Document: 446 U.S. 478 100 S.Ct. 1790 64 L.Ed.2d 440 BOARD OF REGENTS the UNIVERSITY STATE NEW YORK et al., Petitioners,v.Mary TOMANIO. No. 79-424. Argued Feb. 26, 1980. Decided May 19, Syllabus * Pursuant to New York statutes requiring that chiropractic practitioners obtain a state license either by passing an examination or obtaining waiver of requirement from petitioner Board Regents (Board), respondent practitioner applied for requirement. In November 1971, notified her application was denied, but not afforded evidentiary hearing given statement reasons denial. January 1972, commenced state-court proceedings, attacking Board's decision as arbitrary and capricious raising any constitutional challenge decision. Ultimately, in 1975, Court Appeals affirmed order holding had abused its discretion denying respondent's application. June 1976, instituted this action Federal District under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging petitioners' refusal grant violated due process guaranteed Fourteenth Amendment. Holding 1983 barred applicable 3-year statute limitations even though claim arose 1971 when denied Board, concluded it appropriate adopt federal rule toll running during pendency litigation. Under tolling time filing is tolled period which litigant pursues related independent cause action. On merits claim, held entitled before on eligibility The both issue merits. Held : Respondent's limitations. courts were obligated only apply analogous claims, also Robertson v. Wegmann, 436 584, 98 1991, 56 554; Johnson Railway Express Agency, Inc., 421 454, 95 1716, 44 295; Monroe Pape, 365 167, 81 473, 5 492. Pp. 483-492. (a) 1988, are instructed refer law provides no actions brought 1988 authorizes disregard otherwise if "inconsistent with Constitution laws United States." Since Congress did establish body rules federal-court coordinate binding most cases. This "borrowing" includes unless they "inconsistent" law. 483-486. (b) York's policies deterrence compensation underlying 1983. Neither these significantly affected since plaintiffs can still readily enforce their thereby recovering fostering deterrence, simply commencing within three years. And there need nationwide uniformity so warrant displacement civil rights actions. Nor federalism undermined adoption rule. When establishes remedy (such 1983) separate other remedies might be available, does allow plaintiff litigate such alternative claims succession, without risk bar, "inconsistent." 486-492. 603 F.2d 255, reversed. Donald O. Meserve, Albany, N. Y., petitioners. Vincent J. Mutari, Garden City, respondent. Mr. Justice REHNQUIST delivered opinion Court. 1 We granted certiorari case, 444 939, 291, 62 305, review judgment Second Circuit, petitioners, University State Commissioner Education, required Amendment States Constitution, afford respondent, Mary Tomanio, request professional licensing requirements. doing, rejected doctrine estoppel maintenance courts. find necessary consider defense based limitations, resolution virtually foreordained favor petitioners our prior cases indisputably lengthy series events ultimately case here described. 2 Respondent has practiced medicine 1958. Prior 1963, require licensed. But year enacted licensing, established methods applicants could practice York. 1963 N.Y.Laws, ch. 780, codified amended, N.Y.Educ.Law §§ 6506(5), 6554, 6556 (McKinney, 1972 Supp. 1979-1980). First, education requirements who previously engaged practice. An qualifying made available individuals already date became effective. Finally, Act third means current qualify taking state-administered examination. "education, experience . provided board regents shall satisfied article have been substantially met."1 3 unsuccessful efforts seven occasions between 1964 she attempted special examinations designed practitioners. failed, narrow margin, ever receive score examinations.2 After failures, pursuant 6506(5). upon failed very licensed Maine Hampshire, passed National Chiropractic Examiners. 22, voted deny at meeting 19. denial it. 4 proceeding capricious, seeking directing her. She raise judicial proceeding. trial court requested relief, reversed Appellate Division. Division waiver. Tomanio Regents, 38 N.Y.2d 724, 381 N.Y.S.2d 37, 343 N.E.2d 755 (1975), aff'g 43 App.Div.2d 643, 349 806 (3d Dept. 1973). Seven months later, 25, alleged Petitioners invoked res judicata affirmative defenses 6 defenses. found would bar consideration actually litigated determined raised court, ruled preclude 7 more than years suit commenced. Although action, Relying Mizell North Broward Hospital District, 427 468 (CA5 1970), judge appropriate, reasoning 8 "[i]n my judgment, present overburdening increased filings complaints factors mitigate encouraging utilization effective feasible administrative remedies, exist law, certain situations." 9 diligently pursued after waiver, then final dismissal state-law "it cannot said slept rights." relief limited sought. Circuit rejection defense, finding justified "in interests advancing goals federalism." 