Owens v. Okure (1988)
- Docket
- 87-56
- Decided
- 1988-01-01
Summary
Question: Should courts uphold a state's general statute of limitations for personal injury suits under 42 U.S.C 1983 over the individual statute of limitations of intentional torts? Conclusion: Yes. Justice Thurgood Marshall wrote the opinion for unanimous majority. The Court held that, when states have multiple statutes of limitations for intentional torts, the courts should use the state’s general statute of limitations for claims of liability under 42 U.S.C. 1983 instead of the statute of limitations for individual civil actions.