(a) A cause of action based upon the sexual abuse of a minor by an adult may be filed in the Superior Court of this State at any time following the commission of the act or acts that constituted the sexual abuse. A civil cause of action for sexual abuse of a minor shall be based upon sexual acts that would constitute a criminal offense under the Delaware Code.
(b) For a period of 2 years following July 9, 2007, victims of child sexual abuse that occurred in this State who have been barred from filing suit against their abusers by virtue of the expiration of the former civil statute of limitations, shall be permitted to file those claims in the Superior Court of this State. If the person committing the act of sexual abuse against a minor was employed by an institution, agency, firm, business, corporation, or other public or private legal entity that owned a duty of care to the victim, or the accused and the minor were engaged in some activity over which the legal entity had some degree of responsibility or control, damages against the legal entity shall be awarded under this subsection only if there is a finding of gross negligence on the part of the legal entity.
(c) A person against whom a suit is filed may recover attorneys' fees where the Court determines that a false accusation was made with no basis in fact and with malicious intent. A verdict in favor of the accused shall not be the sole basis for a determination that an accusation was false. The Court must make an independent finding of an improper motive to award attorneys' fees under this section.
Structure Delaware Code
Title 10 - Courts and Judicial Procedure
§ 8101. Sheriff's recognizance or administration bond.
§ 8103. Recognizance in Chancery Court.
§ 8106. Actions subject to 3-year limitation.
§ 8107. Actions subject to 2-year limitation.
§ 8108. Mutual running accounts.
§ 8110. Mesne profits after ejectment.
§ 8111. Work, labor or personal services.
§ 8113. Actions against decedent's estate.
§ 8114. Corporate officers' bonds.
§ 8115. Forfeiture under penal statute.
§ 8116. Savings for infants or persons under disability.
§ 8117. Defendant's absence from State.
§ 8121. Cause of action arising outside State.
§ 8122. Marking and bounding lands.
§ 8123. Forcible entry and detainer.
§ 8124. Notice of claim against City of Wilmington.
§ 8125. Valuation and assessment of property.
§ 8126. County and municipality zoning and planning actions.
§ 8127. Alleged deficiencies in the construction of improvements to real property.
§ 8128. Health care malpractice action limitations.
§ 8129. Inheritance and estate taxes.
§ 8131. Limitation for Indochina herbicide exposure.
§ 8132. Comparative negligence.
§ 8133. Limitation from civil liability for certain nonprofit organization volunteers.
§ 8135. Limitation from civil liability for certain volunteers.
§ 8136. Actions involving public petition and participation.
§ 8138. Recovery of damages in actions involving public petition and participation.
§ 8139. Limitation on civil actions by criminal defendants.
§ 8140. Liability of persons involved in equine activities.
§ 8141. Limitation on agricultural operations nuisance suits.
§ 8142. Limitations on shooting range and hunting operations nuisance suits.
§ 8143. Limitations on civil actions for recovery for shoplifting.
§ 8145. Civil suits for damages based upon sexual abuse of a minor by an adult.