Opinion ID: 1810080
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Limitation period for violations of the Sunshine Law

Text: Auburn University and the trustees argue that, because § 13A-14-2(b) makes a violation of the Sunshine Law a misdemeanor, some of the claims in the action filed by the newspapers are barred by the 12-month limitation period of § 15-3-2, Ala.Code 1975, which requires a misdemeanor charge to be filed within 12 months after the commission of the offense. The newspapers argue that either § 6-2-33(3), Ala.Code 1975, which provides a ten-year limitation period for actions for malfeasance or misfeasance in office or § 6-2-38( l ), Ala.Code 1975, which provides a two-year limitation period for actions for any injury to the person or rights of another not arising from contract and not specifically enumerated in any other subsection of this Code section. Section 6-2-33 provides, in pertinent part: The following actions must be commenced within 10 years: .... (3) Motions and other actions brought by or on behalf of the State of Alabama, a county, a municipality, or another political subdivision of the state against sheriffs, coroners, constables and other public officers for nonfeasance, misfeasance, or malfeasance in office. Section 6-2-38( l ) provides: ( l ) All actions for any injury to the person or rights of another not arising from contract and not specifically enumerated in this section must be brought within two years. Because the action filed by the newspapers is a civil action and not a criminal action, the 12-month limitation period of § 15-3-2 for filing misdemeanor charges does not apply. Similarly, because § 6-2-33(3) provides a ten-year limitation period for actions brought by or on behalf of the State of Alabama, a county, a municipality, or another political subdivision, and because the newspapers did not bring their action on behalf of the State of Alabama, § 6-2-33(3) is inapplicable. Because the Code does not specify a limitation period for a civil action to enjoin a violation of the Sunshine Law in particular, the residuary catchall § 6-2-38( l ) governs such an action. Because the newspapers filed their action on February 28, 2001, within two years of the first alleged violation of the Sunshine Law on April 9, 1999, no claim within the action is barred.