What is a statute of limitations?

• A. A legal deadline by which a lawsuit must be filed, otherwise the claim is barred.
• B. A time limit for jury selection.
• C. The maximum time a contract can be valid.
• D. A rule that prohibits discovery after a certain date.

Answer: (A)

A statute of limitations is the legal deadline by which a lawsuit must be filed, otherwise the claim is barred. It sets how long you have to bring a claim after the event that gave rise to it, with the clock starting when the claim accrues (often when the injury occurs or the breach happens). Some circumstances can pause or toll this period, such as the plaintiff being a minor or if the defendant concealed relevant facts, but once the deadline passes, the court generally must dismiss the case even if the evidence is strong. The other options refer to processes or timeframes that don’t govern when a lawsuit must be filed—for example, jury selection timing, contract validity duration, or discovery rules about evidence gathering.