Senate enacts bill to extend statute of limitations for ‘cold case’ lawsuits

AUGUSTA — The Maine Senate on Monday voted unanimously to enact a bill by Sen. Linda Valentino that will give families of homicide victims up to six years to file civil actions related to their loved one’s deaths.

Families of unsolved homicide victims have advocated for the law change proposed in the bill, which was sponsored by Sen. Linda Valentino, D-Saco, who thanked the Senate for its strong show of support. The current statute of limitations is just two years.

“Without criminal convictions in the death’s of their loved ones, these families are often left to rely on the civil court system to obtain any kind of justice,” said Sen. Valentino. “If an investigation has gone cold, two years just isn’t enough time for families to gather evidence and put together a case. This bill will give those families the time they need to seek justice for their loved ones.”

Valentino has championed justice for homicide victims and their families. Valentino successfully fought for the creation of the Unsolved Homicide Unit, which was formed this year to continue investigating so-called “cold cases.”

Valentino said LD 1605 was another crucial piece of the puzzle for victims’ families who are still awaiting justice.

Lise Ouellette, who continues to await her daughter’s murder to be solved, wrote in support of the bill, saying that “it’s been 17 years since Ashley passed but I had to file civil suit just within the two years of her passing.”

The bill earned the unanimous support of the Judiciary Committee, and has the support of Attorney General Janet Mills. It will be sent to the governor, who has 10 days to sign it, veto it, or allow it to become law without his signature.

###