statutes of limitations periods for US Federal law under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) and related federal statutes:

FEDERAL CIVIL STATUTES OF LIMITATIONS

General Federal Rule

• No Universal Federal SOL: FRCP doesn't establish general statutes of limitations; federal courts borrow from state law or apply specific federal statutes (28 U.S.C. § 1658)

Federal Question Jurisdiction

• Default Federal Civil Rights: 4 years for federal civil rights claims (28 U.S.C. § 1658)

• Borrowing Doctrine: For claims without specific federal SOL, borrow analogous state limitations period

SPECIFIC FEDERAL STATUTORY LIMITATIONS

Civil Rights & Discrimination

• Title VII Employment Discrimination: 180/300 days to file EEOC charge (42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5)

• § 1983 Civil Rights Actions: Borrow state personal injury SOL (Wilson v. Garcia)

• Americans with Disabilities Act: Same as Title VII timelines

• Age Discrimination in Employment: 180/300 days for EEOC charge

• Fair Housing Act: 2 years (42 U.S.C. § 3613)

Commercial & Business

• Antitrust (Sherman/Clayton Acts): 4 years (15 U.S.C. § 15b)

• RICO Civil Actions: 4 years (18 U.S.C. § 1965)

• Securities Fraud (Rule 10b-5): 2 years from discovery, max 5 years (28 U.S.C. § 1658(b))

• Copyright Infringement: 3 years (17 U.S.C. § 507)

• Patent Infringement: 6 years (35 U.S.C. § 286)

• Trademark (Lanham Act): No specific federal SOL (borrow state)

• ERISA Claims: Varies by claim type (typically 3-6 years)

• Bankruptcy Appeals: 14 days (FRBP 8002)

Employment & Labor

• Fair Labor Standards Act: 2 years (3 years for willful) (29 U.S.C. § 255)

• Family Medical Leave Act: 2 years (3 years for willful) (29 U.S.C. § 2617)

• OSHA Violations: 30 days to contest citation (29 U.S.C. § 659)

• NLRA Unfair Labor Practices: 6 months (29 U.S.C. § 160)

Government Claims

• Federal Tort Claims Act: 2 years to file claim, 6 months after denial to sue (28 U.S.C. § 2401)

• Contract Claims Against US: 6 years (28 U.S.C. § 2401)

• Tax Refund Claims: 3 years from filing or 2 years from payment (26 U.S.C. § 6511)

• Social Security Appeals: 60 days from notice (42 U.S.C. § 405)

Environmental

• CERCLA: 3 years for cost recovery (42 U.S.C. § 9613)

• Clean Water Act: 5 years for citizen suits (33 U.S.C. § 1365)

• RCRA: 5 years for citizen suits (42 U.S.C. § 6972)

Consumer Protection

• Truth in Lending Act: 1 year (15 U.S.C. § 1640)

• Fair Credit Reporting Act: 2 years from discovery (15 U.S.C. § 1681p)

• Fair Debt Collection Practices Act: 1 year (15 U.S.C. § 1692k)

• Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act: 4 years (borrows state UCC)

FEDERAL RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE TIMELINES

Pleading & Service

• Commencing Action: File complaint to toll SOL (FRCP 3)

• Service of Process: 90 days after filing (FRCP 4(m))

• Answer to Complaint: 21 days after service (FRCP 12(a))

Amendments & Relation Back

• Amendment of Pleadings: FREELY given when justice requires (FRCP 15)

• Relation Back: Amendments relate back to original filing if same conduct (FRCP 15(c))

Joinder of Parties

• Adding Parties: Statute limitations tolled upon original filing for proper parties (FRCP 15(c))

FEDERAL CRIMINAL STATUTES OF LIMITATIONS

General Criminal Limitations (18 U.S.C. § 3282)

• Most Federal Crimes: 5 years

• Capital Crimes: No limitation (18 U.S.C. § 3281)

• Terrorism Offenses: 8 years (18 U.S.C. § 3286)

Specific Federal Crimes

• Bank Fraud: 10 years (18 U.S.C. § 3293)

• Tax Evasion: 6 years (26 U.S.C. § 6531)

• Securities Fraud: 6 years (18 U.S.C. § 3301)

• Immigration Offenses: 10 years for certain crimes (18 U.S.C. § 3298)

• Child Abduction & Abuse: Life of child or 10 years (18 U.S.C. § 3299)

• War Crimes: No limitation (18 U.S.C. § 3286B)

FEDERAL APPELLATE DEADLINES

Appeals to Circuit Courts

• Notice of Appeal: 30 days from entry of judgment (FRAP 4)

• Cross-Appeal: 14 days after first notice (FRAP 4)

• Bankruptcy Appeals: 14 days (FRAP 6)

Supreme Court

• Petition for Certiorari: 90 days from lower court judgment (Sup. Ct. R. 13)

• Appeal from 3-Judge Court: Direct appeal within 60 days (28 U.S.C. § 2101)

DISCOVERY & PRETRIAL DEADLINES

Discovery Period

• Initial Disclosures: 14 days after FRCP 26(f) conference

• Expert Disclosures: At least 90 days before trial

• Discovery Completion: Court-ordered deadline (typically 6-9 months)

Motion Practice

• Summary Judgment: Until 30 days after close of discovery (FRCP 56)

• Motions in Limine: Usually 30-60 days before trial

SPECIAL FEDERAL PROCEDURES

Class Actions

• Class Certification: Early in proceedings (FRCP 23)

• Tolling of SOL: American Pipe tolling for class members during class period

Multidistrict Litigation (MDL)

• Transfer to MDL: SOL tolled during transfer and consolidation

Bankruptcy

• Claims Against Estate: Specific bar dates set by bankruptcy court

• Adversary Proceedings: SOL tolled during bankruptcy automatic stay

EQUITABLE TOLLING DOCTRINES

Federal Tolling Principles

• Fraudulent Concealment: SOL tolled until plaintiff discovers fraud

• Legal Disability: Tolled during minority or mental incapacity

• Class Action Tolling: American Pipe doctrine

• Administrative Exhaustion: SOL tolled during mandatory administrative proceedings

• Military Service: SOL tolled during active duty (SCRA)

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

28 U.S.C. § 1658 - Catch-All Statute

• Created in 1990: 4-year SOL for federal claims without specific limitations period

• Applies to: Claims arising under federal statutes enacted after 1990

Supreme Court Interpretations

• Jones v. R.R. Donnelley (2004): § 1658 applies to post-1990 amendments creating new rights

• CTS Corp. v. Waldburger (2014): Distinction between statutes of limitations and statutes of repose

QUICK REFERENCE CHART

KEY FEDERAL PRACTICE POINTS:

1. Diversity Jurisdiction: Apply state substantive law including SOL (Erie Doctrine)

2. Federal Question: Apply federal SOL if exists, otherwise borrow state law

3. Relation Back: FRCP 15(c) allows amendments to relate back to original filing

4. Tolling Agreements: Parties may contractually extend limitations periods

5. Notice Pleading: SOL defenses must be raised in responsive pleading (FRCP 8)

These federal limitations periods are complex and highly dependent on the specific statutory scheme and judicial interpretations. Always consult current statutes and case law for specific federal claims.