Richard Martin v. Montgomery County Police

624 F. App'x 116

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• Decided: December 17, 2015
• Docket: 15-2140
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

Affirmed by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion.

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.

PER CURIAM:

Richard Martin appeals the district court’s order dismissing his civil action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2) (2012). For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

On appeal, Martin challenges the district court’s conclusion that his claims were untimely and barred by judicial immunity. As the district court properly concluded, however, the judges Martin named as defendants enjoyed absolute immunity from Martin’s claims against them based on actions taken within their judicial capacities. See Stump v. Sparkman, 435 U.S. 349, 356-57, 98 S.Ct. 1099, 55 L.Ed.2d 331 (1978).

The district court also properly concluded that Martin’s action was untimely. Martin’s claims, whether brought under state law or 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (2012), were subject to, at longest, a three-year statute of limitations. See Md.Code Ann., Cts. &' Jud. Proc. § 5-101 (2013) (general civil statute of limitations); Md.Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-105 (2013) (actions for assault and defamation); Owens v. Balt. City State’s Attorneys Office, 767 F.3d 379, 388 (4th Cir.2014) (§ 1983 claims), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 135 S.Ct. 1893, 191 L.Ed.2d 762 (2015). While Martin’s malicious prosecution claim has not yet accrued, this claim is barred by his inability to meet the favorable termination requirement. See Heron v. Strader, 361 Md. 258, 761 A.2d 56, 59 (2000). Contrary to Martin’s assertions, the facts alleged in the complaint demonstrate that his remaining claims accrued, at the latest, by the time he was released from prison, and the limitations period was not subject to tolling. See A Soc’y Without a Name v. Virginia, 655 F.3d 342, 348 (4th Cir.2011) (accrual under § 1983); Shailendra Kumar, P.A. v. Dhanda, 426 Md. 185, 43 A.3d 1029, 1034-34, 1039-41 (2012) (discussing accrual and tolling under state law); see also Nat’l Advert. Co. v. Raleigh, 947 F.2d 1158, 1166-67 (4th Cir.1991) (describing continuing violations doctrine). Finally, because Martin’s claims were properly dismissed, the district court committed no error in denying as moot Martin’s request to file electronically.

Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s judgment. We deny Martin’s motions to seal and to compel. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED.