Illinois Supreme Court Says Limitiations Extension Cannot Be Applied Retroactively

In Doe v. Diocese of Dallas, (IL Sup. Ct., Sept. 24, 2009), the Illinois Supreme Court refused to apply retroactively a 2003 amendment to Illinois law extending the statute of limitations in civil actions alleging child sexual abuse. The suit was filed by plaintiff who had been abused by a Catholic priest when he was 14 years old. However under prior law, the statute of limitations had run on his claim before the 2003 amendments took effect. The court concluded that even though the legislature had intended for the amended statute of limitations to apply retroactively: "once a claim is time barred, it cannot be revived through subsequent legislative action without offending the due process protections of our state's constitution." Friday's Belleville (IL) News-Democrat reported on the decision.