Opinion ID: 2980063
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Palmer’s untimely civil rights action

Text: This court has jurisdiction to entertain Plaintiff/Cross-Appellant Palmer’s appeal because the district court’s grant of summary judgment for defendants on her claims is an appealable final judgment. Although Palmer filed her notice of appeal before the district court had entered a Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(b) certification, the district court did eventually enter such a certification. Indeed, on March 8, 2010, the district court issued this order: “Because there is ‘no just reason for delay[ing]’ Palmer’s appeal of [the district court’s May 26, 2009,] order, the Court directs the entry of judgment accordingly under Rule 54(b).” Rule 54(b), in turn, provides, When an action presents more than one claim for relief—whether as a claim, counterclaim, crossclaim, or third-party claim—or when multiple parties are involved, the court may direct entry of a final judgment as to one or more, but fewer than all, claims or parties only if the court expressly determines that there is no just reason for delay. - 41 - Nos. 09-3679, 09-3799 Rodriguez v. City of Cleveland This court has previously “h[e]ld that a premature notice of appeal ripens upon the entry of a proper Rule 54(b) certification, regardless of whether the certification is entered nunc pro tunc.” Good v. Ohio Edison Co., 104 F.3d 93, 95 (6th Cir. 1997). Accordingly, the district court’s grant of summary judgment for defendants on Palmer’s claims is an appealable final judgment and this court has jurisdiction over Palmer’s appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. The district court properly granted summary judgment, on statute of limitations grounds, on Palmer’s Fourth Amendment seizure of property claim. This court reviews a district court’s dismissal on statute of limitations grounds de novo. Banks v. City of Whitehall, 344 F.3d 550, 553 (6th Cir. 2003). “Actions brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 apply the statute of limitations from a state’s general personal injury statute.” Trzebuckowski v. City of Cleveland, 319 F.3d 853, 855 (6th Cir. 2003). Thus, for 42 U.S.C. § 1983 actions brought in Ohio, a two-year statute of limitations applies. Id. at 855-56 (citing Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10). This two-year “statute of limitations begins to run when the plaintiff knows or has reason to know of the injury which is the basis of his action.” McCune v. Grand Rapids, 842 F.2d 903, 905 (6th Cir. 1988). A plaintiff, moreover, “has reason to know of his injury when he should have discovered it through the exercise of reasonable diligence.” Id. Although Palmer learned in July 2006 that M & M’s property had been seized, she did not file a complaint in federal district court until October 14, 2008. The seizure of M & M’s property provides the basis for Palmer’s Fourth Amendment seizure of property claim. Because Palmer did not bring her Fourth Amendment seizure of property claim within two years of when she learned that - 42 - Nos. 09-3679, 09-3799 Rodriguez v. City of Cleveland the property had been seized, the district court properly granted summary judgment for defendants on statute of limitations grounds. The district court properly granted summary judgment for defendants on Palmer’s malicious prosecution claim, as well. The malicious prosecution claim also relies on the seizure of M & M’s property as the basis for Palmer’s constitutional injury; thus, that claim is also untimely.