Statute of Limitations for Invasion of Privacy in Oregon

Overview

In Oregon, “invasion of privacy” claims can arise under a few different legal theories—most commonly claims tied to the unauthorized use of someone’s likeness or other privacy-related conduct. In practice, the statute of limitations (the deadline to file suit) depends on which specific claim you’re bringing and when the alleged conduct happened.

This page focuses on how Oregon’s limitations framework typically applies to invasion-of-privacy style claims and how you can use DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator to model deadlines based on dates you enter. It’s not legal advice, and Oregon courts can distinguish between claim types—so treat the results as a starting point for planning and case assessment.

Limitation period

The baseline deadline: 2 years

For many privacy-related claims in Oregon, the general civil statute of limitations is 2 years. That means if the qualifying conduct occurred on a given date, the lawsuit generally must be filed within 2 years of that date (subject to exceptions discussed below).

How the “clock” usually runs

Oregon’s limitations rules usually look to:

• The date of the alleged wrongful conduct (e.g., the date the private information was used or published, or the date the event occurred), and/or
• The accrual date, meaning when the claim is deemed to have become actionable.

For privacy claims, “accrual” is often tied to when the harm occurs or is reasonably ascertainable. Because privacy injuries can unfold (for example, ongoing publication), determining the precise accrual date can be fact-specific.

What changes the deadline in real cases

Here are common factors that can shift the effective filing deadline:

• A different claim category than the one you initially assumed (Oregon law may treat different wrongs differently).
• Continuing harm (e.g., ongoing publication) versus a one-time act.
• When the plaintiff knew or should have known certain facts, where a discovery rule applies.

Key exceptions

Oregon recognizes several doctrines that can extend or otherwise affect the limitations period. The most practical ones to consider for privacy-type claims are:

1) Discovery and accrual variations (when applicable)

Some Oregon causes of action are subject to rules that effectively delay accrual until the plaintiff discovers—or should discover—the relevant facts. Whether a discovery concept applies depends on the precise statute and claim theory.

Practical checklist

• Was the conduct obvious at the time it occurred?
• Could the plaintiff reasonably have discovered the key facts earlier?
• Did the alleged privacy invasion involve information hidden from the plaintiff?

2) Tolling due to legal disabilities or special circumstances

Oregon may toll (pause) the limitations period in certain circumstances, such as when a plaintiff has a qualifying legal disability. Tolling typically requires satisfaction of specific statutory conditions and documentation.

Practical checklist

• Is there a statutory basis for tolling that fits the plaintiff’s situation?
• Are there records supporting the time periods you want to “exclude” from the limitations clock?

3) Contract, consumer, or employment overlays

Sometimes what looks like “privacy invasion” in plain language is pleaded as a different claim category—such as:

• statutory consumer protections,
• employment-related statutes,
• or other civil claims.

Those may carry different limitation periods than the baseline 2-year model.

Pitfall: Assuming one “privacy” limitations period applies to every privacy theory. Oregon can treat claim types differently, and that affects the deadline.

Statute citation

A common Oregon limitations rule used for privacy-type civil claims is the general 2-year limitations period under Oregon’s general civil statute:

• ORS 12.110(1) — provides that an action “for … an injury to the person or rights of another” must be commenced within two years.

Because “invasion of privacy” is not always one single codified cause of action in the way some states frame it, the best match can depend on how the claim is structured and which Oregon right is alleged to have been violated.

Use the calculator

DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations tool lets you model a filing deadline from dates you provide. Use it to estimate the outer boundary for when a complaint would generally need to be filed under the 2-year framework (and to see how changes in input dates affect the result).

Recommended inputs

Use the tool’s inputs like this:

• Alleged violation date: the date the privacy invasion occurred (or the date the actionable event happened).
• Claim type / limitations basis (if the calculator offers claim-type selection): choose the option that corresponds to the limitation period you believe applies (often the 2-year general civil rule).
• Filing date (optional, if the tool allows): to test whether a specific intended filing date is within the estimated deadline.

How outputs change

Here’s what you should expect when you adjust inputs:

Quick workflow

• Enter the alleged violation date.
• Select the 2-year-type limitations option (when that matches your claim theory).
• Review the calculator’s estimated deadline.
• Re-run with alternative dates if your facts support a different accrual argument (for example, discovery timing).

If you need a starting point for your own timeline, head to the tool:
**/tools/statute-of-limitations

Sources and references

Start with the primary authority for Oregon and confirm the effective date before relying on any output. If the rule has been amended, update the inputs and rerun the calculation.

• Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.010

Related reading

• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Vermont — Tool comparison
• Statute of limitations in Singapore: how to estimate the deadline — How-to guide
• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Connecticut — Tool comparison