U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 2006

Mishra v. Nolan

Mishra v. Nolan
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit · Decided June 29, 2006 · Rendell, Ambro, Roth
187 F. App'x 136

Mishra v. Nolan

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

PER CURIAM.

In 2000 Akhil K. Mishra was convicted after a jury trial of selling drug paraphernalia. Five years later he filed a pro se complaint alleging that Richard Nolan, a DEA agent who testified for the prosecution, knowingly made false statements during Mishra’s trial so that Mishra could be convicted and his property seized. Mishra seeks restoration of “judicial integrity and public confidence” and a new trial. In response, Nolan moved to dismiss on numerous grounds, including the statute of limitations and absolute immunity.

Construing the complaint as a Bivens action, the District Court agreed with Nolan that the complaint was untimely and that even if it were not, Nolan enjoys absolute immunity from suit for his in-court testimony pursuant to Briscoe v. La-Hue, 460 U.S. 325, 103 S.Ct. 1108, 75 L.Ed.2d 96 (1983). Accordingly, the court dismissed Mishra’s complaint. This appeal followed. 1

*137 We agree with the District Court that Mishra’s claim is untimely. Mishra had two years to file suit from the “final significant event necessary to make the claim suable.” Ross v. Johns-Manville Corp., 766 F.2d 823, 826 (3d Cir. 1985) (citation omitted); Napier v. Thirty or More Unidentified Federal Agents, 855 F.2d 1080 (3d Cir. 1988) (holding that Bivens actions are governed by the applicable state law statute of limitations); Haugh v. Allstate Ins. Co., 322 F.3d 227, 233 (3d Cir. 2003) (noting that the Pennsylvania limitations period in tort cases is two years). Because the trial ended in June 2000 and the alleged wrongdoing occurred prior to that date, this case was commenced woefully late. Moreover, we agree with the District Court that there is no basis for tolling. Accordingly, we will affirm the order of the District Court. Nolan’s motion for summary action is denied as moot.

1

. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and review the District Court's judgment de novo. Wilson v. Rackmill, 878 F.2d 772 (3d Cir. 1989) (absolute immunity); Gibson v. Superintendent of NJ Dept. of Law and public Safety, 411 F-3d 427 (3d Cir. 2005) (statute of limitations),

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