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Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5502 (2026)

  Method of computing periods of limitation generally.

✓ current as of May 2026
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§ 5502.  Method of computing periods of limitation generally.

(a)  General rule.--The time within which a matter must be commenced under this chapter shall be computed, except as otherwise provided by subsection (b) or by any other provision of this chapter, from the time the cause of action accrued, the criminal offense was committed or the right of appeal arose.

(b)  Implementing court rules.--Subsection (a) may be made more specifically applicable to particular classes of matters by general rules defining the acts, omissions or events from which the limitation shall be computed. Rules adopted pursuant to this section shall take effect only in the manner provided by section 503(b) (relating to procedures).

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 97 cases (32 in the last 5 years), 1983–2026 · leading case: Wilson v. El-Daief, 964 A.2d 354 (Pa. 2009).
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Wilson v. El-Daief, 964 A.2d 354 (Pa. 2009). · cites it 2× “See 42 Pa. C.S. § 5502(a); Pastierik, 514 Pa.”
Nicolaou, N., h/w, Aplts. v. J. Martin M.D., 195 A.3d 880 (Pa. 2018). “42 Pa.C.S. § 5502(a). Generally, "a cause of action accrues, and thus the applicable limitations period begins to run, when an injury is inflicted.”
Fine v. Checcio, 870 A.2d 850 (Pa. 2005). “42 Pa.C.S. § 5502(a). In Pennsylvania, a cause of action accrues when the plaintiff could have first maintained the action to a successful conclusion.”
Coleman v. Wyeth Pharm., Inc., 6 A.3d 502 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2010). · cites it 2× “The Judiciary Code, 42 Pa.C.S. § 5502(a), sets forth the general rule for the statute of limitations: The time within which a matter must be commenced under this chapter shall be computed, except as otherwise provided by subsection (b) or any other provision of this chapter,…”
Morrison Informatics, Inc. v. Members 1st Fed. Credit Union, 139 A.3d 1241 (Pa. 2016). · cites it 2× “2d 354, 363 (2009) (discussing the prevailing construction of Section 5502(a) of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa.C.S. §5502). [J-10-2016] - 13 Although we recognize that the interests of a debtor and a trustee may diverge in some respects, we find it most important that trustees’…”
Kelly, R. v. The Carman Corp., 229 A.3d 634 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2020). “42 Pa.C.S. § 5502(a). Generally, “a cause of action accrues, and thus the applicable limitations period begins to run, when an injury is inflicted.”
DiDomizio, G. v. Jefferson Pulmonary Assoc., 280 A.3d 1039 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2022). · cites it 2× “]” 42 Pa.C.S. § 5502(a).6 “Normally, a cause of action accrues when an injury is inflicted.”
Levenson v. Souser, 557 A.2d 1081 (Pa. 1989). · cites it 2× “42 Pa.Cons.Stat.Ann. § 5502. Mrs. Levenson responded by arguing that the "discovery rule" applied to her cause of action and that since in the exercise of due diligence she did not and reasonably could not have discovered her injury and its cause until either after the second…”
Andrews v. Cross Atl. Capital Partners, Inc., 158 A.3d 123 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017). “42 Pa.C.S. § 5502(a). In Pennsylvania, “a cause of action accrues when the plaintiff could have first maintained the action to a successful conclusion.”
McGowan v. Univ. of Scranton, 759 F.2d 287 (3rd Cir. 1985). · cites it 5× “42 Pa.Cons.Stat.Ann. § 5502 (Purdon 1981).”
P.J.A. v. H.C.N., 156 A.3d 284 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017). “” 42 Pa.C.S. § 5502(a). As the Supreme Court explained in Fine v.”
Baumgart v. Keene Bldg. Prods. Corp., 633 A.2d 1189 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1993). · cites it 2× “42 Pa.C.S. § 5502(a). "Statutes of limitations have as their purpose the `stimulation of the prompt pursuit of legal rights and the avoidance of the inconvenience and prejudice resulting from deciding stale cases on stale evidence.”
Show all 97 citing cases →
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5502(a) — 71 cases
Wilson v. El-Daief, 964 A.2d 354 (Pa. 2009). “See 42 Pa. C.S. § 5502(a); Pastierik, 514 Pa.”
Nicolaou, N., h/w, Aplts. v. J. Martin M.D., 195 A.3d 880 (Pa. 2018). “42 Pa.C.S. § 5502(a). Generally, "a cause of action accrues, and thus the applicable limitations period begins to run, when an injury is inflicted.”
Fine v. Checcio, 870 A.2d 850 (Pa. 2005). “42 Pa.C.S. § 5502(a). In Pennsylvania, a cause of action accrues when the plaintiff could have first maintained the action to a successful conclusion.”
Coleman v. Wyeth Pharm., Inc., 6 A.3d 502 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2010). “The Judiciary Code, 42 Pa.C.S. § 5502(a), sets forth the general rule for the statute of limitations: The time within which a matter must be commenced under this chapter shall be computed, except as otherwise provided by subsection (b) or any other provision of this chapter,…”
Kelly, R. v. The Carman Corp., 229 A.3d 634 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2020). “42 Pa.C.S. § 5502(a). Generally, “a cause of action accrues, and thus the applicable limitations period begins to run, when an injury is inflicted.”
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5502(b) — 1 case
Wygant, E. v. Gen. Elec., 113 A.3d 310 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015).
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5502(b)(2) — 1 case
Com. v. Bellon, C. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2014).
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5502(c) — 2 cases
Univ. of Pittsburgh v. Townsend, 542 F.3d 513 (6th Cir. 2008).
Univ. of Pittsburgh v. David Townsend (6th Cir. 2008).
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