Tyrees C. Whitehead, Plaintiff-appellant, v. City of Richmond; W.s. Dickerson, Defendants-appellees, 952 F.2d 397 (4th Cir. 1991)

Tyrees C. Whitehead appeals from the district court's order denying relief on Whitehead's complaint presenting claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (1988), most of which constituted indirect challenges to his federal conviction. Noting that Whitehead's direct appeal is currently pending with this Court, the district court dismissed the claims relating to his conviction without prejudice as premature. See Bowen v. Johnston, 306 U.S. 19, 26-27 (1939); Solsona v. Warden, 821 F.2d 1129, 1131 (5th Cir. 1987). Finding the remaining claim to be frivolous under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d) (1988) the district court dismissed this claim.

We affirm the dismissal of claim seven on the reasoning of the district court.

Though we agree with the district court's characterization of the remainder of Whitehead's claims, we believe that the district court should have stayed these claims on its docket rather than dismissing them. Virginia's two-year personal injury statute of limitations is applicable to these claims. Because the events giving rise to these claims occurred in October 1990 there is a substantial likelihood that Whitehead would be unable to fully exhaust both his direct appellate remedies, as well as his § 2255 remedies, before the statute would run on the claims. In such a situation, the district court should stay the claims rather than dismissing them. See Hamlin v. Warren, 664 F.2d 29, 32 (4th Cir. 1981), cert. denied, 455 U.S. 911 (1982); Solsona, 821 F.2d at 1133.

Accordingly, we vacate that portion of the district court's order dismissing claims one through six and remand with instructions to stay these claims on the court's docket.

We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the Court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED IN PART, VACATED AND REMANDED IN PART.