Opinion ID: 573935
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Jurisdictional and procedural statutes of limitation

Text: 16 Under both Illinois and federal law, neither equitable tolling nor equitable estoppel applies to statutes of limitations that are jurisdictional rather than procedural. Cada v. Baxter Healthcare Corp., 920 F.2d 446, 451 (7th Cir.1990), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 111 S.Ct. 2916, 115 L.Ed.2d 1079 (1991); Hardin v. City Title & Escrow Co., 797 F.2d 1037, 1040-41 (D.C.Cir.1986); Fredman Bros. Furniture Co. v. Department of Revenue, 109 Ill.2d 202, 93 Ill.Dec. 360, 362-63, 486 N.E.2d 893, 895-96 (1985); Charleston Community Unit School Dist. No. 1 v. Illinois Educ. Labor Rel. Bd., 203 Ill.App.3d 619, 149 Ill.Dec. 53, 55, 561 N.E.2d 331, 333 (1990), appeal denied, 136 Ill.2d 542, 153 Ill.Dec. 371, 567 N.E.2d 329 (1991). Some statutes of limitations are jurisdictional and cannot be equitably extended: [I]f the right being asserted is one unknown to the common law, the time limitation is an inherent element of the right and of the power of the tribunal to hear the matter. Charleston Community, 149 Ill.Dec. at 55, 561 N.E.2d at 333. Other statutes of limitations are merely procedural: [I]f the right upon which the request for relief is based is a common law right, the time limitation is merely a procedural matter not affecting the jurisdiction of the tribunal. Id. Thus, a second issue antecedent to the potential application of equitable tolling or equitable estoppel is whether the statute of limitations at issue in this case is jurisdictional or procedural. 17 As noted, 4 the applicable limitations period for actions brought under 42 U.S.C. sections 1981 and 1983 in federal court in Illinois is Illinois' two-year statute of limitations for personal injury actions. Ill.Ann.Stat. ch. 110, p 13-202 (Smith-Hurd 1984). Because personal injury actions were recognized at common law, this statute of limitations is procedural rather than jurisdictional. Therefore, the limitations period at issue in this case is potentially subject to equitable tolling and equitable estoppel.