N.C. Gen. Stat. » Chapter 66
NC General Statutes

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 66-157 (2026)

Statute of limitations

✓ current as of July 2026
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An action for misappropriation of a trade secret must be commenced within three years after the misappropriation complained of  is or reasonably should have been discovered. (1981, c. 890, s. 1.)

 

§§ 66-158 through 66-162.  Reserved for future codification purposes.

 

Article 25.

Regulation of Precious Metal Businesses.

§ 66-163: Recodified as Part 2 of Article 45 of Chapter 66, G.S. 66-405 through 66-414, by Session Laws 2012-46, s. 15, effective October 1, 2012, and applicable to offenses committed on or after that date.

 

§ 66-164: Recodified as Part 2 of Article 45 of Chapter 66, G.S. 66-405 through 66-414, by Session Laws 2012-46, s. 15, effective October 1, 2012, and applicable to offenses committed on or after that date.

 

§ 66-165: Recodified as Part 2 of Article 45 of Chapter 66, G.S. 66-405 through 66-414, by Session Laws 2012-46, s. 15, effective October 1, 2012, and applicable to offenses committed on or after that date.

 

§ 66-166:  Repealed by Session Laws 2009-482, § 3, effective October 1, 2009.

 

§ 66-167: Recodified as Part 2 of Article 45 of Chapter 66, G.S. 66-405 through 66-414, by Session Laws 2012-46, s. 15, effective October 1, 2012, and applicable to offenses committed on or after that date.

 

§ 66-168: Recodified as Part 2 of Article 45 of Chapter 66, G.S. 66-405 through 66-414, by Session Laws 2012-46, s. 15, effective October 1, 2012, and applicable to offenses committed on or after that date.

 

§ 66-169: Recodified as Part 2 of Article 45 of Chapter 66, G.S. 66-405 through 66-414, by Session Laws 2012-46, s. 15, effective October 1, 2012, and applicable to offenses committed on or after that date.

 

§ 66-170: Recodified as Part 2 of Article 45 of Chapter 66, G.S. 66-405 through 66-414, by Session Laws 2012-46, s. 15, effective October 1, 2012, and applicable to offenses committed on or after that date.

 

§ 66-171: Recodified as Part 2 of Article 45 of Chapter 66, G.S. 66-405 through 66-414, by Session Laws 2012-46, s. 15, effective October 1, 2012, and applicable to offenses committed on or after that date.

 

§ 66-172: Recodified as Part 2 of Article 45 of Chapter 66, G.S. 66-405 through 66-414, by Session Laws 2012-46, s. 15, effective October 1, 2012, and applicable to offenses committed on or after that date.

 

§ 66-173: Recodified as Part 2 of Article 45 of Chapter 66, G.S. 66-405 through 66-414, by Session Laws 2012-46, s. 15, effective October 1, 2012, and applicable to offenses committed on or after that date.

 

§ 66-174: Reserved for future codification purposes.

 

§ 66-175: Reserved for future codification purposes.

 

§ 66-176: Reserved for future codification purposes.

 

§ 66-177: Reserved for future codification purposes.

 

§ 66-178: Reserved for future codification purposes.

 

§ 66-179: Reserved for future codification purposes.

 

Article 26.

Farm Machinery Agreements.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2003–2021 · leading case: Sunbelt Rentals, Inc. v. Head & Engquist Equip., L.L.C., 620 S.E.2d 222 (N.C. Ct. App. 2005).
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Sunbelt Rentals, Inc. v. Head & Engquist Equip., L.L.C., 620 S.E.2d 222 (N.C. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 2× “N.C. Gen. Stat. § 66-157 (2003). Plaintiff commenced this action on 13 July 2000, less than six weeks after Sunbelt’s purchase of BPS was completed (on 1 June 2000).”
Heraeus Med. GMBH v. Esschem Inc, 927 F.3d 727 (3d Cir. 2019). “, N.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 66-157 (North Carolina); Ala.”
Sunbelt Rentals, Inc. v. Head & Engquist Equip., L.L.C., 2003 NCBC 4 (N.C. Bus. Ct. 2003). “§ 66-157. Plaintiff commenced this action well before the expiration of this period.”
Azima v. Del Rosso (M.D.N.C. 2021). · cites it 3× “§ 1836 (d) (Count III); N.C. Gen. Stat. § 66-157 (Count VIII); Sanders v.”
Glover Constr. Co. v. Sequoia Servs., LLC, 2020 NCBC 49 (N.C. Bus. Ct. 2020). · cites it 3× “2d 222, 232 (2005) (citing N.C.G.S. § 66-157) (three years for misappropriation of trade secrets); N.”
Taidoc Tech. Corp. v. Ok Biotech Co., Ltd., 2016 NCBC 26 (N.C. Bus. Ct. 2016). · cites it 2× “2d 542, 548 (2005); see also N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 66-157 , 1-52(9). ‘Discovery’ is defined as actual discovery or the time when the fraud should have been discovered through the exercise of due diligence.”
Inhold, LLC v. Pureshield, Inc., 2020 NCBC 66 (N.C. Bus. Ct. 2020). “§ 66-157 (three-year limitations period for misappropriation of trade secrets).”
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