Opinion ID: 421210
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Relation Back Under Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(c)

Text: 22 Suit under the SAA was time barred on July 20, 1981, two years after the July 20, 1979, accident. See 46 U.S.C. § 745. Williams filed suit July 13, 1981, seven days before the statute of limitations ran. Service was not completed on the U.S. Attorney and the U.S. Attorney General until July 21 and July 25, respectively. Service was thus completed only days after the time clock expired. 23 Upon the FAA's motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction, Williams moved to amend and name the United States as a defendant. The district court denied the motion since the amendment could not relate back under Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(c). We agree. A party being brought in by amendment under Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(c) must have received notice of the institution of suit within the period provided by law for commencing the action against him. Notice of suit need not be formal. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(c) Advisory Comm. Notes. 24 In the instant case, the cut-off point for suit was July 20, 1981. Formal notice by service did not occur until after that date. 8 Neither is there any support in the record for a finding of informal notice prior to July 20. It is true that appellant had filed an FTCA administrative claim on June 2, 1980, with a governmental agency, the FAA. However, we will not impute the knowledge of a government agency to the U.S. Attorney or the U.S. Attorney General. See Barrie v. United States, 615 F.2d 829, 830 (9th Cir.1980).