Ethelyn Wheeler Hamilton, as Co-Executors of Estate of Harold F. Hamilton, Deceased v. General Motors Corporation

SPRECHER, Circuit Judge.

The primary question posed by this diversity appeal is when does the statute of limitations commence to run in regard to a claim for services performed by a major witness in complex litigation : when what turns out to be the last service is performed or later when the litigation is concluded? The answer requires the resolution of the more fundamental problem of whether public policy permits any compensation to be paid to a non-expert witness.

The executors’ complaint to recover for the decedent’s services was dismissed for failure to conform to the applicable-statute of…