Statute of Limitations for Assault and Battery (intentional tort) in District of Columbia

Overview

In the District of Columbia, the statute of limitations (SOL) for an intentional tort claim like assault or battery is generally 3 years under D.C. Code § 23–113(a)(1).

Run this scenario in DocketMath using the Statute Of Limitations calculator.

This 3-year period is the general default rule for covered actions when a claim-type-specific limitations period is not identified. Based on the jurisdiction data provided, no additional assault-and-battery-specific sub-rule was found, so you should treat § 23–113(a)(1) as the baseline that applies to intentional tort timing that fits within that general framework.

Limitation period

3 years is the general limitations period for claims covered by D.C. Code § 23–113(a)(1).

What “3 years” means in practice

In real-world SOL terms, “3 years” typically refers to the time you have to file a lawsuit in D.C before the deadline passes. The most important practical concept is the start date, because the SOL usually runs from the date the claim accrues—which may be tied to:

• the date of the alleged assault or battery, and/or
• a later accrual moment under applicable accrual principles (for example, depending on how accrual is determined for the particular claim facts).

Why it may not be a simple one-date calculation

Assault and battery cases can involve:

• a single incident,
• repeated harmful acts over time, or
• ongoing/continuing harm.

So while the SOL duration is generally 3 years, the “clock” can be affected by how accrual is determined and which conduct is treated as starting the limitations period.

Using DocketMath to convert “3 years” into a filing deadline

To translate the general 3-year rule into a specific calendar deadline, use DocketMath (the tool name) at /tools/statute-of-limitations.

A practical workflow:

1. Identify potential accrual dates: start by listing the key incident dates and any dates that could affect accrual under your fact pattern.
2. Enter the relevant date(s) into DocketMath.
3. Review the “latest filing date” produced by the calculator.
4. Re-check tolling and adjustments: even if assault/battery has no special claim-type-specific SOL period (per the provided data), timing can still change due to tolling/accrual inputs that the calculator supports.

Example timing math (conceptual)

If you use a particular accrual/start date, the general idea is:

• Start date Jan 15, 2023 → basic 3-year deadline would be Jan 15, 2026 (subject to accrual/tolling nuances).
• Start date Oct 1, 2023 → basic 3-year deadline would be Oct 1, 2026 (subject to accrual/tolling nuances).

DocketMath helps you perform this conversion while you model your specific timing assumptions.

Key exceptions

Even with a general 3-year baseline, D.C. SOL timing can be extended or adjusted through tolling rules and accrual concepts. Because no assault-and-battery-specific sub-rule was found in the provided jurisdiction data, these “exceptions” should be understood primarily as tolling and accrual-related timing adjustments, not as a separate shorter/longer limitations period unique to assault and battery.

Checklist: what to think about before you calculate

When you’re preparing inputs for DocketMath, consider:

• Tolling events: Did something legally pause or delay the SOL?
• Accrual timing: Did the claim accrue on the incident date, or on a later date based on the governing accrual approach?
• Multiple incidents: If there were repeated assaults/batteries, which act (or which set of acts) controls the accrual/start date for your claim?
• Ongoing conduct: Was harm ongoing, and how does that affect the accrual/start date you choose?

How this changes the DocketMath result

DocketMath’s output (often shown as a “latest filing date”) will generally shift based on:

• the start/accrual date you enter, and
• whether you select or enter tolling-related inputs the calculator supports for D.C.

In other words, you’re not just entering “3 years”—you’re modeling when the clock starts and whether any adjustments apply.

Statute citation

The general SOL period referenced here is:

• D.C. Code § 23–113(a)(1) — 3 years (general limitations period for covered actions under the statute)

Source (code text reference): https://law.justia.com/codes/district-of-columbia/2014/division-iv/title-23/chapter-1/section-23-113/

Use the calculator

Use DocketMath at /tools/statute-of-limitations to turn D.C.’s 3-year rule into a concrete deadline for your assault/battery timing.

1. Open /tools/statute-of-limitations
2. Enter the relevant start/accrual date for the claim
3. If available, add any tolling/accrual adjustments supported by the calculator
4. Note the latest filing date output and compare it against your internal timeline

After you get results: quick validation questions

• Does your chosen start date match your best-supported accrual theory?
• Did you include any tolling options that actually align with your facts?
• If there were multiple incidents, did you pick the correct date for accrual (or reconcile which conduct controls)?

Common pitfall: using the incident date as the start date without verifying accrual/tolling assumptions. That can shorten—or sometimes extend—the calculated deadline.

Related reading

• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Vermont — How to choose the right calculator
• Statute of limitations in Singapore: how to estimate the deadline — Full how-to guide with jurisdiction-specific rules
• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Connecticut — How to choose the right calculator