Section 537.047

Title XXXVI STATUTORY ACTIONS AND TORTS

Chapter 537

Effective - 28 Aug 2007   

  537.047.  Civil action for damages authorized, sexual and pornographic offenses involving a minor — statute of limitations. — 1.  Any person who, while a child or minor as defined by section 573.010, was a victim of a violation of sections 573.023, 573.025, 573.035, or 573.037, and who suffers physical or psychological injury or illness as a result of such violation, shall be entitled to bring a civil action to recover the actual damages sustained as a result of the violation, and shall also be entitled to recover the costs of the civil action and reasonable fees for attorneys and expert witnesses.  A psychological injury or illness as described under this section need not be accompanied by physical injury or illness.

  2.  Any action described under this section shall be commenced within ten years of the plaintiff attaining the age of twenty-one, or within three years of the date the plaintiff discovers that the injury or illness was caused by the violation of an offense enumerated in subsection 1 of this section, whichever later occurs.

  3.  A cause of action under this section may arise only if the violation that caused the injury occurs on or after August 28, 2007.

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(L. 2007 H.B. 583)