Opinion ID: 4518190
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: analysis

Text: STCA Statute of Limitations Not Met It is undisputed that Saylor’s May 30, 2017, lawsuit was filed more than 6 months after his claim was denied by the State Claims Board on October 19, 2012, and thus, the lawsuit was filed outside the statute of limitations set forth in § 81-8,227(1). Before the district court, and again in the appellate briefing, the parties focused their arguments primarily on whether Saylor could satisfy the requirements of the savings clause in § 25-201.01. But at oral argument, the defendants below argued for the first time that there is no circumstance under which the savings clause of § 25-201.01 could apply to an action governed by the STCA, because the plain language of § 81-8,227(5) provides: “This section and section 25-213 shall constitute the only statutes of limitations applicable to the [STCA].” We ordered supplemental briefing on the issue, which presents a question of statutory interpretation. [7-9] Statutory language is to be given its plain and ordinary meaning, and an appellate court will not resort to interpretation to ascertain the meaning of statutory words which are plain, direct, and unambiguous.11 It is not within the province of a court to read a meaning into a statute that is not warranted by the language; neither is it within the province of a court to read anything plain, direct, or unambiguous out of a statute.12 A court must attempt to give effect to all parts of a statute, and if it can be avoided, no word, clause, or sentence will be rejected as superfluous or meaningless.13 When it comes to determining the statute of limitations governing commencement of STCA actions, the plain language of § 81-8,227(5) identifies just two applicable statutes: §§ 81-8,227 and 25-213. Saylor concedes that the plain 11 JB & Assocs. v. Nebraska Cancer Coalition, 303 Neb. 855, 932 N.W.2d 71 (2019). 12 Id. 13 Id. - 787 - Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets 304 Nebraska Reports SAYLOR v. STATE Cite as 304 Neb. 779 language of § 81-8,227(5) prevents courts from applying any other statute of limitations to a STCA claim. But he contends that § 25-201.01 is not a statute of limitations, but, rather, is a savings clause. According to Saylor, “a statute of limitations is not a savings clause, and a savings clause is not a statute of limitations.”14 Saylor’s argument invites us to construe the term “statutes of limitations” in § 81-8,227(5) to exclude statutes that extend the statutory time for filing under certain circumstances. Saylor’s argument ignores the fact that both statutes referenced in § 81-8,227(5) include provisions that could be characterized as savings clauses. Specifically, § 81-8,227(1) and (3) each authorize the 2-year statute of limitations to be extended for 6 months under certain circumstances. Section 81-8,227(4) authorizes a 90-day extension of the time to begin suit under the STCA when a request for review is filed under the Nebraska Hospital-Medical Liability Act. And finally, § 25-213 tolls the time period for commencing an action under the STCA for persons under certain disabilities at the time their claim accrues. Given the nature of the statutes described in § 81-8,227(5) as “statutes of limitations,” we see no principled reason to construe the term to refer only to statutes prescribing the time period for bringing an action, but not to statutes extending the prescribed time for commencing an action. [10,11] Statutes authorizing suits against the State are to be strictly construed because such statutes are in derogation of the State’s sovereign immunity.15 The Legislature expressly states in § 81-8,227(5) that §§ 81-8,227 and 25-213 “shall constitute the only statutes of limitations applicable to the [STCA].” Because § 25-201.02 is not one of the applicable statutes listed in § 81-8,227(5), it cannot be applied to extend the time period for bringing an action under the STCA. Saylor 14 Supplemental brief for appellant at 3. 15 SID No. 1 v. Adamy, 289 Neb. 913, 858 N.W.2d 168 (2015). - 788 - Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets 304 Nebraska Reports SAYLOR v. STATE Cite as 304 Neb. 779 does not contend that any other provision in § 81-8,227 or § 25-213 applies to extend the time period for commencing his STCA action, and we therefore agree with the district court that, as a matter of law, Saylor’s STCA claim is time barred. Additional Assignments Because the foregoing analysis shows that Saylor’s STCA claims were time barred, we need not address his assignments of error related to other rulings made by the district court. An appellate court is not obligated to engage in an analysis that is not necessary to adjudicate the case and controversy before it.16