Document: 462 U.S. 650 103 S.Ct. 2611 77 L.Ed.2d 74 Carlos CHARDON, etc., et al., Petitionersv.Juan Fumero SOTO, al. No. 82-271. Argued March 23, 1983. Decided June 20, Syllabus After petitioner Puerto Rican educational officials had demoted respondent school employees and shortly before Rico's 1-year statute of limitations would have expired, a class action was filed in Federal District Court against petitioners on behalf respondents, asserting claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 arising out the demotions. Subsequently, denied certification ground that insufficiently numerous. Respondents then individual actions same been asserted their action. Each more than one year after accrued, even excluding period during which pending, but less denial certification. The were consolidated, entered judgment merits for respondents. Appeals, while modifying remedy some respects, rejected petitioners' argument respondents' barred by limitations. Because there no federal applicable to claims, court looked law determine what was, whether tolled, effect tolling. concluded that, as matter law, tolled unnamed plaintiffs pendency action, began run anew when tolling ceased upon Held: Respondents' timely. parties agree Appeals correctly held certification, provided law. American Pipe & Construction Co. v. Utah, 414 538, 94 756, 38 713—which certain antitrust treble damages not time-barred prescribed Clayton Act because suspended related action—did establish uniform rule decision mandates suspension rathe renewal whenever tolls In case, particular basis deciding suspending period. No question state presented. however, Congress 1988 (1976 ed., Supp. V) has specifically directed courts, absence controlling apply statutes rules unless they are "inconsistent with Constitution laws United States." Here, turned Its this issue is consistent rationale both Board Regents Tomanio, 446 478, 100 1790, 64 440 where it claim New York's limitations, York did provide related, independent, cause Since application gave members protection if own names subsequently dismissed, interest, set forth Pipe, assuring efficiency economy procedure fully protected. Until enacts govern litigation, courts must continue practice "limitations borrowing" outlined Tomanio. Pp. 655-662. 681 F.2d (1st Cir.1982), affirmed. John DeGooyer, Washington, D.C., petitioners. Sheldon Nahmod, Chicago, Ill., Justice STEVENS delivered opinion Court. 1 Petitioners, officials, respondents from nontenured supervisory positions teaching or lower-level administrative posts public system political affiliations. Shortly one-year Subsequently sufficiently disagree tolling.1 Did begin denied, merely action? We decide answer 2 On 17, 1977, each 36 respondents2 received written notice demotion. Monday, 19, 1978, Jose Ortiz Rivera, suing various other discharged employees, statutes. August 21, membership so numerous joinder impracticable. App. 16a-17a. January 1979, number o constitutional Rivera previously advanced behalf. 2a-4a.3 Thus, running time-barred. If anew, these 3 Fifty-five consolidated trial liability 1981. jury found petitioners, ordering reinstatement back pay. 514 F.Supp. 339 (PR 1981); 108a-111a, 114a-116a, 121a-124a. appeal, modified reversing award pay Eleventh Amendment grounds cases dismissed It Fernandez Chardon, (CA1 1982); 158a.4 4 is, do dispute court's conclusion civil rights governed specified Title 31, 5298(2) Code. Nor petitione challenge although reasons. 5 noted Rico well settled filing an party regard party's identical causes P.R.Laws Ann., tit. 5303. recognized, Supreme ruled toll plaintiffs. modeled its procedures practice, 713 (1974), interpreted Rules Civil Procedure permit be between also hold F.2d, at 50.5 6 have, applied Pipe. case established statute, Act, expressly U.S., 560-561, S.Ct., 769-770. determined length Under begins ceases; plaintiff benefits full See Feliciano Aqueduct Sewer Auth., 93 P.R.R. 638, 644 (1966); Heirs Gorbea Portilla, 46 279, 284 (1934).6 Recognizing difference common-law "running-anew rule," applying local violate any policy. further reasoned policies repose federalism identified decisions addressing questions. 50. granted certiorari. --- ----, 339, 382 (1982). 