A statute of limitation places a time limit on how long a person has to file a claim in court. Civil legal matters must be handled expediently and cannot be pursued indefinitely. For example, in New Jersey, breach of contract and fraud causes of action are both claims to which a statute of limitations apply. (The fraud referred to in this blog is common law fraud and is not derived from any statute.)
A breach of contract is defined as failing to perform any term of a contract, written or oral, without a legitimate legal excuse. This may include not completing a job, not paying in full or on time, being late without excuse, or any act which shows the party will not complete the work previously agreed upon.
Fraud is not mere dishonesty. It is calculated. Fraud is a misrepresentation that intends to mislead the innocent party and causes damage to that party. Fraud can also arise by omission (i.e. intentionally failing to disclose preexisting termite damage in a real estate transaction). Fraud claims can arise in many situations including real estate transactions, shareholder and partnership disputes, improper conduct of officers or shareholders of a corporation and in sales of any kind.
In any case where a statute of limitation defense is asserted, the court will determine if the claim was filed timely. In these situations, the person making the claim (the plaintiff) is responsible for proving that his or her case is not barred by the statute of limitation.
The New Jersey statute of limitations for breach of contract and fraud are as follows:
If you or your business has been aggrieved in any way, be mindful of statute of limitations issues and do not sit and wait. Contact the Law Office of H. Benjamin Sharlin LLC for an initial free consultation.
The Law Office of H. Benjamin Sharlin LLC is owned and operated by H. Benjamin Sharlin and serves all of Mercer County, New Jersey and the surrounding areas. Mr. Sharlin is a bilingual Spanish-speaking attorney who vigorously represents the interests of all his clients.
Please be advised that this blog is for informational purposes only, is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship.
is owned and operated by H. Benjamin Sharlin and serves all of Mercer County, New Jersey and the surrounding areas. Mr. Sharlin is a bilingual Spanish-speaking attorney who vigorously represents the interests of all his clients.
Call (609) 585-0606 or click the button below to schedule an appointment