Statutes of limitation are threshold issues in nearly every civil case. The time to investigate, tender, defend, or assert claims is often shorter than expected, particularly in employment and defamation matters. Below is a high-level reference to commonly encountered limitation periods under Arizona law.
| Breach of Oral or Written Employment Contract | One Year – A.R.S. § 12-541 |
| Libel / Slander | One Year – A.R.S. § 12-541 |
| Wrongful Termination | One Year – A.R.S. § 12-541 |
| Personal Injury | Two Years – A.R.S. § 12-542 |
| Professional Negligence | Two Years – A.R.S. § 12-542 |
| Breach of Oral Contract | Three Years – A.R.S. § 12-543 |
| Fraud | Three Years – A.R.S. § 12-543 |
| Breach of Written Contract | Six Years – A.R.S. § 12-548 |
The Revised Arizona Jury Instructions (Civil) are among the most important interpreteve tools in Arizona litigation. Drafted and periodically updated by committees of experienced practitioners and judges through the State Bar of Arizona, RAJI reflects how Arizona courts articulate governing law to juries.
Courts frequently rely on RAJI as a starting point, and deviations often require justification tied to statute or controlling case law. For lawyers, insurers, and risk professionals, familiarity with RAJI provides insight into how claims will ultimately be framed for decision-makers.
RAJI – Civil Jury Instructions Committee (overview and updates): https://www.azbar.org/for-lawyers/communities/committees/civil-jury-instructions-committee/
Commonly Referenced RAJI Volumes
The following instruction sets are frequently implicated in insurance-related disputes, professional-liability claims, and complex civil litigation:
| Negligence (2018): | https://www.azbar.org/media/sirna4lm/4-negligence-instructions-2018.pdf |
| Bad Faith (2022): | https://www.azbar.org/media/gwsng4vq/7-bad-faith-instructions_2022.pdf |
| Personal Injury Damages (2025): | https://www.azbar.org/media/2puhcst2/9-personal-injury-damages-2025.pdf |
| Premises Liability (2013): | https://www.azbar.org/media/aged3rre/8-premises-liability-2013.pdf |
| Fault / Comparative Fault (2013): | https://www.azbar.org/media/gu0ktbxs/3-fault-2013.pdf |
| Contracts (2015): | https://www.azbar.org/media/eghbzn1e/12-contracts-2015.pdf |
| Defamation (2015): | https://www.azbar.org/media/p5cdv4us/18-defamation-2015.pdf |
| Commercial Torts (2017): | https://www.azbar.org/media/3m3jv1qh/15-commercial-torts-2017.pdf |
| Product Liability (2020): | https://www.azbar.org/media/xggjxfsu/6-product-liability-2020.pdf |
| Agency (2013): | https://www.azbar.org/media/fgyf4oyc/17-agency-2013.pdf |
Arizona’s expert‑affidavit statute governs claims asserted against licensed professionals. It requires early disclosure regarding whether expert testimony is necessary and, if so, mandates a preliminary expert opinion affidavit addressing:
- the expert’s qualifications;
- the factual basis of each claim;
- the alleged acts, errors, or omissions constituting a breach of the standard of care; and
- how those acts or omissions caused or contributed to damages.
The statute authorizes courts to stay proceedings pending compliance and to dismiss claims without prejudice if the required affidavit is not timely served. It is a critical procedural safeguard in professional‑negligence litigation.
12-2602 – Preliminary expert opinion testimony; certification
This statute imposes record‑retention obligations on insurers, managing general agents, business entities, and insurance producers. Records relating to consumer information and recommendations forming the basis of insurance transactions must generally be maintained for at least five years and may be kept in electronic or other reproducible formats.
These provisions frequently arise in disputes involving procurement, coverage recommendations, and regulatory compliance.
Arizona law prohibits insurers from engaging in unfair claim settlement practices when performed with such frequency as to constitute a general business practice. The statute identifies prohibited conduct including misrepresenting coverage, failing to reasonably investigate claims, delaying claim handling, refusing to pay without adequate investigation, failing to provide reasonable explanations for denial, and failing to attempt prompt, fair, and equitable settlement when liability is reasonably clear.
Although § 20-461 provides an administrative remedy rather than a private cause of action, its standards are frequently referenced in the evaluation of insurer conduct in bad faith and coverage litigation.