Opinion ID: 784449
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Durkin's Claims

Text: 5 A district court's interpretation of a consent decree is reviewed de novo. See United States v. Int'l Bhd. of Teamsters, 141 F.3d 405, 408 (2d Cir.1998) (citing E.E.O.C. v. Local 40, Int'l Ass'n of Bridge, Structural & Ornamental Iron Workers, 76 F.3d 76, 80 (2d Cir.1996)). The application of a statute of limitations presents a legal issue and is also reviewed de novo. See Golden Pacific Bancorp v. F.D.I.C., 273 F.3d 509, 515 (2d Cir.2001) (citations omitted). 6 Durkin argues persuasively that the district court erred by applying a statute of limitations analysis to her equitable claims. She asserts that while [c]onsent decrees are interpreted using the rules of construction for contracts ... they are enforced as Orders and therefore are equitable in nature. Accordingly, consent decrees are subject only to equitable defenses and not legal defenses such as [the] statute of limitations. Defendants-Appellees argue that [i]rrespective of whether the equitable or legal standard is applied, [Durkin's] claims are time-barred because [she] seek[s] benefits which should have been credited to [her] upon [her] reinstatement. 7 We agree with Durkin that the court below should have applied the equitable doctrine of laches to her claims because consent decrees are subject to equitable defenses and not legal defenses such as the statute of limitations. See United States v. Local 359, United Seafood Workers, 55 F.3d 64, 69 (2d Cir.1995) ([A] consent decree is an order of the court and thus, by its very nature, vests the court with equitable discretion to enforce the obligations imposed on the parties.) (citing E.E.O.C. v. Local 580, Int'l Ass'n of Bridge, Structural & Ornamental Ironworkers, 925 F.2d 588, 593 (2d Cir.1991)); Berger v. Heckler, 771 F.2d 1556, 1567-68 (2d Cir.1985); Cook v. City of Chicago, 192 F.3d 693, 695 (7th Cir.1999) (Posner, C.J.) (holding that consent decrees are contracts from the standpoint of interpretation but equitable decrees from the standpoint of remedy and therefore subject to the usual equitable defenses). Durkin's motion is subject only to equitable defenses such as laches, not to legal defenses such as the statute of limitations. See DelCostello v. Int'l Bhd. of Teamsters, 462 U.S. 151, 162, 103 S.Ct. 2281, 76 L.Ed.2d 476 (1983) ([S]tate statutes of limitations [do] not apply to a federal cause of action lying only in equity, because the principles of federal equity are hostile to the `mechanical rules' of statutes of limitations.) (quoting Holmberg v. Armbrecht, 327 U.S. 392, 396, 66 S.Ct. 582, 90 L.Ed. 743 (1946)). 6 8 To determine whether Durkin's claims are barred by laches, the district court may wish to consider factors such as whether (and when) Durkin knew of Nassau County's alleged misconduct, whether she inexcusably delayed in taking action, and whether Nassau County was prejudiced by any delay. See Ikelionwu v. United States, 150 F.3d 233, 237 (2d Cir. 1998) ([Laches] is an equitable defense that `bars a plaintiff's equitable claim where he [or she] is guilty of unreasonable and inexcusable delay that has resulted in prejudice to the defendant.') (citation omitted). Thus, further factual development of the record appears to be required with respect to each of Durkin's claims, i.e., for leave, separation, and Section 384-E benefits. 7