N.J. may end limitations on child sex abuse claims

New Jersey lawmakers are considering a measure that would repeal the statute of limitations on lawsuits by victims of child sex abuse.State Sen. Joe Vitale is the primary sponsor of the legislation that would give those molested as children more time to sue their abusers.”The way the law works now if they don’t bring a claim against an individual, an institution, within two years of discovering the abuse that they’ve really held on to internally for so many years, it’s very difficult to bring that civil action and so this would allow them more time to do that,” Vitale said Friday.The New Jersey Catholic Conference opposes the measure. Pat Brannigan, executive director, said it’s difficult for an institution to defend itself against a claim years later.  The alleged abuser may have died by then or records could be lost, he said.The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved the legislation which is still awaiting action in the Assembly.