Source: http://ca.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20100825_0056711.ECA.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2017-01-16 15:20:49
Document Index: 693645553

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1983', '§ 340', '§ 335', '§ 352', '§ 1997', '§ 340', '§ 1915']

| Smartt v. Cate
Smartt v. Cate
HASSAN A. SMARTT, PLAINTIFF,v.MATTHEW CATE, ET AL., DEFENDANTS.
Where the running of the statute of limitations is apparent on the face of the complaint, dismissal for failure to state a claim is proper. See Cervantes v. City of San Diego, 5 F.3d 1273, 1276 (9th Cir. 1993). California law determines the applicable statute of limitations in this § 1983 action. See Wilson v. Garcia, 471 U.S. 261 (1985). Until December 31, 2002, the applicable state limitations period was one year. See Jones v. Blanas, 393 F.3d 918, 927 (9th Cir. 2004) (citing Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 340(3) (West Supp.2002); see also Maldonado v. Harris, 370 F.3d 945, 954-55 (9th Cir. 2004).*fn1 Effective January 1, 2003, the applicable California statute of limitations was extended to two years. See Jones, 393 F.3d at 927 (citing Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1). California law also tolls for two years the limitations period for inmates "imprisoned on a criminal charge, or in execution under the sentence of a criminal court for a term less than for life." Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 352.1.*fn2
Moreover, the statute of limitations for a federal civil rights claim is tolled while a prisoner completes the administrative grievance process deemed mandatory by the Prison Litigation Reform Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1997e (a). Porter v. Nussle, 534 U.S. 516, 524 (2002); Brown v. Valoff, 422 F.3d 926, 943 (9th Cir. 2005).
By this action, plaintiff claims that his rights under the Eighth Amendment were violated by defendants' deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs, specifically, timely provision of medically necessary treatment for a nose injury. On April 26, 2003,*fn3 plaintiff fell and injured his nose. (Compl. at 6.) Plaintiff alleges that defendant Rohlfing denied him an xray, and defendants Rohlfing, James, Patton, Mangis, Dial, Dickinson and Wilkerson, all members of the MAR committee, denied his request to be seen by an ear, nose and throat specialist. While not entirely clear, it appears plaintiff sought additional medical treatment from April 26, 2003 through August 21, 2003, during which time he also sought referrals to a specialist through the MAR committee.
In the instant complaint, plaintiff failed to provide dates for the exhaustion of administrative remedies. However, in Case No. 07-cv-1428 FCD EFB P, plaintiff states the second level appeal was partially granted on December 8, 2003. December 8, 2003 is the last date provided in connection with the exhaustion of administrative remedies.
Presuming the date plaintiff's claim accrued was August 21, 2003, the date plaintiff's last request was made, and the statute of limitations was tolled until December 8, 2003 during the exhaustion of administrative remedies, plaintiff had until December 9, 2007 to file a civil rights action arising from those events, in accordance with the provisions of California Civil Procedure Code §§ 340(3) and 352.1. However, the instant complaint was not filed until July 21, 2010, over two years and seven months too late. Accordingly, plaintiff's complaint is time-barred unless subject to equitable tolling.
Generally, federal courts also apply the forum state's law regarding equitable tolling. Fink v. Shedler, 192 F.3d 911, 914 (9th Cir. 1999). Under California law, however, a plaintiff must meet three conditions to equitably toll a statute of limitations: (1) he must have diligently pursued his claim; (2) his situation must be the product of forces beyond his control; and (3) the defendants must not be prejudiced by the application of equitable tolling. See Hull v. Central Pathology Serv. Med. Clinic, 28 Cal.App.4th 1328, 1335, 34 Cal.Rptr.2d 175 (Cal.Ct.App. 1994); Addison v. State of California, 21 Cal.3d 313, 316-17, 146 Cal.Rptr. 224 (Cal. 1978).
Here, however, plaintiff has failed to plead any facts which, if proved, would support the equitable tolling of his claims. See Cervantes, 5 F.3d at 1277. Indeed, this is not the first civil rights action plaintiff brought in an effort to press the instant allegations. On July 18, 2007, plaintiff filed a civil rights complaint against Dr. Rohlfing and the MAR Committee raising the same Eighth Amendment claims concerning plaintiff's April 26, 2003 nose injury.*fn4 (Case No. 07-cv-1428 FCD EFB P.) Plaintiff's amended complaint was dismissed with leave to amend, but the action was ultimately dismissed on August 19, 2009, based on plaintiff's failure to file a second amended complaint despite being granted two extensions of time in which to amend. (Id.) In light of this 2007 filing, it is unlikely plaintiff can demonstrate equitable tolling applies. Thus, plaintiff's entire action must be dismissed as barred by the statute of limitations.
IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that plaintiff's complaint be dismissed as barred by the applicable statute of limitations and for failing to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b).