Claims against a city, county, state agency, or other government body are treated differently from claims against a private party. Most states require a formal "notice of claim" to be filed with the government entity before a lawsuit can proceed.
This notice period is typically much shorter than the underlying statute of limitations — often 90 days to one year from the incident, compared to two years or more for an equivalent private-party claim.
Missing the notice deadline can bar the claim entirely, even if the general statute of limitations for that type of claim has not yet expired. The notice requirement and the statute of limitations are separate deadlines that both have to be met.
Because these rules are strict and vary by jurisdiction and by the type of government entity involved, claims against a government body are one of the most time-sensitive categories in this register.