7 * specific regarding period, prescribe 1988, appropriate "laws States," such unsuitable inadequate, state-law borrowed States."7 Petitioners argue supra, requires rather Accordingly, contend neither nor our recent (1980), justified Appeals' rule. This argument, reading into actually decided, fails give 8 restating briefly principles plaintiff's three-year independent Indeed, "resolution [was] virtually foreordained favor prior cases." Id., 480, 1793. reasoning Robertson Wegmann, 436 584, 98 1991, 56 554 (1978); Johnson Railway Express Agency, Inc., 421 454, 95 1716, 44 295 (1975); Monroe Pape, 365 167, 81 473, 492 (1961), explained, "obligated only analogous respondent's limitations." 483, 1794. 9 plainly instructed refer provides brought 1983, id., 484, 1795. "chronological limitation interrelated provisions tolling," we "borrowing" "logically include[s] tolling." 485, 1795.8 Finally, policy—deterrence, compensation, uniformity, federalism—was offended rules. light Congress' willingness rely actions, interest uniformity displacement rules.9 II 10 true, argue, Tomanio involve present making resort unnecessary. "established procedural courts." Brief 13. view, encompasses two requirements: (1) (2) numerous, suspended; does anew. all Rivera's 1978 Court's 1978.10 examine embodies second requirement urge us recognize. 11 group municipalities agencies Utah Although arisen early 1960's, foreclosed four-year 4B Act11 three successive occasions: 10, 1964 1964, criminal charges pending defendants; until May 24, 1968, injunctive proceeding government pending; 13, 1969 December 4, 1969, State pending. During earlier periods litigation thereafter, limitations.12 subsequent denied. 12 circumstances, should treated though named Otherwise, incentive protect interests intervening certification—a "needless duplication motions" "deprive Rule 23 principal purpose procedure." 553-554, 766-767; see 555-556, 767-768. explained impair underlying 554-555, 766-767. 13 order "the precise commencement relevant period," referred terms stated 5(b) suspends based subject matter. By analogy, adequate preserve plaintiffs' claims—they eight days certification—there need consider different might appropriate.13 14 defined basic supported (1976). whether, extension simply asserts procedure. vindicated long given much time intervene file separate he savings whose reasons unrelated merits, or, most closely statute. 15 thus compatible both. comes end, gives protected.14 16 establishes As wrote "§ quite clearly instructs statutes; say accepted solely side advantaged thereby." 593, 1996. decided States, like will differing those inconsistent comparable ultimately enacted solve problems presented borrowing litigation,15 17 Affirmed. REHNQUIST, whom WHITE POWELL join, dissenting. 18 Section Congressional determination several states suitable remedial laws. words "in [brought laws] [federal adapted object, deficient necessary furnish remedies punish offenses common changed constitution wherein having jurisdiction . shall extended said disposition cause. ." 19 frequently recognized generally interstitial character law," Richards 369 1, 7, 82 585, 589, (1962). this, look court" situated. If, "adapted object" laws, commands actions. 20 23. depart general reference inquiry turns principally meaning (1974). While adopts plausible, albeit narrow, I believe fairly read somewhat broader manner. Adopting construction, conclude recognizes made 21 occasions. occasions, involving Act. explicitly addressed stating unambiguously "Whenever instituted States prevent, restrain, violations respect every private right thereof thereafter." 16(b). first followed straightforward 5(b). 22 third utterly silent. warranted Act's class. previously, slightest guidance effect. Despite silence tolled. address it, since source necessarily Any doubt fact removed lengthy discussion history, purposes, intent Likewise, reflected understanding See, e.g., 467 n. 12, 1723 (1975) ("In history Fed.Rule Civ.Pro. purposes litigatory served effect."). 24 interpreting contain members, could properly maintained Again, reflecting fashioning grounded stated: 25 "We convinced who suit permitted action." 554, 766 (emphasis added). 26 There can little fashioned "consistent procedure" requiring To sure, alluded "suspension" effect, rightly provision—which admittedly entirely inapplicable it—in Rather, spoke broadly, "concept" "suspend[s] period." 561, 770 special area applied. 27 today studiously ignores foregoing statements clear inapplicability Instead, offers "Since [in ] appropriate." Ante, 660. orthodox inquiry, seem then, now think needed decide. And, above demonstrates, contains (but nothing more) actions.1 28 least bit unusual. many areas mere rule.2 Moreover, aside Holmberg Armbrecht, 327 392, 66 582, 90 L.Ed. 743 (1946) (general equity borrowed). 