Rich v. Thomas

* Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined
that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent
except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.
R. 47.5.4.
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 99-20987
Conference Calendar
HOWARD RICH,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
versus
TOMMY B. THOMAS,
Defendant-Appellee.
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Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Texas
USDC No. H-98-CV-3178
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June 14, 2000
Before JOLLY, DAVIS, and STEWART, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Howard Rich, Texas prisoner #847823, appeals the district
court’s dismissal of his pro se, in forma pauperis 42 U.S.C.
§ 1983 complaint as barred by the statute of limitations. A
district court may dismiss a § 1983 complaint sua sponte under
§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) when the complaint demonstrates that the
claims asserted are barred by the applicable statute of
limitations. See Moore v. McDonald, 30 F.3d 616, 620 (5th Cir.
1994). Because there is no federal statute of limitations for
§ 1983 actions, the federal courts borrow the forum state's

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No. 99-20987
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general personal injury limitations period. Id. Texas’ general
personal injury limitations period is two years. Id.
Rich’s cause of action accrued, at the latest, in August
1996, when he knew or had reason to know of the injury which
formed the basis of his complaint. See id. at 621. Rich filed
his complaint in September 1998. The district court did not
abuse its discretion in dismissing Rich’s civil rights complaint
as barred by the statute of limitations. See Gonzalez v. Wyatt,
157 F.3d 1016, 1019 (5th Cir. 1998).
AFFIRMED.

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