Opinion ID: 2025994
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Purpose of Statutes of Limitations

Text: Statutes of limitations not only limit the right but also the remedy ( see Ratka v St. Francis Hosp., 44 NY2d 604, 611 [1978], overruled on other grounds by Burke v Crosson, 85 NY2d 10 [1995]). Plaintiffs assert that had they had full knowledge of the sexual abuse, they would have been able to seek criminal actions against defendants. Ordinarily, statutes of limitations function as statutes of repose ( see Flanagan v Mount Eden Gen. Hosp., 24 NY2d 427, 429-430 [1969]). Thus, time bars serve to put to sleep all claims that are not brought once all the facts and circumstances are known by the plaintiffs about the claim ( see Blanco v American Tel. & Tel. Co., 90 NY2d 757, 773-774 [1997]). Nevertheless, the policy considerations of repose, at issue in cases where the statute of limitations has run, do not outweigh the policy considerations of addressing affirmative wrongdoing ( see Wood v Carpenter, 101 US 135, 139 [1879]). [4]