29 apparently aware rejecting reflects encourages needless applies. frankly admitted "there discernible rule" 42, 50 (CA 1982). situations, may applicable. scarcely desirable affairs spend how operate. These concerns particularly acute owing ought Few stand greater firmly defined, easily A single, certainty defendants 30 useful analysis situation far case. seems nonetheless Having required have. logical course, rule, expressed place. Court, judge Such course obviously ironic—the appear be, hich not, aspect rule's effect? Alice Wonderland serious judicial undertaking. 31 partially rejects forth, reaches result encourage uncertainty, leads anomalous results, respectfully dissent. uses word "tolling" mean ceases run. "Tolling effect" refers method calculating amount available ended. so, within left renewed, benefit new original. possible fixed six months suit, without original began. Thirty-seven petition writ Questions dealt status persons Rivera. Question timeliness filing. limited grant 2, bearing 3, stage 2; issued mandate his companion cases, notices demotion discharge 1979. complaints untimely, reversed accrued notice, demotions discharges became effective. 648 765 1981). That holding turn, Delaware College Ricks, 449 250, 101 498, 431 (1980). Chardon Fernandez, 454 6, 102 28, 70 (1981). For yet expired 1978. date calendar initial judgment, ordered dismissal cases. 156a-157a. modification argued Saturday, Sunday, 18, excluded computation timely 158a. accordingly, rehearing referring 6(a) Procedure. 161a. Neither decision. Tr. Oral Arg. 4. correctness interpretation us. 18. event, "dealing issues enter judgments hesitant overrule skilled conclusions shown unreasonable." Propper Clark, 337 472, 486-487, 69 1333, 1341-1342, 1480 (1949), quoted Bishop Wood, 426 341, 346, 96 2074, 2078, 48 684 proposition 10. (1976), provides: [The statutes] exercised enforced conformity carry effect; held, cause, following passage 463-464, 1721-1722, (1975): "Any understood context circumstances suspend arbitrary, allowed instituting inevitably value concerning point protecting valid outweighed prohibiting prosecution stale ones. chronological tolling, revival, questions application. relying State's wisdom setting limit, exceptions thereto, claim." 485-486, 1796; 487-488, 1796-1797. 594, 11, 1997, (1978): "[W]hatever nationwide enforcement spoken, direction, indicating often content statutory reliance means issues." 489, 1797. 12-15; Reply 1-2; 6-9, 17; 49; p. 654, supra. 15b, pertinent part follows: enforce [under forever commenced four years accrued." Stat. 731, amended, 16(i) whole complained thereafter. suspension, post, 666, variety effects. Post, 1728(c) (1976) (actions Savings Loan Insurance Corporation payment insurance claims; default, conservator insured institution denies validity claim, event denial); supra (private laws); 714b(c)(2) Commodity Credit Corporation; six-year legal disability beyond seas accrual whichever longer); 1691e(f) Equal Opportunity Act; two-year except agency Attorney General applicant victim alleged discrimination bring later action); 2415(e) (various money recovery debts States; prejudice, recommenced dismissal, regardless otherwise time-barred); 1292 (suits war risk insurance; filed, administratively sixty thereafter); 49 16(3)(c)-(d) railroads overcharges; overcharge writing carrier bringing include claimant disallowing brings recover transportation service begun); 908(f)(C)-(D) (same provision carriers water). applies intervenes files her Crown, Cork, Seal Co., Inc. Parker, 82-118, 2392, 75 ---- (1983). hand, ecision certify class, remained member, creating very multiplicity warned distinguishable. and, occasion creates "a void 1794, aw called fill void. Owing therefore 8122(d) (limitations "run incompetent incompetent"); 1621 (time violator outside nation "shall reckoned limitations"); 817(c) (suspension malpractice suits); 1498 (copyright periods); 255(d) Portal-to-Portal Pay deemed suspended" instances); 45 (period Employers' Liability Burnett Central R. 380 424, 85 1050, 941 (1965)); 745 actions; Northern Metal 350 833 (CA3 1965); Kinman 139 925 (D.C.Cal.1956)); U.S.C.App. 33 (in computing excluded" pending). Cf. Hanger Abbott, Wall. (73 U.S.) 532, 939 (1867) limitations).

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