New York Statute of Limitations
NY CPLR, Article 2
S 201.
Application of article. An action, including one brought in the
name or for the benefit of the state, must be commenced within the time
specified in this article unless a different time is prescribed by law
or a shorter time is prescribed by written agreement. No court shall
extend the time limited by law for the commencement of an action.
S 202.
Cause of action accruing without the state. An action based
upon a cause of action accruing without the state cannot be commenced
after the expiration of the time limited by the laws of either the state
or the place without the state where the cause of action accrued, except
that where the cause of action accrued in favor of a resident of the
state the time limited by the laws of the state shall apply.
S 203. Method of computing periods of limitation generally. (a)
Accrual of cause of action and interposition of claim. The time within
which an action must be commenced, except as otherwise expressly
prescribed, shall be computed from the time the cause of action accrued
to the time the claim is interposed.
(b) Claim in complaint where action commenced by service. In an action
which is commenced by service, a claim asserted in the complaint is
interposed against the defendant or a co-defendant united in interest
with such defendant when:
1. the summons is served upon the defendant; or
2. first publication of the summons against the defendant is made
pursuant to an order, and publication is subsequently completed; or
3. an order for a provisional remedy other than attachment is granted,
if, within thirty days thereafter, the summons is served upon the
defendant or first publication of the summons against the defendant is
made pursuant to an order and publication is subsequently completed, or,
where the defendant dies within thirty days after the order is granted
and before the summons is served upon the defendant or publication is
completed, if the summons is served upon the defendant`s executor or
administrator within sixty days after letters are issued; for this
purpose seizure of a chattel in an action to recover a chattel is a
provisional remedy; or
4. an order of attachment is granted, if the summons is served in
accordance with the provisions of section 6213; or
5. the summons is delivered to the sheriff of that county outside the
city of New York or is filed with the clerk of that county within the
city of New York in which the defendant resides, is employed or is doing
business, or if none of the foregoing is known to the plaintiff after
reasonable inquiry, then of the county in which the defendant is known
to have last resided, been employed or been engaged in business, or in
which the cause of action arose; or if the defendant is a corporation,
of a county in which it may be served or in which the cause of action
arose; provided that:
(i) the summons is served upon the defendant within sixty days after
the period of limitation would have expired but for this provision; or
(ii) first publication of the summons against the defendant is made
pursuant to an order within sixty days after the period of limitation
would have expired but for this provision and publication is
subsequently completed; or
(iii) the summons is served upon the defendant`s executor or
administrator within sixty days after letters are issued, where the
defendant dies within sixty days after the period of limitation would
have expired but for this provision and before the summons is served
upon the defendant or publication is completed.
6. in an action to be commenced in a court not of record, the summons
is delivered for service upon the defendant to any officer authorized to
serve it in a county, city or town in which the defendant resides, is
employed or is doing business, or if none of the foregoing be known to
the plaintiff after reasonable inquiry, then in a county, city or town
in which defendant is known to have last resided, been employed or been
engaged in business, or, where the defendant is a corporation, in a
county, city or town in which it may be served, if the summons is served
upon the defendant within sixty days after the period of limitation
would have expired but for this provision; or, where the defendant dies
within sixty days after the period of limitation would have expired but
for this provision and before the summons is served upon the defendant,
if the summons is served upon his executor or administrator within sixty
days after letters are issued.
(c) Claim in complaint where action commenced by filing. In an action
which is commenced by filing, a claim asserted in the complaint is
interposed against the defendant or a co-defendant united in interest
with such defendant when the action is commenced.
(d) Defense or counterclaim. A defense or counterclaim is interposed
when a pleading containing it is served. A defense or counterclaim is
not barred if it was not barred at the time the claims asserted in the
complaint were interposed, except that if the defense or counterclaim
arose from the transactions, occurrences, or series of transactions or
occurrences, upon which a claim asserted in the complaint depends, it is
not barred to the extent of the demand in the complaint notwithstanding
that it was barred at the time the claims asserted in the complaint were
interposed.
(e) Effect upon defense or counterclaim of termination of action
because of death or by dismissal or voluntary discontinuance. Where a
defendant has served an answer containing a defense or counterclaim and
the action is terminated because of the plaintiff`s death or by
dismissal or voluntary discontinuance, the time which elapsed between
the commencement and termination of the action is not a part of the time
within which an action must be commenced to recover upon the claim in
the defense or counterclaim or the time within which the defense or
counterclaim may be interposed in another action brought by the
plaintiff or his successor in interest.
(f) Claim in amended pleading. A claim asserted in an amended pleading
is deemed to have been interposed at the time the claims in the original
pleading were interposed, unless the original pleading does not give
notice of the transactions, occurrences, or series of transactions or
occurrences, to be proved pursuant to the amended pleading.
(g) Time computed from actual or imputed discovery of facts. Except as
provided in article two of the uniform commercial code or in section two
hundred fourteen-a of this chapter, where the time within which an
action must be commenced is computed from the time when facts were
discovered or from the time when facts could with reasonable diligence
have been discovered, or from either of such times, the action must be
commenced within two years after such actual or imputed discovery or
within the period otherwise provided, computed from the time the cause
of action accrued, whichever is longer.
