Wilson et al. v. Garcia

Decided April 17, 1985. John Paul Stevens delivered the opinion of the Court.

Docket 83-2146 · 471 U.S. 261 (1985) · Cited 4,134 times

Holding

Section 1983 claims are best characterized as personal injury actions, and hence the Court of Appeals correctly applied the 3-year statute of limitations applicable to such actions.

The Court’s statement of the holding, from the opinion’s syllabus. The syllabus is prepared by the Reporter of Decisions and is not part of the opinion of the Court — read the official opinion for authority.

How the Justices voted

Decided 7–1.

“Concurring” means agreeing with the outcome; any split shown is the Court’s judgment, not each Justice’s reasoning. Source: the Supreme Court Database (Spaeth et al.), Washington University.

Precedents cited

Supreme Court decisions this opinion relies on, ordered by how often it cites each. Cases in our collection link through; others are named.

• Board of Regents of Univ. of State of NY v. Tomanio · 446 U.S. 478 (1980)
• Monroe v. Pape · 365 U.S. 167 (1961)
• Johnson v. Railway Express Agency, Inc. · 421 U.S. 454 (1975)
• International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America v. Hoosier Cardinal Corp. · 383 U.S. 696 (1966)
• Campbell v. Haverhill · 155 U.S. 610 (1895)
• Robertson v. Wegmann · 436 U.S. 584 (1978)
• Burnett v. Grattan · 468 U.S. 42 (1984)
• Chardon v. Fumero Soto · 462 U.S. 650 (1983)
• O'Sullivan v. Felix · 233 U.S. 318 (1914)
• DelCostello v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters · 462 U.S. 151 (1983)
• Briscoe v. LaHue · 460 U.S. 325 (1983)
• Runyon v. McCrary · 427 U.S. 160 (1976)
• Mitchum v. Foster · 407 U.S. 225 (1972)
• McNeese v. Board of Education for Community Unit School District 187 Cahokia · 373 U.S. 668 (1963)
• Bell v. Morrison · 26 U.S. 351 (1828)
• Estelle v. Gamble · 429 U.S. 97 (1976)
• Cleveland Board of Education v. Loudermill · 470 U.S. 532 (1985)
• Powell v. Alabama · 287 U.S. 45 (1932)
• Lugar v. Edmondson Oil Co. · 457 U.S. 922 (1982)
• Pierson v. Ray · 386 U.S. 547 (1967)
• Duncan v. Louisiana · 391 U.S. 145 (1968)
• Griffin v. Breckenridge · 403 U.S. 88 (1971)
• Ingraham v. Wright · 430 U.S. 651 (1977)
• Bishop v. Wood · 426 U.S. 341 (1976)
• United States v. Kubrick · 444 U.S. 111 (1979)
• Flagg Bros., Inc. v. Brooks · 436 U.S. 149 (1978)
• City of Newport v. Fact Concerts, Inc. · 453 U.S. 247 (1981)
• Maine v. Thiboutot · 448 U.S. 1 (1980)
• Patsy v. Board of Regents of Fla. · 457 U.S. 496 (1982)
• Chapman v. Houston Welfare Rights Organization · 441 U.S. 600 (1979)

Cited by

Later Supreme Court opinions in our collection that cite this case.

• Goodman v. Lukens Steel Co. · 482 U.S. 656 (1987)
• Owens v. Okure · 488 U.S. 235 (1989)
• Felder v. Casey · 487 U.S. 131 (1988)
• Agency Holding Corp. v. Malley-Duff & Associates, Inc. · 483 U.S. 143 (1987)
• City of Monterey v. Del Monte Dunes at Monterey, Ltd. · 526 U.S. 687 (1999)
• City of Rancho Palos Verdes v. Abrams · 544 U.S. 113 (2005)
• Lampf, Pleva, Lipkind, Prupis & Petigrow v. Gilbertson · 501 U.S. 350 (1991)
• Manuel v. City of Joliet · 580 U.S. 357 (2017)
• Saint Francis College v. Al-Khazraji · 481 U.S. 604 (1987)
• Jones v. R. R. Donnelley & Sons Co. · 541 U.S. 369 (2004)
• United States v. Burke · 504 U.S. 229 (1992)
• Hardin v. Straub · 490 U.S. 536 (1989)
• Reed v. United Transportation Union · 488 U.S. 319 (1989)
• Albright v. Oliver · 510 U.S. 266 (1994)
• Rotella v. Wood · 528 U.S. 549 (2000)
• Klehr v. A. O. Smith Corp. · 521 U.S. 179 (1997)
• North Star Steel Co. v. Thomas · 515 U.S. 29 (1995)
• South Carolina v. Catawba Indian Tribe, Inc. · 476 U.S. 498 (1986)
• Gonzalez v. Trevino · 602 U.S. 653 (2024)
• Howlett Ex Rel. Howlett v. Rose · 496 U.S. 356 (1990)
• Bray v. Alexandria Women's Health Clinic · 506 U.S. 263 (1993)
• Rehberg v. Paulk · 566 U.S. 356 (2012)
• United States v. Albertini · 472 U.S. 675 (1985)
• Saudi Arabia v. Nelson · 507 U.S. 349 (1993)
• Gabelli v. Securities & Exchange Commission · 568 U.S. 442 (2013)
• West v. Conrail · 481 U.S. 35 (1987)

Official text

Read the official opinion (U.S. Reports, govinfo.gov)

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Source: Supreme Court of the United States, slip opinions (1985). Citation count from the Free Law Project’s CourtListener bulk data. Data last verified 2026-07-03. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).