersey Supreme Court noted that, after [h]aving yielded the greatest aspect of sovereign immunity, immunity from any suit at all, it would be anomalous in the extreme not to conclude that the sovereign who can now be sued should not have to bring its own in a timely manner. Id. [9]