255. agreed ruling entitled, matter 10 unraveling tangle federal- judgments, we decided best disposed resolving question, believe all expressly resolved against decisions 554 (1978); 295 (1975); 492 (1961). decisions, II 11 1983—a void commonplace statutory occurs, repeatedly "borrowed" governing action.3 Limitation borrowing adopted filed early 1914, O'Sullivan Felix, 233 318, 34 596, 58 L.Ed. 980. governed limitations,4 circumstances tolled. 12 actions, however, technical obstacle circumvented possible. cases, "quite clearly instructs [federal courts] statutes" 1983.5 supra. See Carlson Green, 14, n. 10, 1468, 1474, 15 (1980). As Robertson, terms, 13 another subject 1981 except policy consideration." supra, 465, S.Ct., 1722. restated general principle specifically stated relevant substantive created "the controlling ordinarily one law." U.S., 462, 1721, cited therein. went observe logically included tolling: 14 "Any limitation understood fully context various suspend particular necessarily arbitrary, length allowed instituting inevitably reflects value concerning point protecting valid outweighed prohibiting prosecution stale ones. chronological interrelated provisions regarding tolling, revival, questions relying State's wisdom setting limit, exceptions thereto, closely claim." Id., 463-464, make clear, therefore, requires us identify determine whether III 16 those together. N.Y.Civ.Prac.Law 201-218 (McKinney set forth unambiguously 201 1972): "An must specified No extend commencement action." codifies number developed common law.6 section provides, related, action.7 If wishes pursue his rather concurrently, legislature stay risk. 204. Legislature apparently repose should displaced whatever advantages inure, system, scheme encourages litigation another. 17 failure comply precluded 1983.8 gauge consistency, course, respective legislatures sought foster identified compared. many occasions, emphasized importance Statutes technicalities. contrary, long respected fundamental well-ordered system. Making out elements involves pleading, discovery, trial. discovery results ultimate facts jury obviously reliable witness testimony question relatively fresh. Thus courts, comes delay asserting sufficiently likely impair accuracy fact-finding upset settled expectations will respect meritorious. By same token, recognized factual justify exception strong repose. For example, defendants may not, tactics evasion, prevent litigating face time-barred. These generally referred "tolling" and, discussed integral part complete policy. 18 well state, system attested fact created, nonetheless what considered tardily proceedings. Supra, 483-484. recognition Congress, spoken intend mere creation "cause action" "claim relief" complaint automatically prevail established. Thus, general, disfavored Nonetheless, departed 19 (1978), first "a 'inconsistent' merely because causes lose success benchmark, reason look always favoring plaintiff, source essentially irrelevant." 593, 1997. two principal embodied compensation. 20 Uniformity sometimes necessitates 15; Occidental Life Ins. Co. California EEOC, 432 355, 362, 97 2447, 2452, 53 402 (1977). uniformity, while paramount some schemes, held: 21 "[w]hatever areas enforcement where spoken, direction, indicating often provide content remedial reliance issues." 594, 11, 1997 11. 22 believed litigants encouraged resort conclusion lower result odds opinions field itself. 23 several reasoned intended Express, charge Title VII Civil Rights Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, inconsistent "retained procedures VII." 466, 1723. premised prerequisite "expect usually resorted completion ." 461, 1720. Adopting reasoning, Electrical Workers Robbins & Myers, 429 229, 441, 50 (1976), decline labor grievance arbitration "contractual collective-bargaining agreement right 'have legally origins equally aggrieved employee.' " 236, 447, quoting Alexander Gardner-Denver Co., 415 36, 52, 94 1011, 1021, 39 147 (1974). Applying converse EEOC "required refrain until ha[d] discharged duties." 368, 2455. 24 Court's utilized entirely sound sensible observation, square presumed congressional intent creating remedy. Unless structured previous maintained had, see Love Pullman 404 522, 92 616, 30 679 (1972), assumed hold open remedies. It difficult conclude likewise encourage intent. indistinguishable consistent tolling. 25 "separate independent" court.9 interpreted section. 183, 482, "[I]t answer enforced give relief. supplementary remedy, latter refused invoked." independence reveals precluding 26 do construction overridden, found, "federalism" displaces ad hoc reached initially bring just surely frustrate complex combination question. While chosen not. Here expressed disfavor being pursued. Considerations quite adjudicating suits See, e. g., Younger Harris, 401 91 746, 27 669 (1971). Appeals' allowing scarcely deemed triumph Legislature. therefore unnecessary reach contentions. accordingly 28 Reversed. 29 STEVENS, concurring result. asserted deprived profession Constitution.1 proceedings 1975. I timely, somewhat different Appeals. 