Child sex trafficking, action to recover damages, statute of limitations
If someone was a victim of child sex trafficking before they turned 18, they can sue the person who harmed them for money damages. They have until they turn 41 years old (21 plus 20 years) to file that lawsuit. Or, they have 3 years from the time they figure out — or should have figured out — that their injury was caused by the trafficking. This applies to lawsuits filed on or after August 28, 2026.
537.054. , to recover , . — 1. As used in this section, the following terms mean:
(1) "Child sex trafficking", any act by the against the that occurred when the plaintiff was under eighteen years of age and that would have been a violation of section 566.203, 566.206, 566.209, 566.210, 566.211, or 566.215;
(2) "Injury" or "illness", either a or illness or a psychological injury or illness. A psychological injury or illness need not be accompanied by physical injury or illness.
2. Any action to recover damages from injury or illness caused by child sex trafficking in an action brought this section shall be within twenty years of the plaintiff attaining twenty-one years of age or within three years of the date the plaintiff discovers, or reasonably should have discovered, that the injury or illness was caused by child sex trafficking.
3. This section shall apply to any action commenced on or after August 28, 2026.
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Source & history notes
(L. 2026 H.B. 2273, et al.)
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Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.