Richard Martin v. Howard Walsh, III ( 2016 )

UNPUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
No. 15-2138
RICHARD MARTIN,
Plaintiff - Appellant,
v.
HOWARD J. WALSH, III, Esq.,
Defendant - Appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of
Maryland, at Greenbelt. George J. Hazel, District Judge.
(8:15-cv-2302-GJH)
Submitted: August 19, 2016 Decided: November 23, 2016
Before GREGORY, Chief Judge, FLOYD, Circuit Judge, and DAVIS,
Senior Circuit Judge.
Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.
Richard Martin, Appellant Pro Se.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.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)(B)(ii) (2012). We review a district court’s
dismissal under § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) de novo, applying the same
standards employed when reviewing a dismissal under Fed. R. Civ.
P. 12(b)(6). De’Lonta v. Angelone, 330 F.3d 630, 633 (4th Cir.
2003). For the reasons that follow, we affirm.
On appeal, Martin challenges the district court’s
conclusion that his claims were 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, 135 S. Ct. 1893 (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, 761 A.2d 56, 59
(Md. 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
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Without a Name v. Virginia, 655 F.3d 342, 348 (4th Cir. 2011)
(accrual under § 1983); Shailendra Kumar, P.A. v. Dhanda, 43
A.3d 1029, 1034-35, 1039-41 (Md. 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
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
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