Massachusetts

Advocacy

Disability Law Center, Inc.
11 Beacon Street, Suite 925, Boston, MA 02108
Phone (617) 723-8455
Fax (617) 723-9125

Funding

Department of Mental Health
25 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02214
Phone (617) 626-8000
Toll Free (800) 221-0053

Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission
Fort Point Place, 27 Wormwood Street, Boston, MA 02210-1616
Phone (617) 204-3600
Brain Injury and Statewide Specialized Community Services
600 Washington Street, Second Floor MRL, Boston, MA 02111
Phone (617) 204-3852

Support

BABIS
300 First Avenue, Charlestown, MA 02129
Phone 617-952-6254
Website www.babis.info
Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts
30 Lyman Street, Suite 10, Westborough, MA 01581
Phone (508)475-0032
Toll Free (800)242-0030 In State
Fax (508)475-0040
Website www.mbia.net
Email [email protected]
President of the Board David Dwork
Executive Director Nichole Godaire

Statute of Limitations and Repose

How to use this list of Massachusetts Statutes of Limitations and Repose

  • “General Tort” is the statute of limitations for most personal injury or negligence claims (e.g., car accidents, slip and fall, general liability).
  • “Medical Malpractice is the statute of limitations for lawsuits against healthcare providers and hospitals for alleged negligence or errors in medical care.  The phrase “from act/omission” = Time starts from the date of the alleged malpractice. The phrase “from discovery” = Time starts from when the injury was discovered or should have been discovered. The medical malpractice statute of repose is an absolute deadline after the act of malpractice, regardless of when the injury is discovered. After this period, no claim can be brought, even if the injury was not discovered until later.
  •  “Products Liability”is the statute of limitations for claims involving injuries caused by defective or dangerous products. The products liability statute of repose is the maximum time after the product was manufactured, sold, or delivered that a lawsuit may be filed, regardless of when the injury occurred or was discovered.
  • “Workers’ Compensation” is statute of limitations for filing a workers’ compensation claim for work-related injuries or occupational diseases.  The following phrases apply: “from injury” = Time starts from the date of the injury; “from last payment” = Time starts from the date of the last payment; “from knowledge/discovery” = Time starts from when the injury or occupational disease was, or should have been, discovered; “from first symptom” = For occupational diseases, time starts from first manifestation of symptoms; and “from act/discovery” = Whichever is later, the date of the act or the date the injury was discovered.
  • Each entry includes the relevant statute citation for your further research or verification. And “N/A” means that there is no statute of repose or not applicable for that claim type in that state.

Remember that statute of limitations and repose can change, so it is essential to:

  • Confirm the current law as soon as possible.
  • Remember that there is no substitute for consulting an experienced attorney on a potential legal matter as soon as possible.
  • Remember that the facts of the case can alter or change the Statutes of Limitations.

General Tort: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A (3 years)

Medical Malpractice: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 4 (3 years from act/discovery, 7 years repose)

Products Liability: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A (3 years)

Workers’ Comp: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 152, § 41 (4 years from discovery)