What is the Property Damage Statute of Limitations in Oregon?

If you've had your property ("real" or personal) damaged as a result of someone else's careless or intentional action in Oregon, you could be considering bringing a civil lawsuit over what happened. If so, it's important to understand the Oregon statute of limitations as it applies to property damage lawsuits.

For readers 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 Oregon, the consequences of missing the deadline, and the (rare) situations in which the time limit might be extended.

The Oregon Filing Deadline

In Oregon, a property damage lawsuit must be filed within six years, according to Oregon Revised Statutes section 12.080, which sets this time limit for:

• "An action for waste or trespass upon or for interference with or injury to any interest of another in real property" (translation: damage to a home, building, or other land) and
• "An action for taking, detaining or injuring personal property" (meaning damage to a vehicle, tools, jewelry, and any other kinds of personal property).

So, whether your potential case involves damage to real property (physical damage to your house or your land, for example) or personal property (including vehicle damage claims after a car accident), this six-year deadline applies. 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 Oregon Filing Deadline

What happens if you try to file your Oregon property damage lawsuit after the six-year time window has closed? In that situation, you can count on the defendant (the person you're trying to sue) asking the court to throw out the case. That means making a motion to dismiss the lawsuit based on the fact that you missed the statutory filing deadline. And the court is certain to grant the dismissal, unless rare circumstances apply to make an extension of the deadline appropriate (more on this later).

If your lawsuit is dismissed, 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 make sure you comply with -- the Oregon statute of limitations as it applies to property damage claims.

Extending the Lawsuit Filing Deadline in Oregon

For most kinds of civil lawsuits in Oregon -- including property damage claims -- a number of situations could effectively extend the six-year lawsuit filing deadline as laid out in the statute of limitations.

For example, at the time the property damage occurs, the property owner is under the age of 18 or "has a disabling mental condition that bars the person from comprehending rights that the person is otherwise bound to know," he or she will have extra time to bring the property damage lawsuit once this period of "legal disability" ends (meaning once the property owner turns 18 or is declared competent), according to Oregon Revised Statutes section 12.160. But the filing period won't be extended for more than five years, or for more than one year after the disability ends, whichever comes first.

Other circumstances may affect the computation of the Oregon statute of limitations. 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 Oregon attorney will have the answers. Learn more about Finding an Excellent Lawyer.