Statute of Limitations may have expired on Old Abuse Claims in Tennessee Courts
In Tennessee and in many other states across the country, there is often times where the statute of limitations may have expired on a particular case or crime. In these cases, if the statute of limitations is unclear, then the court may determine if they have expired or not. Sometimes these cases involve old claims of sexual abuse. According to a new case case, two men, one of them forty-three year old Ralph West, made claims to ESPN that Bobby Dodd the former president of the Amateur Athletic Union or AAU abused them in the 1980s when they were players on his youth basketball teams at a YMCA in Memphis. Ralph West claimed that Dodd attempted to fondle him or masturbated in front of him at Dodd’s residence in Memphis and also at AAU events in Indiana, Florida, Louisiana, and Tennessee. Both alleged victims claim to have been encouraged to come forward with their claims after the sexual abuse case at Penn State.
Tennessee state law currently states that adults claiming sexual abuse have one year to file a lawsuit after turning eighteen. The results of a Memphis investigation as well as a pending decision before the Tennessee Supreme Court may determine whether alleged victims are allowed to file a lawsuit decades after their claims of abuse.
The case involving the Tennessee Supreme Court is a lawsuit against the Catholic Diocese of Memphis filed by Norman Redwing in 2008 claiming that he had faced abuse from a priest in the 1970s.
If you or someone you know has questions about how the statute of limitations may affect your abuse claim, then you should speak to a Tennessee personal injury lawyer right away. They will answer any questions you may have and help to see to it that you get the compensation you are entitled to.
Author Bio
Jim Higgins, founder of the Higgins Firm, is a seasoned personal injury attorney with deep roots in Nashville, Tennessee. A 4th generation Nashvillian, Jim carries on the legal legacy of his father, a judge for over 30 years. After graduating from the University of Memphis School of Law, Jim’s career began on the other side of the courtroom, defending insurance companies and learning their tactics for minimizing settlements. However, he soon realized his true calling was fighting for the rights of the injured, and for the past several years, he has exclusively represented plaintiffs in personal injury cases.
Since then, his dedication and skill have earned him membership in the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an organization limited to attorneys who have secured million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for their clients. Licensed to practice in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia, Jim focuses on personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, and workers’ compensation cases. His exceptional work has been recognized by his peers, earning him a spot on the Super Lawyers list from 2021 to 2024, a distinction awarded to only a select group of accomplished attorneys in each state.