S 204. Stay of commencement of action; demand for arbitration. (a)
Stay. Where the commencement of an action has been stayed by a court or
by statutory prohibition, the duration of the stay is not a part of the
time within which the action must be commenced.
(b) Arbitration. Where it shall have been determined that a party is
not obligated to submit a claim to arbitration, the time which elapsed
between the demand for arbitration and the final determination that
there is no obligation to arbitrate is not a part of the time within
which an action upon such claim must be commenced. The time within which
the action must be commenced shall not be extended by this provision
beyond one year after such final determination.
S 205.
Termination of action. (a) New action by plaintiff. If an
action is timely commenced and is terminated in any other manner than by
a voluntary discontinuance, a failure to obtain personal jurisdiction
over the defendant, a dismissal of the complaint for neglect to
prosecute the action, or a final judgment upon the merits, the
plaintiff, or, if the plaintiff dies, and the cause of action survives,
his or her executor or administrator, may commence a new action upon the
same transaction or occurrence or series of transactions or occurrences
within six months after the termination provided that the new action
would have been timely commenced at the time of commencement of the
prior action and that service upon defendant is effected within such
six-month period.
(b) Defense or counterclaim. Where the defendant has served an answer
and the action is terminated in any manner, and a new action upon the
same transaction or occurrence or series of transactions or occurrences
is commenced by the plaintiff or his successor in interest, the
assertion of any cause of action or defense by the defendant in the new
action shall be timely if it was timely asserted in the prior action.
(c) Application. This section also applies to a proceeding brought
under the workers` compensation law.
S 206. Computing periods of limitation in particular actions. (a)
Where demand necessary. Except as provided in article 3 of the uniform
commercial code, where a demand is necessary to entitle a person to
commence an action, the time within which the action must be commenced
shall be computed from the time when the right to make the demand is
complete, except that
1. where a right grows out of the receipt or detention of money or
property by a trustee, agent, attorney or other person acting in a
fiduciary capacity, the time within which the action must be commenced
shall be computed from the time when the person having the right to make
the demand discovered the facts upon which the right depends; and
2. where there was a deposit of money to be repaid only upon a special
demand, or a delivery of personal property not to be returned
specifically or in kind at a fixed time or upon a fixed contingency, the
time within which the action must be commenced shall be computed from
the demand for repayment or return.
(b) Based on misconduct of agent. Where a judgment is entered against
a principal in an action based upon an injury resulting from the act or
omission of his deputy or agent, the time within which an action by the
principal against the deputy or agent to recover damages by reason of
such judgment must be commenced shall be computed, from the time when
the action against the principal was finally determined. Where an injury
results from the representation by a person that he is an agent with
authority to execute a contract in behalf of a principal, the time
within which an action to recover damages for breach of warranty of
authority must be commenced by the person injured against the purported
agent shall be computed from the time the person injured discovered the
facts constituting lack of authority.
(c) Based on breach of covenant of seizin or against incumbrances. In
an action based upon breach of a covenant of seizin or against
incumbrances, the time within which the action must be commenced shall
be computed from an eviction.
(d) Based on account. In an action based upon a mutual, open and
current account, where there have been reciprocal demands between the
parties, the time within which the action must be commenced shall be
computed from the time of the last transaction in the account on either
side.
S 207. Defendant`s absence from state or residence under false name.
If, when a cause of action accrues against a person, he is without the
state, the time within which the action must be commenced shall be
computed from the time he comes into or returns to the state. If, after
a cause of action has accrued against a person, that person departs from
the state and remains continuously absent therefrom for four months or
more, or that person resides within the state under a false name which
is unknown to the person entitled to commence the action, the time of
his absence or residence within the state under such a false name is not
a part of the time within which the action must be commenced. If an
action is commenced against a person described above, the time within
which service must be made on such person in accordance with
subdivisions (a) and (b) of section three hundred six-b of this chapter
shall be computed in accordance with this section. This section does not
apply:
1. while there is in force a designation, voluntary or involuntary,
made pursuant to law, of a person to whom a summons may be delivered
within the state with the same effect as if served personally within the
state; or
2. while a foreign corporation has one or more officers or other
persons in the state on whom a summons against such corporation may be
served; or
3. while jurisdiction over the person of the defendant can be obtained
without personal delivery of the summons to the defendant within the
state.
S 208. Infancy, insanity. If a person entitled to commence an action
is under a disability because of infancy or insanity at the time the
cause of action accrues, and the time otherwise limited for commencing
the action is three years or more and expires no later than three years
after the disability ceases, or the person under the disability dies,
the time within which the action must be commenced shall be extended to
three years after the disability ceases or the person under the
disability dies, whichever event first occurs; if the time otherwise
limited is less than three years, the time shall be extended by the
period of disability. The time within which the action must be commenced
shall not be extended by this provision beyond ten years after the cause
of action accrues, except, in any action other than for medical, dental
or podiatric malpractice, where the person was under a disability due to
infancy. This section shall not apply to an action to recover a penalty
or forfeiture, or against a sheriff or other officer for an escape.
