Opinion ID: 602903
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Dismissal of the FBI Agent

Text: 11 The district court dismissed FBI Agent Berrios in 1989, finding that the statute of limitations for the alleged injury had expired. We review an application of the statute of limitations de novo. Felton v. Unisource Corp., 940 F.2d 503, 508 (9th Cir.1991). When such application turns on what a reasonable person should know, a mixed question of law and fact is presented which we review for clear error. Rose v. United States, 905 F.2d 1257, 1259 (9th Cir.1990). 12 In California, a so-called Bivens action against a federal agent is subject to a four year statute of limitations. Gibson v. United States, 781 F.2d 1334, 1342 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 479 U.S. 1054, 107 S.Ct. 928, 93 L.Ed.2d 979 (1987). Gerritsen alleges that Berrios violated his constitutional rights by lying about the legality of his protest activities at the Consulate. This allegation is based on a conversation between Gerritsen and Berrios in August 1983. Gerritsen filed his original complaint in 1985, but he did not add Berrios as a defendant until December, 1987. 13 [T]he touchstone for determining the commencement of the limitations period is notice: 'a cause of action generally accrues when a plaintiff knows or has reason to know of the injury which is the basis of his action.'  Hoesterey v. City of Cathedral City, 945 F.2d 317, 319 (9th Cir.1991) (quoting Cline v. Brusett, 661 F.2d 108, 110 (9th Cir.1991), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 1941, 118 L.Ed.2d 546 (1992)). In this case, then, the limitations began tolling in August 1983, yet Gerritsen did not name Berrios as a defendant until December 1987--more than four years after the alleged violation. Thus, the district court properly found that the statute of limitations had expired. 14 The district court also made findings of fact regarding the relating back and tolling exceptions, and it concluded that these provisions did not apply in this case. The district court found that Berrios never received actual notice of the original 1985 complaint from Gerritsen; that Berrios had no way of knowing he would be sued at a later date; and that Berrios' himself had nothing to do with causing Gerritsen's delay in adding him to the complaint. As these factual findings are not clearly erroneous, we will not reverse them. 15