Statute of repose

A statute of repose is stricter than a statute of limitations because it cannot usually be paused, extended, or saved by late discovery of the injury. It is tied to an event like the completion of a building, the sale of a product, or the delivery of professional services. Once the repose period passes, the right to sue is simply gone, even if the person had no way to know they were hurt. These laws are common in construction, product liability, and professional malpractice cases. Courts treat them as absolute outer limits set by the legislature.