Court Opinion

ID: 9560291
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 17:46:42.749358+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:12:38.445877
License: Public Domain

HUNTLEY, Justice,
concurring specially.
I concur in the majority opinion, noting that to interpret I.C. § 5-219(4) as requiring that the statute would commence running prior to the occurrence of some objectively detectable proof of injury could give rise to a serious conflict with art. I, § 18 of the Idaho Constitution.
Although the legislature may establish reasonable statutes of limitation, a statute of limitation so drafted as to preclude, as distinguished from limit, access to the courts would be unconstitutional. That is to say, there must be provided some reasonable “window of opportunity” for an aggrieved party to file an action because art. I, § 18 provides to Idaho’s injured citizens a fundamental right of access to the courts of justice:
Justice to be freely and speedily administered. — Courts of justice shall be open to every person, and a speedy remedy afforded for every injury of person, property or character, and right and justice shall be administered without sale, denial, delay, or prejudice.
Relying on art. II, § 16 of the Montana Constitution, which guarantees that all persons shall have a “speedy remedy ... for every injury of person, property or character,” the Montana Supreme Court held that the right to bring a civil action for personal injuries is a fundamental right, any infringement of which is subject to a strict scrutiny analysis. White v. State, 203 Mont. 363, 661 P.2d 1272, 1274-75 (1983). Applying the strict scrutiny analysis, that court struck down a statute limiting recoveries against the state to certain dollar amounts (and for certain kinds of damages) as unjustifiably discriminatory against those severely victimized by government tortfeasors.
The reasoning in White is persuasive and, more importantly, art. II, § 16 of the *712Montana Constitution is analogous to art. I, § 18 of the Idaho Constitution.
BISTLINE, J., concurs.