S 209. War. (a) Cause of action accruing in foreign country. Where a
cause of action, whether originally accrued in favor of a resident or
non-resident of the state, accrued in a foreign country with which the
United States or any of its allies were then or subsequently at war, or
territory then or subsequently occupied by the government of such
foreign country, the time which elapsed between the commencement of the
war, or of such occupation, and the termination of hostilities with such
country, or of such occupation, is not a part of the time within which
the action must be commenced. This section shall neither apply to nor in
any manner affect an action brought pursuant to section six hundred
twenty-five of the banking law against a banking organization or against
the superintendent of banks.
(b) Right of alien. Where a person is unable to commence an action in
the courts of the state because any party is an alien subject or citizen
of a foreign country at war with the United States or any of its allies,
whether the cause of action accrued during or prior to the war, the time
which elapsed between the commencement of the war and the termination of
hostilities with such country is not a part of the time within which the
action must be commenced.
(c) Non-enemy in enemy country or enemy-occupied territory. Where a
person entitled to commence an action, other than a person entitled to
the benefits of subdivision (b), is a resident of, or a sojourner in, a
foreign country with which the United States or any of its allies are at
war, or territory occupied by the government of such foreign country,
the period of such residence or sojourn during which the war continues
or the territory is so occupied is not a part of the time within which
the action must be commenced.
S 210. Death of claimant or person liable; cause of action accruing
after death and before grant of letters. (a) Death of claimant. Where a
person entitled to commence an action dies before the expiration of the
time within which the action must be commenced and the cause of action
survives, an action may be commenced by his representative within one
year after his death.
(b) Death of person liable. The period of eighteen months after the
death, within or without the state, of a person against whom a cause of
action exists is not a part of the time within which the action must be
commenced against his executor or administrator.
(c) Cause of action accruing after death and before grant of letters.
In an action by an executor or administrator to recover personal
property wrongfully taken after the death and before the issuance of
letters, or to recover damages for taking, detaining or injuring
personal property within that period, the time within which the action
must be commenced shall be computed from the time the letters are issued
or from three years after the death, whichever event first occurs. Any
distributee, next of kin, legatee or creditor who was under a disability
prescribed in section 208 at the time the cause of action accrued, may,
within two years after the disability ceases, commence an action to
recover such damages or the value of such property as he would have
received upon a final distribution of the estate if an action had been
timely commenced by the executor or administrator.
S 211. Actions to be commenced within twenty years. (a) On a bond. An
action to recover principal or interest upon a written instrument
evidencing an indebtedness of the state of New York or of any person,
association or public or private corporation, originally sold by the
issuer after publication of an advertisement for bids for the issue in a
newspaper of general circulation and secured only by a pledge of the
faith and credit of the issuer, regardless of whether a sinking fund is
or may be established for its redemption, must be commenced within
twenty years after the cause of action accrues. This subdivision does
not apply to actions upon written instruments evidencing an indebtedness
of any corporation, association or person under the jurisdiction of the
public service commission, the commissioner of transportation, the
interstate commerce commission, the federal communications commission,
the civil aeronautics board, the federal power commission, or any other
regulatory commission or board of a state or of the federal government.
This subdivision applies to all causes of action, including those barred
on April eighteenth, nineteen hundred fifty, by the provisions of the
civil practice act then effective.
(b) On a money judgment. A money judgment is presumed to be paid and
satisfied after the expiration of twenty years from the time when the
party recovering it was first entitled to enforce it. This presumption
is conclusive, except as against a person who within the twenty years
acknowledges an indebtedness, or makes a payment, of all or part of the
amount recovered by the judgment, or his heir or personal
representative, or a person whom he otherwise represents. Such an
acknowledgment must be in writing and signed by the person to be
charged. Property acquired by an enforcement order or by levy upon an
execution is a payment, unless the person to be charged shows that it
did not include property claimed by him. If such an acknowledgment or
payment is made, the judgment is conclusively presumed to be paid and
satisfied as against any person after the expiration of twenty years
after the last acknowledgment or payment made by him. The presumption
created by this subdivision may be availed of under an allegation that
the action was not commenced within the time limited.
(c) By state for real property. The state will not sue a person for or
with respect to real property, or the rents or profits thereof, by
reason of the right or title of the state to the same, unless the cause
of action accrued, or the state, or those from whom it claims, have
received the rents and profits of the real property or of some part
thereof, within twenty years before the commencement of the action.
(d) By grantee of state for real property. An action shall not be
commenced for or with respect to real property by a person claiming by
virtue of letters patent or a grant from the state, unless it might have
been maintained by the state, as prescribed in this section, if the
patent or grant had not been issued or made.
