Opinion ID: 2387357
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Policy Behind Statutes of Limitations

Text: Skidmore's challenge to the trial court's findings essentially focuses on the issue of when BMA's damages were capable of ascertainment within the meaning of the statute of limitations. Section 516.100 provides that for the purposes of sections 516.100 to 516.370, the cause of action shall not be deemed to accrue when the wrong is done or the technical breach of contract or duty occurs, but when the damage resulting therefrom is sustained and is capable of ascertainment.... A five year limitation on [a]ll actions upon contracts, obligations or liabilities, express or implied is prescribed in section 516.120. Thus, under the applicable statute of limitation, BMA was required to file its action against Skidmore within five years of when the damage was sustained and was capable of ascertainment. Skidmore bears the burden of proving the statute of limitations as an affirmative defense. BMA I, 891 S.W.2d at 445. The general purpose of statutes of limitation is to prevent the assertion of stale claims. Thatcher v. De Tar, 351 Mo. 603, 173 S.W.2d 760, 761 (Mo.1943). As this Court noted in Baron v. Kurn, 349 Mo. 1202, 164 S.W.2d 310, 317 (Mo.1942): It has been often pointed out that statutes of limitation rest upon reasons of sound public policy in that they tend to promote the peace and welfare of society, safeguard against fraud and oppression and compel the settlement of claims within a reasonable period after their origin and while the evidence remains fresh in the memory of the witnesses. As noted in BMA I, in Missouri the statute of limitations is triggered not by discovery of damage, but by the commencement of the right to sue. BMA I, 891 S.W.2d at 445. These two events do not necessarily coincide. Martin v. Crowley, Wade & Milstead, Inc., 702 S.W.2d 57, 58 (Mo. banc 1985). The triggering event of the applicable statute of limitations is when damage is sustained and becomes capable of ascertainment. The phrase capable of ascertainment has never been given a precise definition. O'Reilly v. Dock, 929 S.W.2d 297, 300 (Mo.App.1996). It refers to the fact of damage, rather than to the exact amount of damage. Nuspl v. Missouri Med. Ins. Co., 842 S.W.2d 920, 922 (Mo.App.1992). It has been construed to mean the moment that plaintiff's damages are substantially complete. Lockett v. Owens-Corning Fiberglas, 808 S.W.2d 902, 907 (Mo.App.1991).