What is a notice of claim requirement?
It's a written presentation of the claim to the responsible entity, required before a lawsuit against a government defendant may be filed.
What it must contain and where it goes is specified by statute, and both matter. Notice sent to the wrong entity, or missing required content, may not satisfy the requirement.
Why it exists. To give the government an opportunity to investigate and potentially resolve claims before litigation.
Why it's dangerous. It's a condition precedent. A claim with strong merits, filed within the limitations period, can be dismissed because notice was never properly given or was given too late.
It's easy to miss because it's counterintuitive — people expect a deadline to file, not a separate deadline to notify.
Where it applies beyond government. Some other claim types have their own pre-suit requirements — medical negligence has a pre-suit investigation process, and PIP suits require a demand letter.
If a government entity is involved at all, get counsel now. This step has no workaround. ---
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