893.587 Sexual assault of a child; limitation. An action to recover damages for injury caused by an act that would constitute a violation of s. 948.02, 948.025, 948.06, 948.085, or 948.095 or would create a cause of action under s. 895.442 shall be commenced before the injured party reaches the age of 35 years or be barred.
History: 1987 a. 332; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 279; 2005 a. 155, 277; 2007 a. 97.
A victim's action was time barred when “flashbacks" more than 2 years prior to commencing suit made her aware of incest that allegedly occurred more than 50 years earlier. The action was barred despite evidence that the victim was unable to shift the blame from herself at the time of discovery. Byrne v. Brecker, 176 Wis. 2d 1037, 501 N.W.2d 402 (1993).
An adult victim of incest, who at the time of the incestuous act was aware of the identity of the tortfeasor and the impropriety of the conduct did not qualify for tolling of the statute of limitations under the discovery rule because she was unaware of the psychological harm that might occur. Cheryl D. v. Estate of Robert D.B. 207 Wis. 2d 546, 559 N.W.2d 272 (Ct. App. 1996), 95-3510.
Claims for injury caused by an Archdiocese's alleged fraudulent misrepresentation that an Archdiocese did not know that priests it assigned had histories of sexually abusing children and did not know the priests were dangerous to children was not barred by this section. None of the listed statutes in this section refers to fraudulent misrepresentations. John Doe v. Archdiocese of Milwaukee, 2007 WI 95, 303 Wis. 2d 34, 734 N.W.2d 827, 05-1945.