name = "Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Massachusetts"
description = "Massachusetts's civil statute-of-limitations periods for 9 common causes of action, each as a recorded claim carrying the statute citation and URL so a consuming agent can verify it at the cited code — plus the single interpretive L5 boundary: these are the statutes as written, NOT any person's actual deadline (accrual, the discovery rule, tolling, and statutes of repose are fact-specific legal determinations). The atlas informs and routes to counsel; it never computes a deadline. Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026). CC0."
license = "CC0-1.0"
jsonld = "https://justice-atlas.ryanjhunter.workers.dev/justice/sol/ma.jsonld"

[[claims]]
id = "https://justice-atlas.ryanjhunter.workers.dev/justice/sol/ma/sol-defamation-libel-slander"
warrant = "RECORDED"
name = "Massachusetts sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 4)"
text = "Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 4, the civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) in Massachusetts is 3 years. Note: Fraudulent-concealment tolling possible in rare cases.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling."
source = "CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026)"
sourceUrl = "https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleV/Chapter260/Section4"
falsifier = "A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release."

[[claims]]
id = "https://justice-atlas.ryanjhunter.workers.dev/justice/sol/ma/sol-fraud"
warrant = "RECORDED"
name = "Massachusetts sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for fraud (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A)"
text = "Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A, the civil statute of limitations for fraud in Massachusetts is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Fraudulent concealment tolls under § 12.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling."
source = "CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026)"
sourceUrl = "https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleV/Chapter260/Section2A"
falsifier = "A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release."

[[claims]]
id = "https://justice-atlas.ryanjhunter.workers.dev/justice/sol/ma/sol-medical-malpractice"
warrant = "RECORDED"
name = "Massachusetts sets a 3 years; max 7 years (repose) civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 4)"
text = "Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 4, the civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Massachusetts is 3 years; max 7 years (repose). Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); an outer statute of repose of 7 year(s) may also bar the claim; Foreign-object exception to the 7-year repose; tolling for minors under age 6.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling."
source = "CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026)"
sourceUrl = "https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleV/Chapter260/Section4"
falsifier = "A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release."

[[claims]]
id = "https://justice-atlas.ryanjhunter.workers.dev/justice/sol/ma/sol-personal-injury"
warrant = "RECORDED"
name = "Massachusetts sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for personal injury (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A)"
text = "Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A, the civil statute of limitations for personal injury in Massachusetts is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Tolling for minors under § 7 and incapacity.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling."
source = "CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026)"
sourceUrl = "https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleV/Chapter260/Section2A"
falsifier = "A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release."

[[claims]]
id = "https://justice-atlas.ryanjhunter.workers.dev/justice/sol/ma/sol-product-liability"
warrant = "RECORDED"
name = "Massachusetts sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for product liability (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A)"
text = "Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A, the civil statute of limitations for product liability in Massachusetts is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Express-warranty claims governed by UCC 4-year limit (§ 2-318).. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling."
source = "CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026)"
sourceUrl = "https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleV/Chapter260/Section2A"
falsifier = "A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release."

[[claims]]
id = "https://justice-atlas.ryanjhunter.workers.dev/justice/sol/ma/sol-property-damage"
warrant = "RECORDED"
name = "Massachusetts sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for property damage (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A)"
text = "Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A, the civil statute of limitations for property damage in Massachusetts is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Standard tolling rules apply.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling."
source = "CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026)"
sourceUrl = "https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleV/Chapter260/Section2A"
falsifier = "A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release."

[[claims]]
id = "https://justice-atlas.ryanjhunter.workers.dev/justice/sol/ma/sol-wrongful-death"
warrant = "RECORDED"
name = "Massachusetts sets a 3 years from death or discovery civil statute of limitations for wrongful death (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 229, § 2)"
text = "Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 229, § 2, the civil statute of limitations for wrongful death in Massachusetts is 3 years from death or discovery. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Underlying claim must have been timely as of death (Fabiano rule).. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling."
source = "CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026)"
sourceUrl = "https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleV/Chapter229/Section2"
falsifier = "A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release."

