What is the term for the prescribed maximum periods during which an action may be commenced?

• A. Statute of limitations
• B. Surety
• C. Tort
• D. Transcript

Answer: (A)

The timing concept being tested is the period within which a lawsuit must be filed. The term for these prescribed maximum periods is the statute of limitations. It sets how long you have to bring a civil claim after the event giving rise to it (the accrual date), and missing it typically bars the action from being heard. The clock can start at different times depending on the type of claim and can be paused or extended in certain situations (tolling), such as when the plaintiff is a minor or mentally incapacitated, or when other legal rules apply. In New York, different claims have different limits—more time for contract actions, less for certain government claims, and so on—so knowing the specific rule for each claim is important. The other terms refer to unrelated concepts: a surety is someone who guarantees another’s debt, a tort is a civil wrong, and a transcript is a written record of court proceedings.