Case ID: f-appx_317/html/0196-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Fred Douglas VINING, Appellant v. APPLIED POWER TECHNOLOGY; Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry; Workers Compensation Appeals Board.
    No. 08-3855.
    Unitéd States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
    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 Feb. 12, 2009.
    Filed: March 27, 2009.
    
      Fred Douglas Vining, New Kensington, PA, pro se.
    Calvin R. Koons, Esq., Kemal A. Mericli, Esq., Office of Attorney General of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, PA, for Defendants.
    Before: McKEE, FISHER and CHAGARES, Circuit Judges.
   OPINION

PER CURIAM.

On March 18, 2005, this Court affirmed the District Court’s grant of a motion to dismiss Vining’s original case under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Vining, proceeding pro se, then filed on October 12, 2005, a motion to reopen the case in the District Court, stating only that the “District Court decision conflicts with decision of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.” The District court denied his motion without explanation on October 18, 2005. Nearly three years later, Vining filed a motion to proceed in forma pauperis and a motion for leave to file an amended complaint, both of which the District Court denied without explanation. Vining then filed the instant appeal on September 11, 2008, and this Court granted his IFP motion.

We have appellate jurisdiction over this appeal under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and review it for possible dismissal under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). An appeal must be dismissed under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) if it has no arguable basis in law or fact. Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325, 109 S.Ct. 1827, 104 L.Ed.2d 338 (1989). Because we determine that the appeal is lacking in arguable legal merit, we will dismiss it under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).

Vining’s motions are subject to the requirements of Fed.R.Civ.P. 7(b)(1), which states that motions must “be in writing unless made during a hearing or trial; state with particularity the grounds for seeking the order; and state the relief sought.” However, Vining offered the District Court nothing in support of any of his motions. The District Court had no basis on which to reopen his case, grant his IFP motion, or grant him leave to amend his complaint. Similarly, this Court finds nothing, construing his submissions as broadly as possible, that demonstrates the District Court erred in dismissing Vining’s motions. See Alston v. Parker, 363 F.3d 229, 234 (3d Cir.2004)(“pro se complaints in particular should be construed liberally.”).

As a result, we determine that Vining’s appeal is lacking in arguable legal merit, and will dismiss it pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).