Opinion ID: 738219
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Damages Incurred Within Statute of Limitations

Text: 57 Appellees do correctly assert that if Nieman can recover damages for continuing trespass, he may only claim damages incurred within the four years prior to filing the lawsuit. See Brown v. County Comm'rs, 87 Ohio App.3d 704, 622 N.E.2d 1153, 1162 (1993) (where pollution is recurrent in that it is not a constant consequence of the operation or is abatable by reasonable means, a nuisance action can be brought for damages for those injuries incurred within the applicable period); Wood v. American Aggregates Corp., 67 Ohio App.3d 41, 585 N.E.2d 970, 973 (1990) (barring plaintiffs from proving damages for a period earlier than four years prior to filing suit). Thus, Nieman's time frame for assessing damages is limited to the statute of limitations window, i.e., four years prior to the filing of the complaint in the instant action. See Huffman, 82 F.3d at 705 (holding, under Kentucky law, that although a temporary nuisance claim is not barred by the statute of limitations, recovery would be limited to damages within the limitations period immediately preceding the initiation of the action) (citations omitted); DAN B. DOBBS, REMEDIES § 5.4, at 343 (1973) (If a trespass is 'temporary' or 'continuous,' a new cause of action arises day by day or injury by injury, with the result that the plaintiff in such a case can always recover for such damages as have accrued within the statutory period immediately prior to suit.). This restriction does not preclude Nieman from seeking damages from the appellees for the four years prior to filing suit, as long as Nieman can meet the various requirements for his cause of action. See RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS § 161 (1965).