Opinion ID: 393062
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Statute of Limitations for the Section 1981 Claim

Text: 19 The Civil Rights Act of 1870 does not contain any statute of limitations. Therefore a federal court will apply the most appropriate state statute of limitations for a cause of action under 42 U.S.C. § 1981. Johnson v. Railway Express Agency Inc., 421 U.S. 454, 462, 95 S.Ct. 1716, 1721, 44 L.Ed.2d 295 (1975). The district court instructed the jury 10 to disregard all evidence of Western's conduct before July 1, 1975, for the purposes of the section 1981 action. The court applied Oregon's two year statute of limitations for tort actions to limit the scope of Plummer's lawsuit. 11 Or.Rev.Stat. § 12.110(1). 12 Plummer contends 13 that Oregon's six year limitations period for liability created by statute should have been applied, and we agree. Or.Rev.Stat. § 12.080(2). 14 20 In this circuit we apply a state liability created by statute limitations period when one is available to civil rights actions. Bratton v. Bethlehem Steel Corp., 649 F.2d 658, 662-63 (9th Cir. 1980) (California); London v. Coopers & Lybrand, 644 F.2d 811, 814 (9th Cir. 1981) (California); Clark v. Musick, 623 F.2d 89, 90-92 (9th Cir. 1980) (Oregon); Tyler v. Reynolds Metal Co., 600 F.2d 232, 234 (9th Cir. 1979) (Arizona). See also Shouse v. Pierce County, 559 F.2d 1142, 1146-7 (9th Cir. 1977) (court would apply such statute if Washington had one). This is because the civil rights legislation 14 created rights and remedies independent from common law tort and contract actions. Bratton, 649 F.2d at 663. 21 In Clark, we held that the appropriate Oregon statute for a cause of action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 is the six year period in Or.Rev.Stat. § 12.080(2), and we disapproved of the Oregon District Court opinions relied on by Western. 623 F.2d at 90-92. There is no basis for distinguishing between civil rights actions brought under sections 1981 and 1983. Bratton, 649 F.2d at 663. Both statutes borrow the most appropriate state limitations period. See, e. g., Clark, 623 F.2d at 90 (section 1983); Tyler, 600 F.2d at 234 (section 1981). The district court therefore erred 15 in applying the two year period and should apply the six year period in Or.Rev.Stat. § 12.080(2) on remand.