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

Overview

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

In Idaho, the statute of limitations (SOL) for an intentional assault or battery claim is 2 years under Idaho Code § 19-403.

This period is treated as the general/default limitations period for many intentional-tort claims when a more specific assault/battery sub-rule is not identified. In this guide, assault and battery (intentional tort) are covered by the default SOL, because no assault/battery-specific sub-rule was found in the jurisdiction data provided.

Note (not legal advice): Limitations rules can vary based on how the claim is pleaded and on the underlying facts, including how the law treats the relevant “clock start” date (e.g., event date vs. discovery-related timing) and whether any tolling applies. DocketMath can help you run date math, but it can’t replace a case-specific review of the complaint, pleadings, and evidence.

Limitation period

**Idaho’s general SOL period is 2 years. (Idaho Code § 19-403.)

What that means in practice

To determine whether a claim is time-barred, the key question is:

• From what date does the 2-year clock start?

Depending on the facts and how the claim is analyzed, courts sometimes focus on the date of the alleged conduct or a discovery-related timing concept. Since the jurisdiction data provided identifies only the general/default 2-year period (and not a claim-type-specific assault/battery sub-rule), you generally start with:

• Deadline = SOL start date + 2 years

How to think about “clock start” without guessing

Create a simple timeline using the dates you actually know:

• Event date: date of the alleged assault or battery
• Discovery date (if applicable): when the harm was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered, based on your facts
• Filing date: the date you file (or plan to file) the complaint

Then test different start-date assumptions if you’re uncertain about what will be treated as the operative clock start.

No claim-type-specific rule found in provided data (clear default)

The jurisdiction data indicates no claim-type-specific sub-rule was found for assault and battery. So the default starting point remains:

• 2 years under Idaho Code § 19-403, unless an exception or tolling applies.

Key exceptions

Idaho Code § 19-403 provides the baseline 2-year SOL, but exceptions may shorten, pause, or extend the deadline. Because assault/battery cases can involve different fact patterns, the most practical categories to check are:

1) Tolling (pausing the SOL)

Some circumstances can pause the SOL clock, pushing the deadline later than “start date + 2 years.” These kinds of adjustments depend on statutory tolling rules and the facts of the case.

What to do: Identify whether any legally recognized tolling concept could apply in your situation and model that adjustment in your timeline.

2) Discovery-related timing (when the clock may start later)

Even when a claim is governed by a fixed limitations statute, the effective clock start may depend on when the injury was discovered or should have been discovered—depending on the legal theory applicable to the claim.

What to do: If the injury/harm wasn’t immediately apparent, compare:

• scenario using event date as start, versus
• scenario using a discovery date as start

3) Procedural timing issues

Some procedural facts can affect outcomes, such as:

• how the case is initially framed,
• how amendments are handled, or
• whether a filing is considered properly made on a given date (mailing vs. filing can matter in some systems).

Warning (practical): If you plug a start date into DocketMath that doesn’t match your intended legal theory, the resulting deadline can be misleading.

Default workflow based on your jurisdiction data

1. Start with 2 years as the baseline.
2. Check whether a tolling/exception category plausibly applies.
3. Run multiple deadline scenarios in DocketMath so you can see which date drives the risk.

Statute citation

Idaho Code § 19-403 — 2-year general statute of limitations (default).

For reference, the statute is available here (Justia): https://law.justia.com/codes/idaho/title-36/chapter-14/section-36-1406/?utm_source=openai

Use the calculator

Use DocketMath to convert dates into a deadline quickly and to compare scenarios.

Step-by-step: what to input

On the SOL calculator page (/tools/statute-of-limitations), set:

• Jurisdiction: US-ID
• Rule selection: use the general 2-year SOL under Idaho Code § 19-403 as the default for intentional assault/battery, since no assault/battery-specific sub-rule was found in the provided data
• Start date: choose the date that matches your best-supported “clock start” theory (commonly the event date, but consider discovery-related alternatives if relevant to your facts)

How outputs change when inputs change

Your deadline will move based on what you select as the start date:

• Earlier start date → earlier deadline
• Later start date (e.g., a discovery date) → later deadline
• If the calculator supports tolling inputs and you model a tolling scenario → deadline extends

Primary CTA

To run your calculations now, use: /tools/statute-of-limitations

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