2005 Missouri Revised Statutes - § 516.200. — If defendant be out of state before or departs after cause of action commences, when action may be commenced.

516.200. If at any time when any cause of action herein specified accrues against any person who is a resident of this state, and he is absent therefrom, such action may be commenced within the times herein respectively limited, after the return of such person into the state; and if, after such cause of action shall have accrued, such person depart from and reside out of this state, the time of his absence shall not be deemed or taken as any part of the time limited for the commencement of such action.

(RSMo 1939 § 1023)

Prior revisions: 1929 § 871; 1919 § 1326; 1909 § 1897

(1980) General statute of limitations was not tolled because of defendant's absence from the state where defendant was subject to personal service in another state under long-arm statute. Williams v. Malone (A.), 592 S.W.2d 879.

(2001) Section denying statute of limitations defense to defendants who have moved from the state burdens interstate commerce and is unconstitutional; statute cannot be justified due to applicability of long-arm jurisdiction over such defendants. Rademeyer v. Farris, 145 F.Supp.2d 1096 (E.D.Mo.), aff'd, 284 F.3d 833 (8th Cir. 2002).