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Fleming v. Lackawanna Cty. Court-House

United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
Oct 9, 2009
350 F. App'x 598 (3d Cir. 2009)

Opinion

No. 09-2957.

Submitted for Possible Dismissal Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) or Summary Action Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6 September 24, 2009.

Opinion filed October 9, 2009.

On Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania (D.C. Civil No. 09-cv-00682), District Judge: Honorable Thomas I. Vanaskie.

Steven Paul Fleming, Lansdale, PA, pro se.

Before: McKEE, FISHER and CHAGARES, Circuit Judges.


OPINION


Steven Paul Fleming, proceeding pro se, appeals from the District Court's dismissal of his amended complaint. For the reasons that follow, we will dismiss the appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).

Fleming filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania on April 14, 2009. The District Court construed it as seeking relief under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and issued an order explaining the defects in Fleming's complaint, setting out the information required to state a claim under § 1983, and ordering Fleming to amend his complaint to comply with those requirements. Fleming filed an amended complaint, the substance of which is described in great detail in the Magistrate Judge's Report Recommendation. The amended complaint named Lackawanna County Courthouse and Lackawanna County as the defendants. As the Magistrate Judge explained, Fleming failed to specify any conduct, wrongful or otherwise, of any properly named defendant. A fair reading of Fleming's complaint does not indicate what specific wrongs he seeks to remedy or who committed them. Additionally, the Magistrate Judge recommended that Fleming not be permitted to amend his complaint for a second time, as it appeared that any such amendment would be futile. By order entered June 9, 2009, the District Court adopted the Magistrate Judge's Report Recommendation and dismissed the action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e).

We have jurisdiction over this appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. Because Appellant has been granted in forma pauperis status pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915, we review this appeal for possible dismissal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). An appeal must be dismissed under § 1915(e)(2)(B) if it has no arguable basis in fact or law. See Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325, 109 S.Ct. 1827, 104 L.Ed.2d 338 (1989). For all of the reasons given by the Magistrate Judge, we agree that Fleming failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted and, accordingly, conclude that this appeal must be dismissed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).


Summaries of

Fleming v. Lackawanna Cty. Court-House

United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
Oct 9, 2009
350 F. App'x 598 (3d Cir. 2009)
Case details for

Fleming v. Lackawanna Cty. Court-House

Case Details

Full title:Steven Paul FLEMING, Appellant v. LACKAWANNA COUNTY COURT-HOUSE…

Court:United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit

Date published: Oct 9, 2009

Citations

350 F. App'x 598 (3d Cir. 2009)