Shinault v. Foster

FILED
United States Court of Appeals
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS Tenth Circuit
TENTH CIRCUIT May 22, 2014
Elisabeth A. Shumaker
Clerk of Court
TELELA SHINAULT,
Plaintiff – Appellant,
v. No. 14-1041
(No. 1:12-CV-00639-RBJ-BNB)
DPD SEARGEANT TONY FOSTER; (D. Colo.)
DPD R. MAGOT, officer,
Defendants – Appellee.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT*
Before LUCERO, TYMKOVICH, and PHILLIPS, Circuit Judges.**
This is an appeal from an order granting summary judgment to the defendants in an
action brought by Telela Shinault. Proceeding pro se, Shinault alleged that Sgt. Foster and
Officer Magot assaulted and unlawfully arrested her on February 11, 2009. Although
Shinault did not cite to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the district court liberally construed the claim
as one brought under that statute, only to dismiss it because it wasn’t made until after the
*
This order is not binding precedent except under the doctrines of law of the case, res
judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value
consistent with Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 32.1 and Tenth Circuit Court Rule
32.1.
**
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist in the determination of this
appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered
submitted without oral argument.
applicable two-year statute of limitations had run. The district court found no basis upon
which to allow equitable or statutory tolling.1 We agree.
In § 1983 actions, we apply the forum state’s statute of limitation for personal injury
claims. Wallace v. Kato, 549 U.S. 384, 387 (2007); Hunt v. Bennett, 17 F.3d 1263, 1265
(10th Cir. 1994). The forum state here, Colorado, provides a two-year statute of
limitations for personal-injury claims. Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-102. For the accrual date,
however, we look to federal law. Mondragon v. Thompson, 519 F.3d 1078, 1082 (10th
Cir. 2008). Under federal law, “A civil rights action accrues when facts that would
support a cause of action are or should be apparent.” See Fratus v. Deland, 49 F.3d 673,
675 (10th Cir. 1995).
Shinault’s claim for relief accrued on February 11, 2009, the day the alleged assault
occurred. See Johnson v. Johnson Cnty. Comm’n Bd., 925 F.2d 1299, 1301 (10th Cir.
1991) (“Claims arising out of police actions toward a criminal suspect, such as arrest,
interrogation, or search and seizure, are presumed to have accrued when the actions
actually occur.”). She filed this lawsuit over three years later on March 13, 2012. As such,
unless tolling applies, her claims are barred.
Tolling for § 1983 claims is governed by state law. Braxton v. Zavaras, 614 F.3d
1156, 1159 (10th Cir. 2010). “Under Colorado law, plaintiffs bear the burden of
demonstrating that the statute of limitations should be tolled.” Id. In response to an order
1
The magistrate judge concluded that Shinault’s claim was time-barred and she was
not entitled to equitable tolling. Shinault did not offer specific objections to this portion
of the recommendation, but the district court judge nonetheless conducted a de novo
review.
-2-
to show cause issued by the district court, Shinault suggested that her untimeliness in
filing had been caused by a mental or physical disability. The district court allowed the
suit to proceed into discovery, and Shinault had many opportunities to provide evidence
in support of her asserted disabilities. In discovery, the defendants sought information
relating to her medical and psychological treatment. Shinault provided a copy of one
prescription. In response to the defendants’ motion for summary judgment, Shinault
mentioned “documents of her mental disabilitys [sic] and current mental medication” but
provided no supporting evidence. Finally, in her objection to the magistrate’s
recommendation, Shinault asserted that she had been involved in a mental health program
from March 2009 to August 2011, and that she was on mental health medication from
January 2012 to October 2013. But she did not connect these dates to the record or
provide evidence substantiating her treatment. In other words, Shinault never
demonstrated a specific disability during the limitations period, February 11, 2009 to
February 12, 2011, that would have rendered her unable to timely file her suit. Thus, the
district court was right to conclude that tolling did not apply.
-3-
Viewing Shinault’s pleadings generously,2 we find no error in the district court’s
order granting summary judgment based on the untimeliness of her claim. Thus, we
dismiss this appeal.
ENTERED FOR THE COURT
Gregory A. Phillips
Circuit Judge
2
Because Ms. Shinault is pro se, her pleadings are afforded a liberal construction.
See Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520–21 (1972); Hall v. Bellmon, 935 F.2d 1106,
1110 (10th Cir. 1991).
-4-