What is the Property Damage Statute of Limitations in Mississippi?

Comply with the filing deadline set by Mississippi's statute of limitations, or your property damage lawsuit could be over before it even starts, leaving you without a legal remedy for your losses.

By , J.D. · University of San Francisco School of Law

If you've had your property damaged as a result of someone else's careless or intentional action in Mississippi, you might be thinking about filing a lawsuit over what happened. If so, it's important to understand the Mississippi statute of limitations and how it applies to your potential civil case.

For those unfamiliar with the term, a "statute of limitations" is a state law that affects a potential plaintiff's right to file a lawsuit, by putting a strict limit on how much time can pass before they can get the case started in court. Every state has these laws on the books, with different time limits depending on the kind of case being filed.

In this article, we'll explain the property damage lawsuit filing deadline in Mississippi, the consequences of missing the deadline, and a few rare situations in which you might be able to extend the time limit.

The Mississippi Filing Deadline

In Mississippi, whether your potential case involves damage to real property (your house or your land, for example) or personal property (including vehicle damage), it must be brought to the state's civil court system within three years. This rule can be found at Mississippi Code section 15-1-49, which sets something of a "catch-all" three-year deadline for the filing of many kinds of lawsuits where one person's actions are alleged to have harmed another.

So, if a homeowner wants to bring a lawsuit for physical damage to the exterior of his/her house caused by someone else's negligence, that case must be brought within three years in Mississippi. The same goes for a vehicle damage claim after a car accident. In both situations, the statute of limitations "clock" usually starts ticking as soon as the property owner becomes aware (or should have become aware) that someone else caused damage to his or her property.

Missing the Filing Deadline in Mississippi

What happens if you try to file your Mississippi property damage lawsuit after the three-year time limit has expired? In that situation, it's a safe bet that the defendant (the person you're trying to sue) will file a motion asking the court to dismiss the case. And the court is certain to grant the dismissal unless rare circumstances make an extension of the deadline appropriate (more on this later).

If that happens, you've essentially lost your right to any legal remedy for your damaged property. That's why it's crucial to pay attention to (and comply with) the Mississippi statute of limitations for property damage claims.

Extending the Lawsuit Filing Deadline in Mississippi

For most kinds of civil lawsuits in Mississippi -- including property damage claims -- a number of (relatively rare) situations could effectively extend the three-year lawsuit filing deadline laid out in the statute of limitations.

For example, special rules apply if, at the time the property damage occurs, the property owner is "under the disability of infancy or unsoundness of mind" -- meaning he or she is under the age of 18 or has been declared legally incompetent. In those situations, since the property owner is considered to be under a "legal disability," the three-year "clock" won't start running until the period of disability ends (meaning the property owner turns 18 or is declared competent). But it's important to note that the time period for filing the lawsuit won't be extended for more than 21 years. This rule can be found at Mississippi Code section 15-1-59.

And if the person who is alleged to have caused the property damage leaves the state of Mississippi after the damage occurs but before the lawsuit is filed, the period of his or her absence probably won't be counted as part of the three year time limit for filing suit, according to Mississippi Code section 15-1-63.

Other circumstances may affect the Mississippi statute of limitations, and how it's calculated. If you've got questions about the statute of limitations as it applies to your potential property damage lawsuit -- especially if the filing deadline is fast approaching -- an experienced Mississippi attorney will have the answers. Learn more about Finding an Excellent Lawyer.

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