Do you know that as of January 1, 2020, the revision of the private law statute of limitations will come into force?

The claim for damages or satisfaction in tort (tort liability) is now subject to a limitation period of three years (previously one year), starting from the end of the day on which the harmful conduct occurred or ceased (relative limitation period). The absolute limitation period remains unchanged at ten years. In the case of personal injury, the relative limitation period is also three years, but the absolute limitation period has been doubled to twenty years. Likewise, claims arising from unjust enrichment now only become time-barred after three years from the date on which the beneficiary became aware of the claim (relative limitation period). The absolute limitation period remains unchanged at ten years. A suspension of the statute of limitations can now be agreed in writing between the parties for the duration of settlement discussions, mediation proceedings or other proceedings for the out-of-court settlement of disputes. In addition, Art. 141 CO, which regulates the so-called waiver of the statute of limitations, has been completely reworded: A waiver of the statute of limitations must be made in writing with the handwritten signature of the waiver party. The waiver of the defense of limitation can be made at the earliest from the beginning of the limitation period and the maximum duration of the concrete waiver is ten years (with the possibility of renewal for a further ten years).