(e) For support, alimony or maintenance. An action or proceeding to
enforce any temporary order, permanent order or judgment of any court of
competent jurisdiction which awards support, alimony or maintenance,
regardless of whether or not arrears have been reduced to a money
judgment, must be commenced within twenty years from the date of a
default in payment. This section shall only apply to orders which have
been entered subsequent to the date upon which this section shall become
effective.
S 212. Actions to be commenced within ten years. (a) Possession
necessary to recover real property. An action to recover real property
or its possession cannot be commenced unless the plaintiff, or his
predecessor in interest, was seized or possessed of the premises within
ten years before the commencement of the action.
(b) Annulment of letters patent. Where letters patent or a grant of
real property, issued or made by the state, are declared void on the
ground of fraudulent suggestion or concealment, forfeiture, mistake or
ignorance of a material fact, wrongful detaining or defective title, an
action to recover the premises may be commenced by the state or by a
subsequent patentee or grantee, or his successor in interest, within ten
years after the determination is made.
(c) To redeem from a mortgage. An action to redeem real property from
a mortgage with or without an account of rents and profits may be
commenced by the mortgagor or his successors in interest, against the
mortgagee in possession, or against the purchaser of the mortgaged
premises at a foreclosure sale in an action in which the mortgagor or
his successors in interest were not excluded from their interest in the
mortgaged premises, or against a successor in interest of either, unless
the mortgagee, purchaser or successor was continuously possessed of the
premises for ten years after the breach or non-fulfillment of a
condition or covenant of the mortgage, or the date of recording of the
deed of the premises to the purchaser.
(d) To recover under an affidavit of support of an alien. An action
under section one hundred twenty-two of the social services law to
recover amounts paid to or on behalf of an alien for whom an affidavit
of support pursuant to section 213A of the immigration and
naturalization act has been signed.
S 213. Actions to be commenced within six years: where not otherwise
provided for; on contract; on sealed instrument; on bond or note, and
mortgage upon real property; by state based on misappropriation of
public property; based on mistake; by corporation against director,
officer or stockholder; based on fraud. The following actions must be
commenced within six years:
1. an action for which no limitation is specifically prescribed by
law;
2. an action upon a contractual obligation or liability, express or
implied, except as provided in section two hundred thirteen-a of this
article or article 2 of the uniform commercial code or article 36-B of
the general business law;
3. an action upon a sealed instrument;
4. an action upon a bond or note, the payment of which is secured by a
mortgage upon real property, or upon a bond or note and mortgage so
secured, or upon a mortgage of real property, or any interest therein;
5. an action by the state based upon the spoliation or other
misappropriation of public property; the time within which the action
must be commenced shall be computed from discovery by the state of the
facts relied upon;
6. an action based upon mistake;
7. an action by or on behalf of a corporation against a present or
former director, officer or stockholder for an accounting, or to procure
a judgment on the ground of fraud, or to enforce a liability, penalty or
forfeiture, or to recover damages for waste or for an injury to property
or for an accounting in conjunction therewith.
8. an action based upon fraud; the time within which the action must
be commenced shall be computed from the time the plaintiff or the person
under whom he claims discovered the fraud, or could with reasonable
diligence have discovered it.
S 213. Actions to be commenced within six years: where not otherwise
provided for; on contract; on sealed instrument; on bond or note, and
mortgage upon real property; by state based on misappropriation of
public property; based on mistake; by corporation against director,
officer or stockholder; based on fraud. The following actions must be
commenced within six years:
1. an action for which no limitation is specifically prescribed by
law;
2. an action upon a contractual obligation or liability, express or
implied, except as provided in section two hundred thirteen-a of this
article or article 2 of the uniform commercial code or article 36-B of
the general business law;
3. an action upon a sealed instrument;
4. an action upon a bond or note, the payment of which is secured by a
mortgage upon real property, or upon a bond or note and mortgage so
secured, or upon a mortgage of real property, or any interest therein;
5. an action by the state based upon the spoliation or other
misappropriation of public property; the time within which the action
must be commenced shall be computed from discovery by the state of the
facts relied upon;
6. an action based upon mistake;
7. an action by or on behalf of a corporation against a present or
former director, officer or stockholder for an accounting, or to procure
a judgment on the ground of fraud, or to enforce a liability, penalty or
forfeiture, or to recover damages for waste or for an injury to property
or for an accounting in conjunction therewith.
8. an action based upon fraud; the time within which the action must
be commenced shall be computed from the time the plaintiff or the person
under whom he claims discovered the fraud, or could with reasonable
diligence have discovered it.
S 213-a.
Actions to be commenced within four years; residential rent overcharge. An
action on a residential rent overcharge shall be commenced within four years
of the first overcharge alleged and no determination of an overcharge and no
award or calculation of an award of the amount of any overcharge may be
based upon an overcharge having occurred more than four years before the
action is commenced. This section shall preclude examination of the rental
history of the housing accommodation prior to the four-year period
immediately preceding the commencement of the action.

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Time Limitations Continued . . .
S 213-b.
