Camacho-Cardona v. Lopez Pena

360 F. Supp. 2d 298, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4152, 2005 WL 628790
CourtDistrict Court, D. Puerto Rico
DecidedFebruary 15, 2005
DocketCivil 04-1393 (JAG)
StatusPublished

This text of 360 F. Supp. 2d 298 (Camacho-Cardona v. Lopez Pena) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Puerto Rico primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Camacho-Cardona v. Lopez Pena, 360 F. Supp. 2d 298, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4152, 2005 WL 628790 (prd 2005).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

GARCIA-GREGORY, District Judge.

On May 5, 2004, plaintiff Gerardo Camacho Cardona (“Camacho”) filed this complaint alleging that the State Insurance Fund Corporation (“SIFC”) discriminated against him due to his political beliefs (Docket No. 1). On September 13, 2004, defendants Nicolas Lopez Peña (“Lopez”) and Miguel Ramos Quiles (“Ramos”)(collectively “defendants”) filed a motion to dismiss, arguing inter alia that the complaint is time barred (Docket No. 21). On November 8, 2004, plaintiff filed an opposition (Docket No. 31). 1 For the reasons discussed below, the Court GRANTS defendants’ motion to dismiss.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND 2

Camacho has been working at the SIFC since July 24, 1986 and is affiliated with *300 the New Progressive Party (“NPP”). Following the November 2000 general elections, the Popular Democratic Party (“PDP”) took over the government of Puerto Rico. Defendants are affiliated with the PDP.

Camacho claims that upon assuming their positions within the SIFC, the defendants implemented a policy of political discrimination against employees affiliated with the NPP. He further alleges that his former supervisor informed him that he would be removed from his position as Financial Assistant to make way for PDP affiliates who assisted during the 2000 political campaign. On March 20, 2003, Camacho was removed from the position of Financial Assistant and was relocated to the medical records office. On November 13, 2003, Camacho addressed a letter to Lopez regarding his demotion but received no response. Camacho claims that he is under defendants’ constant surveillance. On April 1, 2004, Camacho alleges that defendants refused to appoint him to his former position of Financial Assistant.

DISCUSSION

A. Motion to Dismiss Standard.

Pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. Rule 12(b)(6), a complaint may not be dismissed unless it appears beyond doubt that plaintiff can prove no set of facts in. support of his claim which would entitle him to relief. See Brown v. Hot, Sexy and Safer Prods., Inc., 68 F.3d 525, 530 (1st Cir.1995). The Court accepts all well-pleaded factual allegations as true, and draws all reasonable inferences in plaintiffs favor. See Correa-Martinez v. Arrillaga-Belendez, 903 F.2d 49, 51 (1st Cir.1990). The Court need not credit, however, “bald assertions, unsupportable conclusions, periphrastic circumlocutions, and the like” when evaluating the Complaint’s allegations. Aulson v. Blanchard, 83 F.3d 1, 3 (1st Cir.1996). When opposing a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, “a plaintiff cannot expect a trial court to do his homework for him.” McCoy v. Massachusetts Institute of Tech., 950 F.2d 13, 22 (1st Cir.1991). Plaintiffs are responsible for putting them best foot forward in an effort to present a legal theory that will support their claim. Id. at 23 (citing Correa-Martinez, 903 F.2d at 52). Plaintiffs must set forth “factual allegations, either direct or inferential, regarding each material element necessary to sustain recovery under some actionable theory.” Gooley v. Mobil Oil Corp., 851 F.2d 513, 514 (1st Cir.1988).

B. Defendants Motion to Dismiss

The limitations period for a political discrimination action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 is governed by the applicable state statute of limitations for personal injury actions. See Wilson v. Garcia, 471 U.S. 261, 278-280, 105 S.Ct. 1938, 85 L.Ed.2d 254 (1985). In Puerto Rico, the statute of limitations is one year. See Article 1868(2) of the Civil Code, P.R. Laws Ann. 31 § 5298(2); Torres v. Superintendent of Police, 893 F.2d 404, 406 (1st Cir.1990). Although this Court will apply the one-year period applicable to local tort actions, the date of accrual is a federal law question. See Rivera-Muriente v. Agosto-Alicea, 959 F.2d 349, 353 (1st Cir.1992). The accrual period “ordinarily starts when the plaintiff knows, or has reason to know of the injury on which the action is based.” See Rivera-Muriente, 959 F.2d at 353 (1st Cir.1992); Carreras-Rosa v. Alves-Cruz, 127 F.3d 172, 174 (1st Cir.1997); Velazquez-Rivera v. Danzig, 234 F.3d 790, 795 (1st Cir.2000). If plaintiff establishes a continuing violation of his first amendment rights the statute of limitations begins to accrue after violation concluded. See Muniz-Cabrero v. Ruiz, 23 F.3d 607, 610 (1st Cir.1994) (quoting Velazquez v. *301 Chardon, 736 F.2d 831, 833 (1st Cir.1984)). To establish a continuing violation, plaintiff “must allege that a discriminatory act occurred or that a discriminatory policy existed within the period prescribed by the statute.” Id.

Defendants argue that plaintiffs cause of action is time-barred because it was filed more than one year after the accrual of the cause of action. Defendants argue that on March 20, 2003, plaintiff received the letter demoting him from the position of Interim Financial Assistant. Plaintiff, however, did not file this complaint until May 5, 2004; that is more than one month after the limitations period had expired.

Plaintiff counters by arguing that the allegations in the complaint establish a continuing violation which would toll the statute of limitations. However, “[a] continuing violation is not stated if all that appears from the complaint is that the plaintiff continues to suffer from the ongoing effects of some past act of discrimination.” Goldman v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 607 F.2d 1014, 1018 (1st Cir.1979). Plaintiff must demonstrate “that not only the injury, but the discrimination, is in fact ongoing.” Velazquez v. Chardon, 736 F.2d 831, 833 (1st Cir.1984).

Upon review of the complaint, the Court cannot find that plaintiff has met this burden.

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Related

Wilson v. Garcia
471 U.S. 261 (Supreme Court, 1985)
Muniz-Cabrero v. Ruiz
23 F.3d 607 (First Circuit, 1994)
Carreras-Rosa v. Alves-Cruz
127 F.3d 172 (First Circuit, 1997)
Velazquez-Rivera v. Danzig
234 F.3d 790 (First Circuit, 2000)
William R. Gooley v. Mobil Oil Corporation
851 F.2d 513 (First Circuit, 1988)
Jorge Correa-Martinez v. Rene Arrillaga-Belendez
903 F.2d 49 (First Circuit, 1990)
Richard A. Street v. George Vose, Etc.
936 F.2d 38 (First Circuit, 1991)
Juan Rivera-Muriente v. Juan Agosto-Alicea
959 F.2d 349 (First Circuit, 1992)
Velazquez v. Chardon
736 F.2d 831 (First Circuit, 1984)

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Bluebook (online)
360 F. Supp. 2d 298, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4152, 2005 WL 628790, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/camacho-cardona-v-lopez-pena-prd-2005.