Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 752-C (2026)

Sexual acts towards minors

✓ current as of May 2026

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1. No limitation. Actions based upon sexual acts toward minors may be commenced at any time.

[PL 1999, c. 639, §1 (NEW).]

2. Sexual acts toward minors defined. As used in this section, "sexual acts toward minors" means the following acts that are committed against or engaged in with a person under the age of majority:

A. [PL 2023, c. 475, §1 (RP).]

B. [PL 2023, c. 475, §1 (RP).]

C. Gross sexual assault, as described in Title 17‑A, section 253; [PL 2023, c. 475, §1 (NEW).]

D. Sexual abuse of a minor, as described in Title 17‑A, section 254; [PL 2023, c. 475, §1 (NEW).]

E. Unlawful sexual contact, as described in Title 17‑A, section 255‑A; [PL 2023, c. 475, §1 (NEW).]

F. Unlawful sexual touching, as described in Title 17‑A, section 260; [PL 2023, c. 475, §1 (NEW).]

G. Sexual exploitation of a minor, as described in Title 17‑A, section 282; or [PL 2023, c. 475, §1 (NEW).]

H. Incest, as described in Title 17‑A, section 556. [PL 2023, c. 475, §1 (NEW).]

[PL 2023, c. 475, §1 (AMD).]

3. Application. This section applies to all actions based upon sexual acts toward minors regardless of the date of the sexual act and regardless of whether the statute of limitations on such actions expired prior to the effective date of this subsection.

[PL 2021, c. 301, §1 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1985, c. 343, §1 (NEW). PL 1989, c. 292 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 551, §1 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 551, §2 (AFF). PL 1993, c. 176, §1 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 639, §1 (RPR). PL 2021, c. 301, §1 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 475, §1 (AMD).

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 41 cases (19 in the last 5 years), 1992–2025 · leading case: Fortin v. Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland, 2005 ME 57 (Me. 2005).

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Fortin v. Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland, 2005 ME 57 (Me. 2005). · cites it 5× “Fortin, on the other hand, argues that this action is not time-barred because it is governed by 14 M.R.S.A. § 752-C(1) (2003), which provides: "Actions based upon sexual acts toward minors may be commenced at any time.”

McAfee v. Cole, 637 A.2d 463 (Me. 1994). · cites it 4× “The Superior Court ruled 14 M.R.S.A. § 752-C (Supp.1993), that provides a claim based on a sexual act with a minor accrues when the plaintiff discovers or reasonably should discover the harm, does not apply to McAfee's claims.”

Angell v. HALLEE, 2012 ME 10 (Me. 2012). · cites it 3× “[¶ 6] Currently there is no limitation on actions based on sexual acts toward minors; the statute provides that “Motions based upon sexual acts toward minors may be commenced at any time.”

Harkness v. Fitzgerald, 1997 ME 207 (Me. 1997). · cites it 2× “The discovery rule in 14 M.R.S.A. § 752-C for claims arising from sexual abuse was not enacted until 1989.”

Guptill v. Martin, 228 F.R.D. 62 (D. Me. 2005). · cites it 3× “See 14 M.R.S.A § 752-C. However, this was not the law in and around 1977, which is when Guptill (then a minor) alleges he was sexually abused by Defendant Martin.”

Allen v. Forest, 257 F. Supp. 2d 276 (D. Me. 2003). · cites it 7× “§ 752, and that Maine’s statute of limitations for sexual acts toward minors, 14 M.R.S.A. § 752-C, applies only to claims against the perpetrators of such acts and not to claims against others based on vicarious liability for the *277 acts of the perpetrator.”

Moriarty v. Garden Sanctuary Church of God, 511 S.E.2d 699 (S.C. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 2× “1993); Me.Rev.Stat.Ann. tit. 14, § 752-C (West Supp.”

Christine S. Angell v. Renald C. Hallee, 2014 ME 72 (Me. 2014). “11, 2000) (codified at 14 M.R.S. § 752-C (2013)); Angell v. Hallee, 2012 ME 10, ¶ 6 , 36 A.”

S.V. v. R.V., 933 S.W.2d 1 (Tex. 1996). “§ 60-523 (1994); Me.Rev.Stat.Ann. tit. 14, § 752-C (West Supp.”

Melanie (Currie) Steadman v. Steven Pagels, 2015 ME 122 (Me. 2015). “See 14 M.R.S. § 752-C (2014). Additionally, any statute of limitations period is tolled while a plaintiff has a significant mental disability, such as Steadman’s.”

Doe v. Rd & Ed, 417 S.E.2d 541 (S.C. 1992). “8A (West 1991); Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 14, Section 752-C (West 1990); Minn.”

William J. Picher v. Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland, 2013 ME 99 (Me. 2013). “§ 859 (2012) and is not subject to the provisions of 14 M.R.S. § 752-C (2012). Because we affirm the court's summary judgment in favor of the Diocese, we do not address this issue.”

Show all 41 citing cases →

— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 752-C(1) — 1 case

Fortin v. Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland, 2005 ME 57 (Me. 2005). “Fortin, on the other hand, argues that this action is not time-barred because it is governed by 14 M.R.S.A. § 752-C(1) (2003), which provides: "Actions based upon sexual acts toward minors may be commenced at any time.”

— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 752-C(2) — 13 cases

Allen v. Forest, 257 F. Supp. 2d 276 (D. Me. 2003). “§ 752, and that Maine’s statute of limitations for sexual acts toward minors, 14 M.R.S.A. § 752-C, applies only to claims against the perpetrators of such acts and not to claims against others based on vicarious liability for the *277 acts of the perpetrator.”

McCarthy v. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland (Me. Super. Ct 2023).

Rioux v. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland (Me. Super. Ct 2023).

O'Shea v. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland (Me. Super. Ct 2023).

McKenney v. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland (Me. Super. Ct 2023).

— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 752-C(3) — 15 cases

Robert E. Dupuis v. Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland, 2025 ME 6 (Me. 2025).

McCarthy v. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland (Me. Super. Ct 2023).

Rioux v. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland (Me. Super. Ct 2023).

O'Shea v. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland (Me. Super. Ct 2023).

McKenney v. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland (Me. Super. Ct 2023).

— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 752-C(l) — 14 cases

Fortin v. Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland, 2005 ME 57 (Me. 2005). “Fortin, on the other hand, argues that this action is not time-barred because it is governed by 14 M.R.S.A. § 752-C(1) (2003), which provides: "Actions based upon sexual acts toward minors may be commenced at any time.”

Allen v. Forest, 257 F. Supp. 2d 276 (D. Me. 2003). “§ 752, and that Maine’s statute of limitations for sexual acts toward minors, 14 M.R.S.A. § 752-C, applies only to claims against the perpetrators of such acts and not to claims against others based on vicarious liability for the *277 acts of the perpetrator.”

McCarthy v. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland (Me. Super. Ct 2023).

Rioux v. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland (Me. Super. Ct 2023).

O'Shea v. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland (Me. Super. Ct 2023).

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