Me. Rev. Stat. » Title 14
Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 753 (2026)

Two years

✓ current as of May 2026
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Actions for slander and libel must be commenced within 2 years after the cause of action accrues.   [PL 2021, c. 207, §1 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1985, c. 804, §§1,22 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 207, §1 (AMD).
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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 74 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1974–2025 · leading case: Myrick v. James, 444 A.2d 987 (Me. 1982).
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Myrick v. James, 444 A.2d 987 (Me. 1982). · cites it 16× “Because a suit arising from these facts is subject to a two-year period of limitations pursuant to 14 M.R.S.A. § 753, [2] he asserted that the plaintiffs were barred from bringing this action.”
Givertz v. Maine Med. Ctr., 459 A.2d 548 (Me. 1983). · cites it 10× “Merrill is concerned, was commenced within the two-year statute of limitations, whether the suit be viewed as governed by 14 M.R.S.A. § 753 [3] or 24 M.R.S.A. § 2902.”
Curtis v. Porter, 2001 ME 158 (Me. 2001). · cites it 2× “Because the applicable statute of limitations bars recovery more than two years after an assault or battery, 14 M.R.S.A. § 753 (Supp.2000), and because Maine does not recognize a separate civil action for robbery, Curtis filed an amended complaint abandoning these three claims.”
Christine S. Angell v. Renald C. Hallee, 2014 ME 72 (Me. 2014). · cites it 5× “See 14 M.R.S.A. § 753 (1965); 3 Angell, 2012 ME 10, ¶¶ 9, 13 , 36 A.”
Michaud v. N. Maine Med. Ctr., 436 A.2d 398 (Me. 1981). · cites it 6× “Both filing of the complaint and service of the notice occurred within the two-year limitations period of 14 M.R.S.A. § 753 (1980). We held that the plaintiffs' failure to comply with section 2903 did not deprive the Superior Court of jurisdiction over the action and did not…”
Angell v. HALLEE, 2012 ME 10 (Me. 2012). · cites it 4× “[¶ 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.”
McAfee v. Cole, 637 A.2d 463 (Me. 1994). · cites it 2× “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.”
Houk v. Furman, 613 F. Supp. 1022 (D. Me. 1985). · cites it 5× “Maine Medical Center, 459 A.2d 548 (Me.1983), the Maine Supreme Judicial Court [Law Court] held that section 2903 requires that the 90-day pre-filing notice be served within the two-year statute of limitations, 14 M.”
Small v. Inhabitants of the City of Belfast, 547 F. Supp. 761 (D. Me. 1982). · cites it 6× “The defendants would apply: (1) 14 M.R.S.A. § 753 (1980) [two-year period in actions for libel and slander]; (2) 14 M.”
Box v. Walker, 453 A.2d 1181 (Me. 1983). · cites it 4× “Box, were barred by the applicable two-year statutes of limitations, 14 M.R.S.A. § 753 (1980) (physicians) and 24 M.”
Jong Hee Small, Pers. Rep. of the Est. of Delbert Small v. The Inhabitants of the City of Belfast & James Murphy, Etc., 796 F.2d 544 (1st Cir. 1986). · cites it 2× “The district court judge ruled that the Maine two-year statute of limitations applicable to defamation, assault and battery, *546 false imprisonment, and medical malpractice, 14 M.R.S.A. § 753, was the appropriate single limitations period to be selected for all section 1983…”
Choroszy v. Tso, 647 A.2d 803 (Me. 1994). · cites it 2× “14 M.R.S.A. § 753 (1980). The definition of accrual was left to the judiciary.”
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