Johnson v. Swyka

In our recent decision in Knoll v. Springfield Township School District, 699 F.2d 137, (3d Cir. 1983), we held that, in a claim against state officers for employment discrimination brought under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1983, it was improper to utilize the Pennsylvania six-month limitation period provided by 42 Pa.Cons.Stat.Ann. Sec. 5522(b)(1). Here, the district court accepted the recommendation of a magistrate who determined that plaintiff's Sec. 1983 action alleging that state prison officials had denied him due process was barred by Sec. 5522(b)(1). We are vacating the judgment of the district court and remanding for reconsideration in light of Knoll.

In his complaint, Carl Lee Johnson, a prisoner at the State Correctional Institution at Pittsburgh, alleged that he was taken to the institution's Restricted Housing Unit following a sit-down demonstration. The next day he received a misconduct report which he contends was false and did not provide him with adequate notice of the charges. He was afforded a disciplinary hearing on August 31, 1981, before the institution's Hearing Committee and found guilty. After an unsuccessful appeal to the institution's Program Review Committee, he brought this civil rights action in the district court on May 13, 1982. The magistrate to whom the action was referred concluded that it was time-barred by Sec. 5522(b)(1). Her report was adopted by the district court in an order entered on October 25, 1982.

Because the district court proceeding turned upon a statute of limitations held inapplicable in Knoll, we must remand this case for reconsideration. We also note that appellant alleges that he was convicted without any evidence and assessment of facts, contrary to the requirements of Helms v. Hewitt, 655 F.2d 487 (3d Cir.1981), cert. granted, 455 U.S. 999, 102 S.Ct. 1629, 71 L.Ed.2d 865 (1982) which held that a prisoner was denied due process when he was convicted of a misconduct charge where the only evidence offered against him was the charging officer's hearsay recital of an unidentified informant's uncorroborated report. Inasmuch as we are remanding for reconsideration in light of Knoll, it may be well for the district court to hold the matter in abeyance until the Supreme Court decides the Helms case.

The judgment of the district court will be vacated and the cause remanded for proceedings in accordance with the foregoing.