Johnson v. Greaves
Johnson v. Greaves
Opinion of the Court
Michael Johnson, a federal prisoner proceeding pro se, appeals the district court’s sua sponte dismissal, under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b), of his Bivens
The district court concluded that Johnson’s action was barred by Heck
I. Heck
We reject each of Johnson’s arguments on this issue. First, there is no merit to his contention that the court was required to consider the availability of habeas relief before determining that his case was barred by Heck. Second, the district court correctly concluded that Johnson’s claims of DEA misconduct were Heck-barred because, if his allegations were proven, the validity of his sentences would be implicated.
II. Statute of Limitations
The district court’s interpretation and application of the statute of limitations is reviewed de novo. Brown v. Georgia Bd. of Pardons & Paroles, 335 F.3d 1259, 1261 n. 2 (11th Cir. 2003). “The expiration of the statute of limitations is an affirmative defense the existence of which warrants a dismissal as frivolous.” Clark v. Ga. Pardons and Paroles Bd., 915 F.2d 636, 641 n. 2 (11th Cir. 1990). “When the defense is apparent from the face of the complaint or the court’s records, courts need not wait and see if the defense will be asserted in a defensive pleading.” Id.
Actions brought under Bivens are subject to the statute of limitations governing personal injury actions in the state where the claim has been brought. Kelly v. Serna, 87 F.3d 1235, 1238 (11th Cir. 1996). Johnson brought his claim in Aabama, where the governing limitations period is two years. McNair v. Allen, 515 F.3d 1168, 1173 (11th Cir. 2008) (citing Aa.Code § 6-2-38).
The limitations period begins to run when the cause of action accrues, and this is a question of federal law. Rozar v. Mullís, 85 F.3d 556, 561 (11th Cir. 1996). Generally, a cause of action accrues when the plaintiff knows or has reason to know (1) that he was injured, and (2) who inflicted the injury. Id. at 561-62.
Equitable tolling is an extraordinary remedy which is typically applied sparingly. Irwin v. Dep’t of Veterans Affairs, 498 U.S. 89, 96, 111 S.Ct. 453, 457,112 L.Ed.2d 435 (1990). The plaintiff has the burden of showing that equitable tolling is warranted. Booth v. Carnival Corp., 522 F.3d 1148, 1150 (11th Cir. 2008). It is most likely to be applied if the claimant “actively pursued his judicial remedies by filing a defective pleading during the statutory period,” or if his adversary induced or tricked him into filing after the deadline. Irwin, 498 U.S. at 96, 111 S.Ct. at 458. It generally is not appropriate if the claimant’s late filing is a result of his “fail[ure] to exercise due diligence in preserving his legal rights.” Id.
Here, Johnson did not allege facts tending to show that he diligently attempted to file his action within the statutory period, or that he filed his action as soon as he could. Accordingly, he did not show that equitable tolling was warranted.
III. Motion for Reconsideration
A district court’s denial of a motion for reconsideration is reviewed for an abuse of
As discussed above, Johnson’s action was barred by Heck and the statute of limitations. Accordingly, the district court did not abuse its discretion by denying his motion for reconsideration.
AFFIRMED.
. Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388, 91 S.Ct. 1999, 29 L.Ed.2d 619 (1971).
. Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 114 S.Ct. 2364, 129 L.Ed.2d 383 (1994).
. Spencer v. Kemna, 523 U.S. 1, 118 S.Ct. 978, 140 L.Ed.2d43 (1998).
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.