finding that state savings statute did not toll statute of limitations for plaintiff’s federal claim in federal court
How later courts described this case
- finding that state savings statute did not toll statute of limitations for plaintiff’s federal claim in federal court
- “Where [...] a plaintiff voluntary dismisses a lawsuit that was brought in federal * References to Title VII precedent for the purpose of the ADA are proper “[b]ecause the ADA echoes and expressly refers to Title VII, and because the two statutes have the same purpose ... courts have routinely used Title VII precedent in ADA cases.” Fox v. GMC, 247 F.3d 169, 176 (4th Cir. 2001). court, asserted a purely federal claim, and was subject to a federal statute of limitations, state savings statutes do not apply.”
- “A claimant who fails to file a complaint within the ninety-day statutory time period mandated by Title VII … generally forfeits her right to pursue her claims.” (citing Baldwin Cnty. Welcome Ctr. v. Brown, 466 U.S. 147, 149-51 (1984)
- “A claimant who fails to file a complaint within the ninety-day statutory time period mandated by Title VII . . . and the ADEA . . . generally forfeits her right to pursue her claims.” (citing Baldwin Cnty. Welcome Ctr. v. Brown, 466 U.S. 147, 149-51 (1984))
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
UNPUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
BETTY J. BIRCH,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
F. WHITTEN PETERS, Acting No. 01-1878
Secretary of the Department of the
Air Force,
Defendant-Appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of North Carolina, at Wilmington.
W. Earl Britt, Senior District Judge.
(CA-01-54-7-BR)
Submitted: November 30, 2001
Decided: December 26, 2001
Before WILKINS, MOTZ, and KING, Circuit Judges.
Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.
COUNSEL
Ernest J. Wright, WRIGHT LAW FIRM, Jacksonville, North Caro-
lina, for Appellant. John Stuart Bruce, United States Attorney, Anne
M. Hayes, Assistant United States Attorney, R. A. Renfer, Jr., Assis-
tant United States Attorney, Raleigh, North Carolina, for Appellee.
2 BIRCH v. PETERS
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit. See
Local Rule 36(c).
OPINION
PER CURIAM:
Betty J. Birch appeals the district court’s order granting the Appel-
lee’s motion and dismissing her employment discrimination action as
untimely. We have reviewed the joint appendix and briefs on appeal
and find no reversible error. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of
the district court.
A claimant who fails to file a complaint within the ninety-day stat-
utory time period mandated by Title VII, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(f)
(1994), and the ADEA, 29 U.S.C. § 626(e) (1994), generally forfeits
her right to pursue her claims. See Baldwin County Welcome Ctr. v.
Brown, 466 U.S. 147, 149-51 (1984). Relying on the North Carolina
Rules of Procedure, N.C.R. Civ. P. 41(a), Birch contends on appeal
that her voluntary dismissal of a previous suit tolled the statute of lim-
itations and permitted her one year from the date of dismissal to file
her current action.
Where, as here, the plaintiff voluntarily dismisses a lawsuit that
was brought in federal court, asserted a purely federal claim, and was
subject to a federal statute of limitations, state savings statutes do not
apply. See Beck v. Caterpillar Inc., 50 F.3d 405, 407 (7th Cir. 1995);
see also Brown v. Hartshorne Pub. Sch. Dist., 926 F.2d 959, 961
(10th Cir. 1991). Consequently, the statute of limitations was not
tolled, and the district court properly dismissed Birch’s action.
The district court’s judgment is hereby affirmed. We dispense with
oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately
presented in the materials before the court and argument would not
aid the decisional process.
AFFIRMED