Action by a victim of a criminal offense. Notwithstanding any
other limitation set forth in this article or in article five of the
estates, powers and trusts law, an action by a crime victim, or the
representative of a crime victim, as defined in subdivision six of
section six hundred twenty-one of the executive law, may be commenced to
recover damages from a defendant: (1) convicted of a crime which is the
subject of such action, for any injury or loss resulting therefrom
within seven years of the date of the crime or (2) convicted of a
specified crime as defined in paragraph (e) of subdivision one of
section six hundred thirty-two-a of the executive law which is the
subject of such action for any injury or loss resulting therefrom within
ten years of the date the defendant was convicted of such specified
crime.
S 214. Actions to be commenced within three years: for non-payment of
money collected on execution; for penalty created by statute; to recover
chattel; for injury to property; for personal injury; for malpractice
other than medical, dental or podiatric malpractice; to annul a
marriage on the ground of fraud. The following actions must be
commenced within three years:
1. an action against a sheriff, constable or other officer for the
non-payment of money collected upon an execution;
2. an action to recover upon a liability, penalty or forfeiture
created or imposed by statute except as provided in sections 213 and
215;
3. an action to recover a chattel or damages for the taking or
detaining of a chattel;
4. an action to recover damages for an injury to property except as
provided in section 214-c;
5. an action to recover damages for a personal injury except as
provided in sections 214-b, 214-c and 215;
6. an action to recover damages for malpractice, other than medical,
dental or podiatric malpractice, regardless of whether the underlying
theory is based in contract or tort; and
7. an action to annul a marriage on the ground of fraud; the time
within which the action must be commenced shall be computed from the
time the plaintiff discovered the facts constituting the fraud, but if
the plaintiff is a person other than the spouse whose consent was
obtained by fraud, the time within which the action must be commenced
shall be computed from the time, if earlier, that that spouse discovered
the facts constituting the fraud.
S 214-a.
Action for medical, dental or podiatric malpractice to be
commenced within two years and six months; exceptions. An action for
medical, dental or podiatric malpractice must be commenced within two
years and six months of the act, omission or failure complained of or
last treatment where there is continuous treatment for the same illness,
injury or condition which gave rise to the said act, omission or
failure; provided, however, that where the action is based upon the
discovery of a foreign object in the body of the patient, the action may
be commenced within one year of the date of such discovery or of the
date of discovery of facts which would reasonably lead to such
discovery, whichever is earlier. For the purpose of this section the
term "continuous treatment" shall not include examinations undertaken at
the request of the patient for the sole purpose of ascertaining the
state of the patient`s condition. For the purpose of this section the
term "foreign object" shall not include a chemical compound, fixation
device or prosthetic aid or device.
S 214-b.
Action to recover damages for personal injury caused by
contact with or exposure to phenoxy herbicides. Notwithstanding any
provision of law to the contrary, an action to recover damages for
personal injury caused by contact with or exposure to phenoxy herbicides
while serving as a member of the armed forces of the United States in
Indo-China from January first, nineteen hundred sixty-two through May
seventh, nineteen hundred seventy-five, may be commenced within two
years from the date of the discovery of such injury, or within two years
from the date when through the exercise of reasonable diligence the
cause of such injury should have been discovered, whichever is later.
S 214-c.
Certain actions to be commenced within three years of
discovery. 1. In this section: "exposure" means direct or indirect
exposure by absorption, contact, ingestion, inhalation, implantation or
injection.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 214, the three year
period within which an action to recover damages for personal injury or
injury to property caused by the latent effects of exposure to any
substance or combination of substances, in any form, upon or within the
body or upon or within property must be commenced shall be computed from
the date of discovery of the injury by the plaintiff or from the date
when through the exercise of reasonable diligence such injury should
have been discovered by the plaintiff, whichever is earlier.
3. For the purposes of sections fifty-e and fifty-i of the general
municipal law, section thirty-eight hundred thirteen of the education
law and the provisions of any general, special or local law or charter
requiring as a condition precedent to commencement of an action or
special proceeding that a notice of claim be filed or presented within a
specified period of time after the claim or action accrued, a claim or
action for personal injury or injury to property caused by the latent
effects of exposure to any substance or combination of substances, in
any form, upon or within the body or upon or within property shall be
deemed to have accrued on the date of discovery of the injury by the
plaintiff or on the date when through the exercise of reasonable
diligence the injury should have been discovered, whichever is earlier.
4. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions two and three of
this section, where the discovery of the cause of the injury is alleged
to have occurred less than five years after discovery of the injury or
when with reasonable diligence such injury should have been discovered,
whichever is earlier, an action may be commenced or a claim filed within
one year of such discovery of the cause of the injury; provided,
however, if any such action is commenced or claim filed after the period
in which it would otherwise have been authorized pursuant to subdivision
two or three of this section the plaintiff or claimant shall be required
to allege and prove that technical, scientific or medical knowledge and
information sufficient to ascertain the cause of his injury had not been
discovered, identified or determined prior to the expiration of the
period within which the action or claim would have been authorized and
that he has otherwise satisfied the requirements of subdivisions two and
three of this section.
5. This section shall not be applicable to any action for medical or
dental malpractice.
