Section 2743.16. Statute of limitations - compromise of claims

(A) Subject to division (B) of this section, civil actions against the state permitted by sections 2743.01 to 2743.20 of the Revised Code shall be commenced no later than two years after the date of accrual of the cause of action or within any shorter period that is applicable to similar suits between private parties.

(B) If a person suffers injury, death, or loss to person or property from the operation of an automobile, truck, motor vehicle with auxiliary equipment, self-propelling equipment or trailer, aircraft, or watercraft by an officer or employee of the state while engaged in the course of his employment or official responsibilities for the state, the person or the representative of that person or of the estate of that person shall attempt, prior to the commencement of an action based upon that injury, death, or loss, to have the claim based upon that injury, death, or loss compromised by the state or satisfied by the state's liability insurance.

If the state, upon a request of the person or of his or his estate's representative to compromise such a claim, does not compromise the claim within a reasonable time after the request is made and at least sixty days prior to the expiration of the applicable period of limitations for commencement of an action based upon the injury, death, or loss, or if the amount of the claim is in excess of the state's liability insurance coverage, the person or his or his estate's representative may commence an action in the court of claims under this chapter to recover the claim or the unpaid amount of the claim from the state. Neither the person nor his or his estate's representative shall commence an action against the officer or employee to recover damages for the injury, death, or loss until after he commences the action in the court of claims against the state and the action in that court is terminated. If the court of claims determines that the state is not liable for the injury, death, or loss caused by the officer's or employee's operation of the automobile, truck, motor vehicle with auxiliary equipment, self-propelling equipment or trailer, aircraft, or watercraft, the person or his or his estate's representative is not prohibited by this division from commencing an action against the officer or employee to recover the claim or the unpaid amount of the claim based upon the injury, death, or loss.

If a person or his or his estate's representative attempts, pursuant to this division, to have a claim compromised by the state or satisfied by the state's liability insurance, and if the state determines not to compromise the claim, the state's liability insurance will not cover the claim, or the claim is in excess of the state's liability insurance coverage, then the state shall so notify the person or his or his estate's representative in writing. The notice shall be provided as soon as possible after the state determines not to compromise the claim or it is determined that the state's liability insurance will not cover either the claim or the entire claim.

(C)

(1) The period of limitations prescribed by division (A) of this section shall be tolled pursuant to section 2305.16 of the Revised Code.

(2) If a person suffers injury, death, or loss to person or property from the operation of an automobile, truck, motor vehicle with auxiliary equipment, self-propelling equipment or trailer, aircraft, or watercraft by an officer or employee of the state while engaged in the course of his employment or official responsibilities for the state, if the person or his or his estate's representative is required by division (B) of this section to attempt to have the claim based upon the injury, death, or loss compromised by the state or satisfied by the state's liability insurance prior to commencing an action based upon the injury, death, or loss, and if the person or his or his estate's representative complies with that division prior to the expiration of the applicable period of limitations prescribed by division (A) of this section for the commencement of an action in the court of claims based upon that injury, death, or loss, the period of time commencing with the submission of the claim to the state for the purposes of compromise or liability insurance satisfaction and ending with the state's compromise of the claim, the satisfaction of the claim by the state's liability insurance, or the provision of the written notice described in division (B) of this section shall not be computed as any part of the period within which an action based upon that injury, death, or loss must be brought.

(3) If a person or his or his estate's representative commences an action to recover a claim, or the unpaid amount of a claim, against the state in the court of claims and that claim arises out of the operation of an automobile, truck, motor vehicle with auxiliary equipment, self-propelling equipment or trailer, aircraft, or watercraft by an officer or employee of the state while engaged in the course of his employment or official responsibilities for the state, the statute of limitations on the claim against the officer or employee shall not run during any time when the action against the state is pending in the court of claims.

Effective Date: 01-13-1991