Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 4C (2026)

Sexual abuse of minors

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 4C. Actions of tort alleging the defendant sexually abused a minor shall be commenced within 35 years of the acts alleged to have caused an injury or condition or within 7 years of the time the victim discovered or reasonably should have discovered that an emotional or psychological injury or condition was caused by said act, whichever period expires later; provided, however, that the time limit for commencement of an action under this section is tolled for a child until the child reaches eighteen years of age.

For purposes of this section, ''sexual abuse'' shall mean the commission of any act against a minor as set forth in section thirteen B, 13B1/2, 13B3/4, thirteen H, twenty-two, twenty-two A, 22B, 22C, twenty-three, 23A, 23B, twenty-four, 24B or subsection (b) of section 50 of chapter two hundred and sixty-five or section two, three, four, four A, four B, seven, eight, thirteen, seventeen, twenty-nine A, thirty-four, thirty-five or thirty-five A of chapter two hundred and seventy-two.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 31 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1994–2025 · leading case: Ross v. Garabedian, 742 N.E.2d 1046 (Mass. 2001).

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Ross v. Garabedian, 742 N.E.2d 1046 (Mass. 2001). · cites it 6× “By using the phrase, “or within three years of the time the victim discovered or reasonably should have discovered that an emotional or psychological injury or condition was caused by said act,” in the statute, the Legislature extended the “discovery rule” to sexual abuse cases…”

Doe v. Creighton, 786 N.E.2d 1211 (Mass. 2003). · cites it 3× “This is not, however, a subjective test; the only individualized characteristics that we consider in making a reasonable person analysis under G. L. c. 260, § 4C, are those that stem directly from the complained-of tort.”

Sliney v. Previte, 41 N.E.3d 732 (Mass. 2015). · cites it 5× “Until June, 2014, civil actions alleging sexual abuse of a minor, which may be brought pursuant to G. L. c. 260, § 4C (§ 4C), were governed by a three-year statute of limitations.”

Koe v. Mercer, 450 Mass. 97 (Mass. 2007). · cites it 2× “The Appeals Court’s decision applied the three-year limitations period contained in G. L. c. 260, § 4C, to this case. See Koe v.”

Clark v. Edison, 881 F. Supp. 2d 192 (D. Mass. 2012). · cites it 4× “Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 4C provides that “the time limit for commencement of an action [for assault and battery alleging the defendant sexually abused a minor] is tolled for a child until the child reaches eighteen years of age.”

Phinney v. Morgan, 654 N.E.2d 77 (Mass. App. Ct. 1995). · cites it 2× “On appeal, the defendant argues that the “discovery rule” should not apply to the plaintiffs’ claims because they do not present an inherently unknowable wrong, and the Legislature in enacting G. L. c. 260, § 4C, 3 has determined that a discovery rule should extend only to…”

Doe v. Harbor Schs., Inc., 446 Mass. 245 (Mass. 2006). “360, 366 (2001) (in claim of childhood sexual abuse pursuant to G. L. c. 260, § 4C, material issue of fact existed as to when plaintiff was capable of making causal connection between *259 sexual abuse by defendant and plaintiff’s injuries where plaintiff’s ability to make…”

Moriarty v. Garden Sanctuary Church of God, 511 S.E.2d 699 (S.C. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 2× “1994); Mass.Gen.Laws Ann. ch. 260, § 4C (West Supp.”

Gagne v. O'Donoghue, 5 Mass. L. Rptr. 501 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1996). · cites it 5× “G.L.c. 260, §4C. 3 Massachusetts courts recognize the “discovery rule” for purposes of determining when certain tort actions accrue.”

P.F. v. Dep't of Revenue, 90 Mass. App. Ct. 707 (Mass. App. Ct. 2016). “See G. L. c. 260, § 4C. 15 “These guidelines are based upon the child(ren) having a primary residence with one parent and spending approximately one-third of the time with the other parent.”

Clark v. Edison, 885 F. Supp. 2d 450 (D. Mass. 2012). · cites it 6× “Plaintiff contends that the limitations period was tolled or, alternatively, that the accrual of his claim was delayed until he regained his memory of the alleged abuses in 2008.”

John Doe No. 4 v. Levine, 928 N.E.2d 951 (Mass. App. Ct. 2010). “, G. L. c. 260, § 4C; G. L. c. 231, § 60D, it did not include any exclusion, exception, or tolling provision when it enacted G.”

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