6. This section shall be applicable to acts, omissions or failures
occurring prior to, on or after July first, nineteen hundred eighty-six,
except that this section shall not be applicable to any act, omission or
failure:
(a) which occurred prior to July first, nineteen hundred eighty-six,
and
(b) which caused or contributed to an injury that either was
discovered or through the exercise of reasonable diligence should have
been discovered prior to such date, and
(c) an action for which was or would have been barred because the
applicable period of limitation had expired prior to such date.
S 214-d.
Limitations on certain actions against licensed engineers and
architects. 1. Any person asserting a claim for personal injury,
wrongful death or property damage, or a cross or third-party claim for
contribution or indemnification arising out of an action for personal
injury, wrongful death or property damage, against a licensed architect,
engineer, land surveyor or landscape architect or against a partnership,
professional corporation or limited liability company lawfully
practicing architecture, engineering, land surveying or landscape
architecture which is based upon the professional performance, conduct
or omission by such licensed architect, engineer, land surveyor or
landscape architect or such firm occurring more than ten years prior to
the date of such claim, shall give written notice of such claim to each
such architect, engineer, land surveyor or landscape architect or such
firm at least ninety days before the commencement of any action or
proceeding against such licensed architect, engineer, land surveyor or
landscape architect or such firm including any cross or third-party
action or claim. The notice of claim shall identify the performance,
conduct or omissions complained of, on information and belief, and shall
include a request for general and special damages. Service of such
written notice of claim may be made by any of the methods permitted for
personal service of a summons upon a natural person, partnership or
professional corporation. A notice of claim served in accordance with
this section shall be filed, together with proof of service thereof, in
any court of this state in which an action, proceeding or cross or
third-party claim arising out of such conduct may be commenced or
interposed, within thirty days of the service of the notice of claim.
Upon the filing of any such notice of claim, a county clerk shall
collect an index number fee in accordance with section eight thousand
eighteen of this chapter and an index number shall be assigned.
2. In such pleadings as are subsequently filed in any court, each
party shall represent that it has fully complied with the provisions of
this section.
3. Service of a notice as provided in this section shall toll the
applicable statute of limitations to and including a period of one
hundred twenty days following such service.
4. From and after the date of service of the notice provided for in
subdivision one of this section, the claimant shall have the right to
serve a demand for discovery and production of documents and things for
inspection, testing, copying or photographing in accordance with rule
three thousand one hundred twenty of this chapter. Such demand shall be
governed by the procedures of article thirty-one of this chapter. In
addition, the claimant shall have the right to the examination before
trial of such licensed architect, engineer, land surveyor or landscape
architect or such firm or to serve written interrogatories upon such
licensed architect, engineer, land surveyor or landscape architect or
such firm after service of and compliance with a demand for production
and inspection in accordance with this section. The court may, at any
time at its own initiative or on motion of such licensed architect,
engineer, land surveyor or landscape architect or such firm deny, limit,
condition or restrict such examination before trial or written
interrogatories upon a showing that such claimant has failed to
establish reasonable necessity for the information sought or failed to
establish that the information sought by such examination or
interrogatories cannot reasonably be determined from the documents or
things provided in response to a demand for production and inspection
served in accordance with this section. Such examination before trial or
interrogatories shall otherwise be governed by article thirty-one of
this chapter.
5. After the expiration of ninety days from service of the notice
provided in subdivision one of this section, the claimant may commence
or interpose an action, proceeding or cross or third-party claim against
such licensed architect, engineer, land surveyor or landscape architect
or such firm. The action shall proceed in every respect as if the action
were one brought on account of conduct occurring less than ten years
prior to the claim described in said action, unless the defendant
architect, engineer, land surveyor or landscape architect or such firm
shall have made a motion under rule three thousand two hundred eleven or
three thousand two hundred twelve of this chapter, in which event the
action shall be stayed pending determination of the motion. Such motion
shall be granted upon a showing that such claimant has failed to comply
with the notice of claim requirements of this section or for the reasons
set forth in subdivision (h) of rule three thousand two hundred eleven
or subdivision (i) of rule three thousand two hundred twelve of this
chapter; provided, however, such motion shall not be granted if the
moving party is in default of any disclosure obligation as set forth in
subdivision four of this section.
6. No claim for personal injury, or wrongful death or property damage,
or a cross or third-party claim for contribution or indemnification
arising out of an action for personal injury, wrongful death or property
damage may be asserted against a licensed architect, engineer, land
surveyor or landscape architect or such firm arising out of conduct by
such licensed architect, engineer, land surveyor or landscape architect
or such firm occurring more than ten years prior to the accrual of such
claim shall be commenced or interposed against any such licensed
architect, engineer, land surveyor or landscape architect or such firm
unless it shall appear by and as an allegation in the complaint or
necessary moving papers that the claimant has complied with the
requirements of this section. Upon the commencement of such a proceeding
or action or interposition of such cross or third-party claim, a county
clerk shall not be entitled to collect an index number fee and such
action, proceeding or cross or third-party claim shall retain the
previously assigned index number. Such action, proceeding or cross or
third-party claim shall otherwise be governed by the provisions of this
chapter.
