§ 639. Limitation of actions; final judgments in criminal proceedings

(a) A civil action under section 632 of this chapter for a violation of subsection 631(a) of this chapter may not be brought after the last to occur of:

(1) more than six years after the date on which the violation was committed; or

(2) more than three years after the date when facts material to the right of action are known or reasonably should have been known by the official within the Attorney General's office with responsibility to act in the circumstances, but in no event more than 10 years after the date on which the violation is committed.

(b) A civil action under this act may be brought for activity prior to enactment, if the limitations period set in subsection (a) of this section has not lapsed.

(c) If the State elects to intervene and proceed with an action brought under subsection 632(b) of this chapter, the State may file its own complaint or amend the complaint of a person who has brought an action pursuant to subsection 632(b). For statute of limitations purposes, any such pleading shall relate back to the filing date of the complaint of the person who originally brought the action, to the extent that the claim of the State arises out of the conduct, transactions or occurrences set forth, or attempted to be set forth, in the prior complaint of that person.

(d) Notwithstanding any other general or special law, rule of procedure or rule of evidence to the contrary, a final judgment rendered in favor of the State in any criminal proceeding charging false statements or fraud, whether upon a verdict after trial or upon a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, shall estop the defendant from denying the essential elements of the offense in any action which involves the same transaction as in the criminal proceeding and which is brought under section 632 of this chapter. (Added 2015, No. 25, § 1, eff. May 18, 2015; amended 2017, No. 113 (Adj. Sess.), § 185.)