What is the statute of limitations?
The statute of limitations is the time period within which a lawsuit must be commenced or will be time barred. Certain acts can toll or extend the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations varies depending on the cause of action (underlying claim). If you or your company have legal claims to enforce, it is important to not sit on your rights and to promptly consult with an attorney regarding the merits of your claims and whether it is advisable to file a lawsuit.
As with any other civil action, lawsuits based on employment discrimination are subject to statutes of limitations. The statute of limitations is a law which limits the amount of time during which a lawsuit may be filed. The effect of a statute of limitations is that when the time for filing has expired, the claim is permanently barred. In other words, once the statute has lapsed, the claim can no longer receive any financial compensation whatsoever, regardless of the merits of the claim. Statutes of limitations can be particularly tricky in employment discrimination cases. For one thing, the same act of discrimination form the basis for both federal and state discrimination claims, each subject to a statute of limitations, but often the length of time for filing is not the same in both. Moreover, some states permit the term of the statute of limitations in these cases to be shortened or lengthened by contract between the parties. For example, in the case of Clark v. DaimlerChrysler Co