7. The provisions of this section shall apply only to a licensed
architect, engineer, land surveyor or landscape architect or such firm
practicing architecture, engineering, land surveying or landscape
architecture in the state of New York at the time the conduct complained
of occurred and shall not apply to any person or entity, including but
not limited to corporations, which was not licensed as an architect,
engineer, land surveyor or landscape architect or such firm in this
state or to a firm not lawfully practicing architecture, engineering,
land surveying or landscape architecture at the time the conduct
complained of occurred.
8. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to in any way
alter or extend any applicable statutes of limitations except as
expressly provided herein.
S 214-e.
Action to recover damages for personal injury caused by the
infusion of such blood products which result in the contraction of the
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and/or AIDS. Notwithstanding any
provision of law to the contrary, any cause of action for an injury or
death against a proprietary manufacturer of blood products for damages
involving the infusion of such blood products which resulted in the
contraction of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and/or AIDS which
is barred as of the effective date of this section because the
applicable period of limitation has expired is hereby revived, and an
action thereon may be commenced and prosecuted provided such action is
commenced within two years of the effective date of this section. The
provisions of this section shall be inapplicable to any civil action
governed by the statute of limitations of another jurisdiction.
S 215.
Actions to be commenced within one year: against sheriff,
coroner or constable; for escape of prisoner; for assault, battery,
false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, libel or slander; for
violation of right of privacy; for penalty given to informer; on
arbitration award. The following actions shall be commenced within one
year:
1. an action against a sheriff, coroner or constable, upon a liability
incurred by him by doing an act in his official capacity or by omission
of an official duty, except the non-payment of money collected upon an
execution;
2. an action against an officer for the escape of a prisoner arrested
or imprisoned by virtue of a civil mandate;
3. an action to recover damages for assault, battery, false
imprisonment, malicious prosecution, libel, slander, false words causing
special damages, or a violation of the right of privacy under section
fifty-one of the civil rights law;
4. an action to enforce a penalty or forfeiture created by statute and
given wholly or partly to any person who will prosecute; if the action
is not commenced within the year by a private person, it may be
commenced on behalf of the state, within three years after the
commission of the offense, by the attorney-general or the district
attorney of the county where the offense was committed; and
5. an action upon an arbitration award.
6. An action to recover any overcharge of interest or to enforce a
penalty for such overcharge.
7. an action by a tenant pursuant to subdivision three of section two
hundred twenty-three-b of the real property law.
8. Whenever it is shown that a criminal action against the same
defendant has been commenced with respect to the event or occurrence
from which a claim governed by this section arises, the plaintiff shall
have at least one year from the termination of the criminal action as
defined in section 1.20 of the criminal procedure law in which to
commence the civil action, notwithstanding that the time in which to
commence such action has already expired or has less than a year
remaining.
S 216.
Abbreviation of period to one year after notice. (a) Action to
recover money. 1. No action for the recovery of any sum of money due and
payable under or on account of a contract, or for any part thereof,
shall be commenced by any person who has made claim to the sum, after
the expiration of one year from the giving of notice, as hereinafter
provided, to the claimant that an action commenced by another person is
pending to recover the sum, or any part thereof, exceeding fifty dollars
in amount. This limitation shall not be construed to enlarge the time
within which the cause of action of the claimant would otherwise be
barred.
2. If any person shall make claim for the recovery of any sum of money
due and payable under or on account of a contract, and an action has
theretofore been, or shall thereafter be, commenced by another person to
recover the sum, or any part thereof, exceeding fifty dollars in amount,
the defendant in such action may, within twenty days from the date of
service upon him of the complaint or from the date of receipt by him of
the claim, whichever occurs later, make a motion before the court in
which the action is pending for an order permitting the defendant to
give notice to the claimant that the action is pending. The court in
which the action is pending shall grant the order where it appears that
a person not a party to the action has made claim against the defendant
for the sum of money, or any part thereof, exceeding fifty dollars in
amount; that the action was brought without collusion between the
defendant and the plaintiff; and that the claimant cannot, with due
diligence, be served with process in such a manner as to obtain
jurisdiction over his person. The order shall provide, among such other
terms and conditions as justice may require, that notice shall be given
to the claimant by sending by registered mail a copy of the summons and
complaint in the action and the order and a notice addressed to the
claimant at his last known address. In the event that registration of
mail directed to any country or part thereof shall be discontinued or
suspended, notice to a claimant whose last known address is within such
country or part thereof shall be given by ordinary mail, under such
terms and conditions as the court may direct. Proof that the notice has
been mailed shall be filed within ten days from the date of the order;
otherwise the order becomes inoperative. Upon such filing, notice shall
be deemed to have been given on the tenth day after the date of such
order.