31 Having relied developments defend challenge,2 permit simultaneously contend aspects controversy crystalized Cf. Bonner Coughlin, 517 1311, 1319 (CA7, 1975), modified, 545 565 (1976) (en banc), cert. 435 932, 1507, 55 529. notes, ante, 491, exhaust bringing court. penalize decides first; gives opportunity correct, through potential error, obviate sense me terms administration files proceed avoid bar. disagree limitations.3 32 merits, am persuaded procedure unfair. Examinations permissible method determining qualifications, lines drawn somewhere. short mark Indeed, itself process. agree Judge Lumbard, dissented Appeals, change procedure. adequate advise why received explanation refusal. allege others obtained or, indeed, suggesting arbitrariness 33 short, merit reverse reason. BRENNAN, whom MARSHALL joins, dissenting. 35 view, States," thus "extended govern" suit. 1988. 36 precise crucial analysis, think note time-barred far persuasive. relies heavily absence provision tolls "during action," 486.1 attach significance language. basis consciously "that another." Ante, 487. Legislative silence communicative.2 deals situation. That unitary consequence judges legislators unlikely focussed systems dealing transaction occurrence. Further, situation probably focussed—the single consecutive suits—would really conceivable separating Moreover, clear lawmakers expect derail second applying seem probable dismissal.3 sum, opaque render supposition stake extremely speculative.4 37 More broadly, confident produce (1961), There are, determination delayed pending issues, Railroad Comm'n 312 496, 61 85 971 (1941). Beyond that, technically abstention doctrine, realized permitting decide determinations contrary Accordingly, conceive situations like view he doing so, compulsory, efficacious way claim. Either strikes legitimate.5 Abstention presumably read district act them spare work. generally, voluntarily concludes worth money, reduce strains federal-state relations ease task facing eventually resolve foregoing benefits substantial, vital ensure expense plaintiff's try forum. recognize bound deliberate choice too quick made. indication intention relinquishing forum, eschew course effect forces so. consequence, timing close door courthouse. context, England Louisiana Medical Examiners, 375 411, 84 (1964), sets preserving forum giving concerns procedure, remitted file formal reservation claims. return fails risks submitted seems respects variation basic similar here. Permitting reserve palatable one; exercised parties alike benefit. want supply simple preventing relitigation courts.6 40 impose future, inclined akin led prospective. 421-423, 467-68. Specifically, anticipated questions. reasonably subsequent assumption wholly prospective.8 41 Because importation below conferred minimal property right. second-guess determination.9 result, axiomatic procedural protections Due Process Clause. extent gone ordered adjudicative hearing. does, minimum rejection. STEVENS original complaint. remedies.10 affirm insofar additional procedures, full dissent. syllabus constitutes prepared Reporter Decisions convenience reader. v Detroit Lumber 200 321, 337, 282, 287, 499. licenses admission chiropractic. took, administered authorities (1975). ago three-year "to recover liability, penalty forfeiture imposed statute," 214(2) 1979-1980), governs Romer Leary, 425 186 (1970); Meyer Frank, 550 726, 434 830, 112, 54 90 suggest 217 1972) four months, appropriately erred limitation. maintain longer assume purposes event barred. Section provides: "The jurisdiction criminal matters [chapter 18], protection persons rights, vindication, conformity States, suitable carry into effect; adapted object, deficient furnish punish offenses modified changed constitution wherein having held, extended govern disposition cause, nature, infliction punishment party guilty." 207 (tolling defendant's residence false name); 208 1979-1980) disability infancy, insanity, imprisonment). 204(b) attempts submit arbitration, obligation arbitrate, run demand providing unavailable. unable adjudication operated authorizing bodies "whether violation lawful error abuse 7803 1963). agency Art. 78, "[N]or deprive person life, liberty, property, U.S.Const., Amdt. 1. rely papers Brief 4. Even remand instance. makes reference "maintain limitations." 487, 8. Powell, Still Small Voice Commerce Clause, Selected Essays Constitutional Law 931, 932 (1938). Winters Lavine, 574 46, (CA2 1978) (citing cases). govern, seek advice these. 493, 3. regard, too, Brother STEVENS. 493. Curiously, broadly parallel effect. understand it, lodge expires period. step put notice loomed, cf. Government Employees Windsor, 353 364, 77 838, 894 (1957), assuming rules, future forums. anomalous, overall satisfactory. 1970 Fifth 468, 473-474. suit, although collateral issues Ornstein Regan, 115 Lombard 502 631, 635-637 applicable, express dispositive facts. Normally serve functions—it force declare intentions, keep him getting chances lurks issue. purpose implicated court's actual proper less obvious. warning discussion inadequate construe manner. 366, 839. here, convinced appropriate. pursuit wake Bishop Wood, 426 341, 347, 96 2074, 2079, 48 684 second-guessing rarely Home Telephone Telegraph Los Angeles, 227 278, 312, 57 510 (1913).

Category: 8