Case ID: f-appx_186/html/0326-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Joseph WISE, Appellant v. Donna Reed MILLER; Theresa Pinkett; John Coates.
    No. 06-1944.
    United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
    Submitted Under Third Circuit L.A.R. 34.1(a) July 25, 2006.
    Filed July 27, 2006.
    
      Joseph Wise, pro se.
    Elise M. Bruhl, City of Philadelphia Law Department, Philadelphia, PA, for Appellees.
    Before SLOVITER, SMITH and VAN ANTWERPEN, Circuit Judges.
   OPINION

PER CURIAM.

Joseph Wise appeals pro se from the order of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania dismissing his civil rights complaint pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) as barred by the applicable two-year statute of limitations.

This case arises out of Wise’s attempts to procure vacant property located at 2001 West Hunting Park Avenue, for which he held no legal title. After making about $10,000 worth of renovations to the house, Wise moved into the property in August 2000. He attempted to contact the owner about buying the house but was unsuccessful. Wise contacted Councilwoman Miller, who in turn asked John Coates to have the City purchase the property for Wise at a sheriffs sale. The first sheriffs sale, which took place in 2001, yielded no buyer. Wise claims that Pinkett, an aide to Councilwoman Miller, orally granted the property to him in 2002. However, on January 28, 2003, a buyer, Ola Randolph, purchased the property via a sheriffs sale. Wise complained to Councilwoman Miller’s office, prompting defendant Pinkett to call the sheriffs office. The sheriffs office allegedly told Pinkett (who then told Wise) that Randolph had failed to make a timely payment on the property and, thus, the sale would not go through and the property would be listed on the next sheriffs sale. Despite Pinkett’s representations, however, Wise received written notice of the final sale to Randolph on April 23, 2003. Wise’s attempts to reach Councilwoman Miller about this unforeseen turn of events went unanswered. On May 23, 2003, Wise received an eviction notice from Randolph, in connection with the eviction process brought against Wise in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas. On September 4, 2003, the Common Pleas Court entered a default judgment against Wise. Wise did not prevail on appeal. After receiving many notices to vacate the premises or pay rent to Randolph, Wise moved out of the property on July 8, 2004.

On June 14, 2005, Wise filed a civil rights complaint seeking damages against defendants Miller, Pinkett, and Coates, alleging that they were obligated to purchase the property on his behalf. He claimed that by their failure to purchase the property for him, the defendants effectively denied him his right to the property without due process of law, deprived him of a liberty interest without due process of law, and subjected him to cruel and unusual punishment, in violation of the Fourteenth and Eighth Amendments.

The Defendants moved to dismiss the Complaint pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) as barred by the statute of limitations and because Wise failed to identify a cognizable property interest. The District Court granted the motion, holding that the complaint was time-barred. The District Court rejected Wise’s argument that the limitations period accrued on July 8, 2004, when he was forced to vacate the property. The District Court determined that the injury for which Wise sought relief was the defendants’ failure to purchase the property for him. Thus, the District Court reasoned, the injury occurred on January 23, 2003, the date that the property was sold to Randolph. The District Court ruled that Wise became aware of his injury, at the latest, on April 23, 2003, the date he received written notice that the property had been sold Randolph. Wise had two years, or until April 23, 2005, to file a timely complaint. Based on the April accrual date, the District Court held that the complaint, filed on June' 14, 2005, was time-barred. The District Court dismissed the complaint with prejudice. Wise filed a timely appeal.

We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. Our review of the District Court’s dismissal pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) is plenary. Gallo v. City of Philadelphia, 161 F.3d 217, 221 (3rd Cir.1998). We accept as true all factual allegations in the complaint and will affirm a dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6) only if it is certain that no relief can be granted under any set of facts which could be proved. Steamfitters Local Union No. U20 Welfare Fund v. Philip Morris Inc., et al, 171 F.3d 912, 919 (3rd Cir.1999).

We will affirm for the reasons set forth by the District Court in its opinion. However unfortunate it may be that Wise was unable to obtain ownership of the property in which he invested considerable “sweat equity,” nothing can change the fact that he filed his civil rights complaint almost two months after the two-year limitations period had expired. The complaint is time-barred.

We have thoroughly reviewed the remaining arguments Wise makes on appeal and find them meritless. Accordingly, we will affirm the judgment of the District Court.