Opinion
No. 09-14963 Non-Argument Calendar.
October 12, 2010.
Richard Jerome Hammonds, Atlanta, GA, pro se.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia. D.C. Docket No. 09-00074-CV-CDL-4.
Before EDMONDSON, BARKETT and MARTIN, Circuit Judges.
Richard Jerome Hammonds, a federal prisoner, appeals the dismissal of his pro se 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint as barred by the applicable statute of limitations. On appeal, Hammonds alleges that the defendants violated his Fourth Amendment and due process rights by improperly confiscating and retaining his personal property following a forfeiture hearing in state court.
Federal courts look to state law to determine the applicable statute of limitations for actions brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Rozar v. Mullis, 85 F.3d 556, 561 (11th Cir. 1996). In Georgia, the applicable statute of limitations for personal injury actions is two years. O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. To determine when the cause of action accrues, we look to when the plaintiff knew or should have known of his injury and its cause. Rozar, 85 F.3d at 561-62.
Upon careful review of the record and consideration of Hammonds's brief, we affirm, finding no error in the district court's conclusion that Hammonds's claims were barred by the 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury actions. Thus, Hammonds's complaint failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, a district court must dismiss the complaint of a prisoner if the complaint "is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted." 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1). Accordingly, the district court properly dismissed Hammond's complaint.