statute of repose

English

Noun

statute of repose (plural statutes of repose)

1. (law) A law that sets a time limit for legal liability starting from the occurrence of a specified act (typically completion of a product or point of sale).
   • 2007, D. Alan Rudlin, Toxic Tort Litigation, →ISBN, page 74:

     Therefore, a plaintiff's cause of action may be extinguished by the statute of repose before the applicable statute of limitations time period expires, and a statute of repose may start running before a plaintiff's cause of action accrues.

   • 2011, Donald L. Carper, John A. McKinsey, Understanding the Law, →ISBN, page 334:

     Statutes of repose are a compromise of the interests of consumers on the one hand and of manufacturers and sellers on the other.

   • 2016, John S. Allee, Theodore V. H. Mayer, Robb W. Patryk, Product Liability, →ISBN, page 8-84:

     Although twenty-two states have adopted a product liability statute of repose, these statutes frequently provide little if any comfort to a product manufacturer. For a statute of repose to offer true repose, it must provide a basis for a defendant to move to dismiss or for summary judgment.

Usage notes

A statute of repose is similar to a statute of limitations, except that legal liability is limited from the time of a specified act rather than from the time of the cause of action (such as the time when an injury occurs or a fault is discovered).

Synonyms

• nonclaim statute