3. Upon proof by affidavit or otherwise, to the satisfaction of the
court, that the conditions of this subdivision have been satisfied and
that there is no collusion between the claimant and the defendant, the
court shall make an order staying further prosecution of the action for
a period not to exceed one year from the date when the notice shall have
been given to the claimant. At the time of the granting of such order or
at any time thereafter, the court, upon the motion of any party, shall,
as a condition of the granting of the order or its continuation, impose
upon the defendant such terms as justice may require as to the
furnishing of an undertaking in an amount to be fixed by the court. The
stay shall be vacated and the undertaking, if any has been given, may be
discharged or modified, as justice may require, upon proof to the court
by any party to the action that the claimant has intervened or has
instituted another action in any court of this state to recover the said
sum of money, or any part thereof, exceeding fifty dollars.
4. A motion for any relief as prescribed in this subdivision shall be
made on notice to all other parties to the action.
5. Whenever claims are made by two or more persons, each claiming to
be, to the exclusion of the other, the duly authorized deputy, officer
or agent to demand, receive, collect, sue for or recover the same sum of
money due and payable under or on account of a contract, or any part
thereof, exceeding fifty dollars in amount, for and on behalf of the
same person, each person making such a claim shall be deemed an adverse
claimant. Notwithstanding that an action has been commenced in the name
of or on behalf of the person for whom he claims to be the duly
authorized deputy, officer or agent, any such adverse claimant may be
notified of the pendency of an action as provided in this subdivision
and may intervene in the action and be designated as claiming to be or
as the alleged deputy, officer or agent.
6. Whenever an action has been commenced for the recovery of any sum
of money exceeding fifty dollars due and payable under or on account of
a contract and the records of the defendant show that a person other
than the plaintiff has the right, exclusive of other deputies, officers
or agents of the plaintiff, to demand, sue for and recover the same sum
of money, or any part thereof, exceeding fifty dollars in amount, either
in his own name, on his own behalf, or as the authorized deputy, officer
or agent for the plaintiff, and the defendant has received no notice of
transfer, revocation, or other change in right or authority acceptable
to it, the person so appearing on the records shall be deemed to have
made an adverse claim to the sum of money and may be treated as an
adverse claimant.
(b) Action to recover property. When an action has been commenced to
recover specific personal property, including certificates of stocks,
bonds, notes or other securities or obligations, exceeding fifty dollars
in value, held by the defendant within the state, or to enforce a vested
or contingent interest or lien upon such property, and a person not a
party to the action asserts a claim to the whole or any part of the same
property or to a right, interest or lien upon it which is adverse to the
plaintiff`s claim, and the court in which the action is pending has no
jurisdiction over the adverse claimant to direct the issuance of process
or if the same be issued it would be without effect notwithstanding that
the action seeks to have declared, enforced, regulated, defined or
limited, rights, interests or liens upon specific personal property
within the state, the defendant in the action may within twenty days
from the date of service upon him of the complaint or within twenty days
of the date of the receipt by him of the adverse claim, whichever shall
occur later, make a motion before the court for leave to give notice to
the adverse claimant of the pending action in the same manner as
provided in subdivision (a). Upon the granting of such an order, the
provisions of subdivision (a) shall apply insofar as they are compatible
with the subject matter of the action.
S 217.
Proceeding against body or officer; actions complaining about
conduct that would constitute a union`s breach of its duty of fair
representation; four months. 1. Unless a shorter time is provided in
the law authorizing the proceeding, a proceeding against a body or
officer must be commenced within four months after the determination to
be reviewed becomes final and binding upon the petitioner or the person
whom he represents in law or in fact, or after the respondent`s refusal,
upon the demand of the petitioner or the person whom he represents, to
perform its duty; or with leave of the court where the petitioner or the
person whom he represents, at the time such determination became final
and binding upon him or at the time of such refusal, was under a
disability specified in section 208, within two years after such time.
2. (a) Any action or proceeding against an employee organization
subject to article fourteen of the civil service law or article twenty
of the labor law which complains that such employee organization has
breached its duty of fair representation regarding someone to whom such
employee organization has a duty shall be commenced within four months
of the date the employee or former employee knew or should have known
that the breach has occurred, or within four months of the date the
employee or former employee suffers actual harm, whichever is later.
(b) Any action or proceeding by an employee or former employee against
an employer subject to article fourteen of the civil service law or
article twenty of the labor law, an essential element of which is that
an employee organization breached its duty of fair representation to the
person making the complaint, shall be commenced within four months of
the date the employee or former employee knew or should have known that
the breach has occurred, or within four months of the date the employee
or former employee suffers actual harm, whichever is later.
S 218.
Transitional provisions. (a) Actions barred at effective date.
Nothing in this article shall authorize any action to be commenced which
is barred when this article becomes effective, except insofar as the
right to commence the action may be revived by an acknowledgment or
payment.
(b) Cause of action accrued and not barred at effective date. Where a
cause of action accrued before, and is not barred when this article
becomes effective, the time within which an action must be commenced
shall be the time which would have been applicable apart from the
provisions of this article, or the time which would have been applicable
if the provisions of this article had been in effect when the cause of
action accrued, whichever is longer.