News & Resources
Time Limits for Pursuing Claims Against the Government
Dec 10,2008
Many individuals and businesses believe it is impossible to fight City Hall or other governmental agencies who engage in wrongdoing, whether intentional or inadvertent. Fortunately, that is not the case.
I often encounter situations where governmental entities, such as cities, counties or the state, impose improper charges for utilities or services, development fees, cause damage to a person’s property or property rights, commit torts, or engage in other improper conduct for which the landlord should be properly compensated. Fortunately, in most cases, the law expressly recognizes your right to take action against the government.
Generally, in Arizona, there is a one-year statute of limitations, or claim period, in which you can take legal action against state or local governments. The one year period typically begins to accrue from the date the damaged party realizes that he has been damaged, and knows or reasonably should know the cause, source, event or condition which caused or contributed to the damage. Making this determination can sometimes be tricky. Thus, there is a possibility that you may still bring a claim for a wrongful act that may have occurred more than a year in the past if you did not know about the wrongful act or have reason to know about it until recently.
As a prerequisite to taking legal action against a governmental entity in the State of Arizona, it is mandatory that you first formally serve a Notice of Claim on the government within 180 days of learning of the wrongdoing. Failure to timely serve the Notice of Claim will typically preclude you from subsequently taking action against the government. Once a Notice of Claim is served, the government is allowed 60 days to respond to the claim. If the government does not timely respond to the claim, you may then pursue legal action against the government. All of this must occur within the statutory claim period noted above. Keep in mind that the government is typically not afforded any special rights or privileges and is treated the same as any other participant in the legal process. Accordingly, the old adage that “you can’t fight city hall” is not necessarily an accurate statement.
Victims need to be vigilant when dealing with the government. It is not uncommon for the government to make mistakes when they impose charges or when they conduct business. The overcharges or damages can sometime be significant, sometimes adding up to tens of thousands of dollars or more, particularly if the charges are of the type that will continue to apply in the future. Accordingly, it pays to be vigilant and to stand up for your legal rights.
This article is general in nature and does not address some of the claims against the federal government and certain governmental agencies that have unique policies. An attorney should be consulted on these types of matters to ensure that the claims are timely and properly pursued.
John Buric has a multifaceted practice of law that includes the mobile home/manufactured home and recreational vehicle community industries, landlord-tenant, contracts, construction, real estate, administrative proceedings (including the Arizona Department of Housing), general business law and civil litigation. Knowledge of these practice areas is particularly suitable for serving the mobile home/manufactured home and RV industries. Since the 1980s, John has represented and advised the owners, developers and managers of manufactured home communities and resorts, mobile home communities and recreational vehicle communities in hundreds of matters involving a broad range of state and federal laws, business issues, real estate matters, eminent domain, governmental disputes, contracts, administrative complaints and litigation.