[[claims]]
id = "https://justice-atlas.ryanjhunter.workers.dev/justice/sol/ma/sol-contract-oral"
warrant = "RECORDED"
name = "Massachusetts sets a 6 years civil statute of limitations for contract oral (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2)"
text = "Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2, the civil statute of limitations for contract oral in Massachusetts is 6 years. Note: UCC 4-year limit governs sales of goods.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling."
source = "CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026)"
sourceUrl = "https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleV/Chapter260/Section2"
falsifier = "A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release."

[[claims]]
id = "https://justice-atlas.ryanjhunter.workers.dev/justice/sol/ma/sol-contract-written"
warrant = "RECORDED"
name = "Massachusetts sets a 6 years civil statute of limitations for contract written (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2)"
text = "Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2, the civil statute of limitations for contract written in Massachusetts is 6 years. Note: Sales of goods under UCC subject to 4-year limit.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling."
source = "CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026)"
sourceUrl = "https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleV/Chapter260/Section2"
falsifier = "A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release."

[[claims]]
id = "https://justice-atlas.ryanjhunter.workers.dev/justice/sol/ma/sol-boundary"
warrant = "INTERPRETATION"
name = "Why these statute-of-limitations periods are NOT your deadline (the L5 boundary)"
text = "The periods above are the statutes Massachusetts has on the books. They do NOT tell you YOUR deadline. When a claim \"accrues\" (starts the clock), whether the discovery rule, tolling, a minor/incapacity, or a statute of repose changes it, and which cause of action even applies, are fact-specific legal determinations. A missed deadline can permanently bar a claim. This atlas informs and routes — it is not legal advice and not a substitute for a licensed attorney. If you may have a claim, consult an attorney in Massachusetts immediately; for free civil legal aid see this state's legal-aid page."
source = "Justice Atlas framing (over the statutes above)"
sourceUrl = "https://justice-atlas.ryanjhunter.workers.dev/"
falsifier = "occurred=FALSE (a framing/legal boundary, not an event) and adjudged=FALSE (the atlas's reading, not a court's ruling on any case) — the lowest-warrant claim. The period+citation claims above are recorded statutes (verifiable at the cited code); this boundary is the only interpretation."

[[sol-deadlines]]
Claim = "Defamation (libel / slander)"
Deadline = "3 years"
Statute = "Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 4"
Notes = "Fraudulent-concealment tolling possible in rare cases."
Warrant = "RECORDED"

[[sol-deadlines]]
Claim = "Fraud"
Deadline = "3 years"
Statute = "Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A"
Notes = "discovery rule; Fraudulent concealment tolls under § 12."
Warrant = "RECORDED"

[[sol-deadlines]]
Claim = "Medical malpractice"
Deadline = "3 years; max 7 years (repose)"
Statute = "Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 4"
Notes = "discovery rule; repose 7y; Foreign-object exception to the 7-year repose; tolling for minors under age 6."
Warrant = "RECORDED"

[[sol-deadlines]]
Claim = "Personal injury"
Deadline = "3 years"
Statute = "Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A"
Notes = "discovery rule; Tolling for minors under § 7 and incapacity."
Warrant = "RECORDED"

[[sol-deadlines]]
Claim = "Product liability"
Deadline = "3 years"
Statute = "Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A"
Notes = "discovery rule; Express-warranty claims governed by UCC 4-year limit (§ 2-318)."
Warrant = "RECORDED"

[[sol-deadlines]]
Claim = "Property damage"
Deadline = "3 years"
Statute = "Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A"
Notes = "discovery rule; Standard tolling rules apply."
Warrant = "RECORDED"

[[sol-deadlines]]
Claim = "Wrongful death"
Deadline = "3 years from death or discovery"
Statute = "Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 229, § 2"
Notes = "discovery rule; Underlying claim must have been timely as of death (Fabiano rule)."
Warrant = "RECORDED"

[[sol-deadlines]]
Claim = "Contract oral"
Deadline = "6 years"
Statute = "Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2"
Notes = "UCC 4-year limit governs sales of goods."
Warrant = "RECORDED"

[[sol-deadlines]]
Claim = "Contract written"
Deadline = "6 years"
Statute = "Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2"
Notes = "Sales of goods under UCC subject to 4-year limit."
Warrant = "RECORDED"
