Perez v. Police Department of New York

872 F. Supp. 49, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18641, 1994 WL 722996
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedDecember 30, 1994
DocketNo. 93 Civ. 5622 (JES)
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 872 F. Supp. 49 (Perez v. Police Department of New York) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Perez v. Police Department of New York, 872 F. Supp. 49, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18641, 1994 WL 722996 (S.D.N.Y. 1994).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

SPRIZZO, District Judge.

Plaintiff Marcos Perez, acting pro se, brings the instant action against the Police Department of the City of New York (“N.Y.P.D.”), Sergeant Luis Castillo, Officer Christopher Fellin and Officer Robert Randall (collectively “defendants”). Perez claims that defendants employed excessive force in violation of his civil rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, defendants move to dismiss upon the ground that the instant action is barred by the statute of limitations. For the reasons that follow, defendants’ motion to dismiss is granted.

BACKGROUND

In his complaint, Perez briefly sets forth the facts underlying the instant action. Perez alleges that, on April 20, 1990, a “shootout” occurred when he exited an apartment building located on 159th Street and Broadway. See Complaint. While in the apart[51]*51ment building, Perez apparently killed a sixteen year old woman, shot her common law husband approximately ten times and shot her fourteen year old brother twice. Affidavit of John P. Woods Sworn to October 27, 1998 (“Woods Aff.”) ¶ 4 n. 1. Upon exiting the building, Perez was already suffering from two bullet wounds from an unidentified source. Complaint. He was also carrying a gun in his waistband, but it was allegedly jammed. Id.

As he approached the middle of the street, Perez was confronted by three plain clothes police officers. Complaint. Perez alleges that, without even identifying themselves, the three police officers began to fire at him.1 Id. The three officers shot Perez five times in the left leg, twice in the right leg and once in the neck. Id. An automobile then struck him. Id. Despite his considerable injuries, Perez was rushed to the hospital by ambulance and survived the incident. Id. After a trial in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Perez was convicted of manslaughter and attempted murder in connection with the shootings inside the apartment building, and attempted murder with respect to the officers. Woods Aff. ¶4 n. 1.

On June 25, 1998, the Pro Se Office received a civil complaint mailed by Perez. On August 11, 1993, the Pro Se Office filed the complaint with the Clerk’s Office for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. In the instant action, Perez claims that defendants violated his civil rights by employing “excessive force” during the incident. On June 3, 1994, defendants filed a motion to dismiss arguing that the instant action is barred by the statute of limitations.

DISCUSSION

On a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6), “the factual allegations in the complaint must be accepted as true, and all reasonable inferences must be drawn in favor of the plaintiff.” Walker v. City of New York, 974 F.2d 293, 298 (2d Cir.1992) (quoting Frazier v. Coughlin, 850 F.2d 129, 129 (2d Cir.1988)). A district court may dismiss a complaint if “it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle him to relief.” Stewart v. Jackson & Nash, 976 F.2d 86, 87 (2d Cir.1992) (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46, 78 S.Ct. 99, 101-02, 2 L.Ed.2d 80 (1957)).

In an action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, which does not itself provide a statutory period of limitations, a district court must borrow the forum state’s period of limitations for personal injury actions. See Wilson v. Garcia, 471 U.S. 261, 266-67, 105 S.Ct. 1938, 1941-42, 85 L.Ed.2d 254 (1985). Ac cordingly, in this ease, the Court must apply New York’s three-year statute of limitations governing personal injury actions. See NY CPLR § 214(5); Owens v. Okure, 488 U.S. 235, 249-51, 109 S.Ct. 573, 581-82, 102 L.Ed.2d 594 (1989); Pauk v. Board of Trustees of the City of New York, 654 F.2d 856, 866 (2d Cir.1981), cert. denied, 455 U.S. 1000, 102 S.Ct. 1631, 71 L.Ed.2d 866 (1982).

Although state law determines the period of limitations, federal law determines the time of accrual. See Pauk, 654 F.2d at 859; Kaiser v. Cahn, 510 F.2d 282, 285 (2d Cir.1974). Under federal law, a § 1983 claim accrues when the plaintiff “knows or has reason to know of the injury which is the basis of his action.” Singleton v. City of New York, 632 F.2d 185, 191 (2d Cir.1980), cert. denied, 450 U.S. 920, 101 S.Ct. 1368, 67 L.Ed.2d 347 (1981) (quoting Bireline v. Seagondollar, 567 F.2d 260, 263 (4th Cir.1977)). Moreover, “the proper focus is on the time of the discriminatory act, not the point at which the consequences of the act become painful.” Chardon v. Fernandez, 454 U.S. 6, 8, 102 S.Ct. 28, 29, 70 L.Ed.2d 6 (1981) (citing Delaware State College v. Ricks, 449 U.S. 250, 258, 101 S.Ct. 498, 504, 66 L.Ed.2d 431 (1980)).

In this case, there can be no doubt that Perez knew of the defendants’ allegedly wrongful acts and the injuries resulting therefrom on the date of the shootout, which was April 20, 1990. The instant action was [52]*52not commenced until June 25, 1993, or approximately three years and two months later. Accordingly, the instant action is barred by the statute of limitations.

Perez argues that defendants are equitably estopped from pleading the statute of limitations because their misrepresentations induced him to postpone commencement of the instant action.2 Where, as here, a federal court borrows a state statute of limitations, it should also borrow related provisions pertaining to tolling and estoppel, unless its application would frustrate the policy underlying the federal cause of action. See Johnson v. Railway Express Agency, Inc., 421 U.S. 454, 465, 95 S.Ct. 1716, 1722-23, 44 L.Ed.2d 295 (1975); Williams v. Walsh, 558 F.2d 667, 674 (2d Cir.1977).

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872 F. Supp. 49, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18641, 1994 WL 722996, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/perez-v-police-department-of-new-york-nysd-1994.