Cite as: 528 U. S. 549 (2000)
Opinion of the Court
Souter, J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court.
Richard P. Hogan, Jr., argued the cause for petitioner. With him on the briefs were Kevin Dubose, Richard W. Mithoff, Tommy Jacks, and Robert F. Andrews.
Charles T. Frazier, Jr., argued the cause for respondents. With him on the brief were Debora B. Alsup, John H. Martin, Tom Renfro, and Joseph R. Cleveland, Jr.*
Justice Souter delivered the opinion of the Court.
The commencement of petitioner's civil treble-damages action under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) was timely only if the so-called "injury and pattern discovery" rule governs the start of the 4-year limitations period. We hold that it does not.
I
In February 1985, petitioner, Mark Rotella, was admitted to the Brookhaven Psychiatric Pavilion with a diagnosis of major depression. Rotella v. Pederson, 144 F. 3d 892, 894 (CA5 1998). He was discharged in 1986. In 1994, Brook-haven's parent company and one of its directors pleaded guilty to charges of criminal fraud perpetrated through improper relationships and illegal agreements between the company and its doctors. Rotella learned of the plea agreement that same year, and in 1997 he filed a civil RICO claim against respondents, a group of doctors and related business entities, in Federal District Court.1
*Daniel J. Popeo and Richard A. Samp filed a brief for the Washington Legal Foundation et al. as amici curiae urging affirmance.
Philip Allen Lacovara, Evan M. Tager, and Gary E. Hughes filed a brief for the American Council of Life Insurance as amicus curiae.
1 Rotella alleged that "a group of doctors and their related business entities . . . improperly conspir[ed] to admit, treat, and retain him at Brookhaven Psychiatric Pavilion for reasons related to their own financial interests rather than the patient's psychiatric condition." 147 F. 3d 438, 439 (CA5 1998). As injuries, he alleged, among other things, confinement
551
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