Case Summary
A v Hoare was a landmark case in UK tort law concerning limitation periods for personal injury claims. The claimant sought damages against a man who had sexually assaulted her in 1988. The defendant was convicted and sentenced to prison but later won £7 million in the National Lottery. In 2004, the claimant issued proceedings, significantly outside the standard six-year limitation period for intentional torts. The key legal issue was whether courts could extend the limitation period under section 33 of the Limitation Act 1980, particularly for claims arising from intentional wrongdoing.
The House of Lords overturned previous case law, ruling that personal injury claims – including those arising from intentional assaults – fell within section 11 of the Limitation Act 1980, giving courts discretion to extend time limits in appropriate cases.
A v Hoare [2008] is referenced on page 235 and page 250 of Copper Stopper.