Hall v. Yacucci

Decision Date23 November 1998
Docket Number1998,No. 251,251
Citation723 A.2d 839
PartiesSarah HALL, Plaintiff Below, Appellant, v. Joseph YACUCCI and Lewis Indellini, Defendants Below, Appellees.
CourtSupreme Court of Delaware

Court Below--Superior Court of the State of Delaware, in and for New Castle County, C.A. No. 98C-05-249.

Before HOLLAND, HARTNETT and BERGER, Justices.

ORDER

This 23rd day of November 1998, it appears to the Court that:

1) This is a pro se appeal by the plaintiff-appellant, Sarah Hall ("Hall"). In this appeal, Hall challenges the dismissal of her complaint filed in the Superior Court of the State of Delaware on May 28, 1998, Civil Action No. 98C-05-249. The Superior Court concluded that, because the statute of limitations had run, the complaint failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. The Superior Court dismissed the action on June 4, 1998.

2) In her complaint, Hall alleged that a wrongful dismissal from her position with the United States Postal Service caused her to lose disability benefits. The complaint also alleges constitutional civil rights violations and possibly intentional torts.

3) Delaware has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury actions, including civil rights actions. 10 Del. C. § 8119; see Marker v. Talley, Del.Super., 502 A.2d 972, 975-76 (1985). If a plaintiff alleges federally protected constitutional rights violations in a complaint, the United States Supreme Court has held that those contentions must be considered as personal injury actions for purposes of the statute of limitations. See Wilson v. Garcia, 471 U.S. 261, 278 (1985); see also Marker v. Talley, Del.Supr., 502 A.2d 972, 975 (1985). Therefore, any civil rights violations in Delaware are governed by the two-year statute of limitations in personal injury actions under Title 10 Del. C. § 8119. To the extent that Hall's complaint can be construed as alleging employment discrimination, such allegations must be brought within the Delaware statute of limitations most applicable to wrongful discharge and employment discrimination claims. See DeWitt v. Penn-Del. Directory Corp., D. Del., 872 F.Supp. 126, 134 (1994). That statute of limitations is three years. 10 Del. C. § 8106.

4) Hall's complaint was filed on May 28, 1998. All of the operative events alleged in the complaint occurred no later than the end of 1986, well beyond the running of any possible applicable statute of limitations. Having granted Hall permission...

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4 cases
  • Kerns v. Dukes, Civil Action No. 1999-S Class Action (Del. Ch. 4/2/2004)
    • United States
    • Court of Chancery of Delaware
    • 2 Abril 2004
    ...292 (1983); Bd. of Regents v. Tomanio, 446 U.S. 478 (1980); Soriano v. United States, 352 U.S. 270 (1957); Hall v. Yacucci, 723 A.2d 839 (Table), 1998 WL 986030, at *1 (Del. 1998). 25. Wilson v. Garcia, 471 U.S. 261, 266-67 (1985); Hall, 1998 WL 986030, at 26. Wilson, 471 U.S. at 280; Hall,......
  • Scott v. Moffit
    • United States
    • Delaware Superior Court
    • 20 Agosto 2019
    ...an intended beneficiary."). 22. DDOE Contract at 1. 23. Am. Compl. at 12. 24. Id. at 8. 25. See generally id. at 6-12. 26. Hall v. Yacucci, 723 A.2d 839 (Del. 1998) (citing 10 Del. C. § 8119). 27. 10 Del. C. § 8119. 28. Am. Compl. at 3. 29. Pl.'s Resp. to Defs.' Reply at 1 (May 28, 2019) (D......
  • Rogers v. John F. Bushey & Milton Fire Dep't, Inc.
    • United States
    • Delaware Superior Court
    • 7 Febrero 2018
    ...Holdings LLC, 227 A.3d 531, 536 (Del. 2011)). 30. Id. (quoting Ramunno v. Crawley, 705 A.2d 1029, 1034 (Del. 1998)). 31. Hall v. Yacucci, 723 A.2d 839 (Del. 1998). 32. Winner Acceptance Corp. v. Return on Capital Corp., 2008 WL 5352063, at *14 (Del. Ch. Dec. 23, 2008). 33. Pl.'s Resp. at 5 ......
  • Minner v. Dean Witter/Discover Card, 87
    • United States
    • Supreme Court of Delaware
    • 24 Noviembre 1998

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