header-logo header-logo

NLJ this week: Lifting the obstacle of limitation in abuse claims

07 March 2025
Issue: 8107 / Categories: Legal News , Limitation , Child law , Abuse
printer mail-detail
210373
The decision to remove the three-year primary limitation period for claims arising from child sexual abuse has been welcomed by abuse survivors, Richard Scorer, head of abuse law and public inquiries at Slater & Gordon, writes in this week’s NLJ.

Scorer says the change, a key recommendation of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, is ‘long overdue’. He writes: ‘Once legislation is passed, there will be no time limit for civil claims. A defendant will still be able to secure a stay of proceedings if it can satisfy the court that a fair trial is impossible—but the burden of persuading the court will rest on the defendant.’

Scorer explains why limitation has been a major obstacle to justice, what the change will mean, and why limitation may need to be removed for a wider category of abuse claims than at present. 
Issue: 8107 / Categories: Legal News , Limitation , Child law , Abuse
printer mail-details
RELATED ARTICLES

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
back-to-top-scroll