Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Peter Meyer v. Gwinnett County, 11th Cir. (2016)
Peter Meyer v. Gwinnett County, 11th Cir. (2016)
Page: 1 of 7
Case: 15-13287
Page: 2 of 7
We take these allegations from the operative second amended complaint, and we
assume they are true for purposes of this appeal. See La Grasta v. First Union Sec., Inc., 358
F.3d 840, 845 (11th Cir. 2004).
2
Case: 15-13287
Page: 3 of 7
molestation. He stayed in jail for twenty months, losing nearly 70 pounds over that
time. He was released in December 2011 after charges were dropped.
On January 9, 2014, Meyer filed this lawsuit in the United States District
Court for the Northern District of Georgia, alleging state claims of malicious
prosecution, false imprisonment, and defamation, and a federal claim of deliberate
indifference to constitutional rights under 42 U.S.C. 1983.
After a series of amendments to the complaint, the various defendants filed
motions to dismiss on grounds (among others) that Meyers claims were time
barred. For his part, Meyer alleged that the statute of limitations should be tolled
because he was mentally incapacitated for a period after his release from
incarceration. He alleged that, while in jail, he had suicidal thoughts and resorted
to cutting himself, and, upon his release, he had constant suicidal thoughts and
exhibited severe mental and emotional distress. Citing to an attached affidavit
from a psychiatrist, Meyer also alleged that he was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD) and that, when he was released, he was of such
unsound mind that he was unable to carry on his ordinary life affairs.
The district court determined that Meyer had not met the high bar of
proving mental incapacity under Georgia law and granted the defendants motions
to dismiss on grounds that the action was time barred. Meyer moved the court to
reconsider its order, producing additional evidence in support of his claim of
3
Case: 15-13287
Page: 4 of 7
mental disability, but the court denied the motion. Meyer timely appealed the
denial of his motion for reconsideration and all previous rulings.
II.
We review de novo an order granting a motion to dismiss for failure to state
a claim, accepting the allegations in the complaint as true and construing all
reasonable inferences in the plaintiffs favor. 2 La Grasta v. First Union Sec., Inc.,
358 F.3d 840, 845 (11th Cir. 2004). We review an order denying a motion for
reconsideration for an abuse of discretion. Arthur v. King, 500 F.3d 1335, 1343
(11th Cir. 2007). A district court abuses its discretion by making a clear error of
judgment or by applying the wrong legal standard. Amlong & Amlong, P.A. v.
Dennys, Inc., 500 F.3d 1230, 1238 (11th Cir. 2006).
III.
Personal-injury claims under Georgia law shall be brought within two years
after the right of action accrues. O.C.G.A. 9333. Injuries to reputation shall
be brought within one year after the right of action accrues. Id. [T]he proper
limitations period for all section 1983 claims in Georgia is the two year period set
We recognize that Meyers briefing expressly challenges only the district courts denial
of his motion for reconsideration. Nonetheless, Meyers primary contention, and the only
argument we address in this appeal, is that the court erred in concluding that Meyers allegations
of mental incapacity were insufficient to withstand a motion to dismiss on statute-of-limitations
grounds. In other words, Meyer challenges the dismissal order. There is no jurisdictional
impediment to our review of that order because Meyers notice of appeal adequately designated
it, and his motion for reconsideration counts as a tolling motion under Rule 4(a)(4), Fed. R. App.
P.
4
Case: 15-13287
Page: 5 of 7
forth in O.C.G.A. 9-3-33 for personal injuries. Williams v. City of Atlanta, 794
F.2d 624, 626 (11th Cir. 1986). When applying state limitations periods to 1983
claims, we also apply any relevant state tolling provisions. Wilson v. Garcia, 471
U.S. 261, 269, 105 S. Ct. 1938, 1943 (1985).
Limitations periods under Georgia law may be tolled during periods of the
plaintiffs mental incapacity. See O.C.G.A. 9390(a) (disability before accrual
of right of action); id. 9391 (disability after accrual of right). Tolling applies
in situations where it is not fair to charge a suitor with the running of the clock,
because of his mental condition. Martin v. Herrington Mill, LP, 730 S.E.2d 164,
166 (Ga. Ct. App. 2012) (quotation marks omitted). [T]he test to be applied is
whether the one claiming the disability has such unsoundness of mind . . . as to
incapacitate one from managing the ordinary business of life.
Id. (internal
Case: 15-13287
Page: 6 of 7
Case: 15-13287
Page: 7 of 7
S.E.2d 109, 111-12 (Ga. Ct. App. 2000); Charter Peachford Behavioral Health
Sys., Inc. v. Kohout, 504 S.E.2d 514, 519 (Ga. Ct. App. 1998).
Accordingly, we conclude that Meyers allegation of mental incapacity was
sufficient to withstand a motion to dismiss on statute-of-limitations grounds. See
Lowe, 257 S.E.2d at 212; Lawson, 957 F.2d at 805-06. The district court therefore
erred in dismissing the complaint and denying reconsideration. That does not
mean, as the appellees assert, that the allegation alone tolls the limitations period.
We express no opinion on whether Meyer is entitled to tolling for mental
incapacity or whether his claims otherwise have merit. 3
We REVERSE the orders dismissing Meyers complaint and denying his
motion for reconsideration, and we REMAND for further proceedings consistent
with this opinion.
Meyer also contends that the district court committed several other errors: (1)
improperly resolving a question of factmental incapacityas a matter of law; (2) failing to
give appropriate weight to the treating psychiatrists affidavit; and (3) failing to consider new
evidence attached to his motion for reconsideration showing his mental incapacity. We do not
address these arguments because we vacate and remand for further proceedings.
7