Generally, a civil action to recover damages for personal injury (including emotional distress) caused by sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or sexual assault of a person under twenty-one years of age must be brought no later than thirty years from the date the victim attains twenty-one years of age Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-577d. A plaintiff does not need to show a predicate criminal prosecution or conviction to qualify for this extended thirty-year limitation period under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-577d, Doe v. Rackliffe, 337 Conn. 627.
However, an action to recover damages for personal injury caused by sexual assault may be brought at any time after the date of the act complained of—meaning there is no limitation period—if the party legally at fault has been convicted of a violation of Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-70 (sexual assault in the first degree) or Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-70a (aggravated sexual assault in the first degree) Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-577e.
Under Connecticut law, a civil claim for sexual abuse brought by an adult claimant who was not a minor at the time of the alleged abuse is generally subject to a three-year statute of limitations for intentional torts Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-577, Doe v. Rackliffe, 337 Conn. 627, or a two-year statute of limitations if the claim is based on negligence Doe v. Rackliffe, 337 Conn. 627, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584. However, if the party legally at fault for the injury has been convicted of certain specific criminal offenses, there is no time limit to bring the civil action Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-577e.