NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
___________
No. 16-1900
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MICHAEL FRANCIS KISSELL,
Appellant
v.
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTE
OF LAUREL HIGHSLANDS; PENNSYLVANIA STATE CORRECTIONS
OFFICERS ASSOCIATION
____________________________________
On Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Western District of Pennsylvania
(D.C. Civil No. 3-15-cv-00058)
District Judge: Honorable Kim R. Gibson
____________________________________
Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
December 2, 2016
Before: SHWARTZ, COWEN and FUENTES, Circuit Judges
(Opinion filed: December 5, 20016)
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OPINION*
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PER CURIAM
*
This disposition is not an opinion of the full Court and pursuant to I.O.P. 5.7 does not
constitute binding precedent.
Pro se appellant Michael Francis Kissell (“Kissell”) appeals from the judgment of
the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania in his civil rights
case. We will affirm the District Court’s dismissal.
I.
Because we write primarily for the parties, we will set forth only those facts
essential to our decision. In March 2015, Kissell filed a complaint in the Western District
clearly raising claims under Title VII, referencing 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and challenging
portions of a 1997 judgment in his favor. The assigned Magistrate Judge recommended
dismissing the initial complaint, but also giving Kissell leave to amend. After the District
Court dismissed Kissell’s first complaint without further leave to amend, we affirmed the
dismissal of his claims relating to the 1997 case, and vacated the dismissal as to his Title
VII claims. See Kissell v. Dept. of Corrs., 634 Fed. App’x 876 (3d Cir. 2015).
On remand, Kissell filed an amended complaint raising Title VII claims and a §
1983 claim against the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (“D.O.C.”) and
Pennsylvania State Corrections Officer Association (“P.S.C.O.A.”), and both defendants
filed motions to dismiss under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). The Magistrate Judge entered
two reports recommending granting the motions and dismissing the complaint with
prejudice, opining that amendment would be futile as well as inequitable to the
defendants. Kissell filed two sets of objections. Both asked the District Court to appoint
counsel, and the second sought to add a § 1983 claim against specific individuals –
essentially, he sought further leave to amend. The District Court adopted the reports and
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recommendations without commenting on Kissell’s requests, and dismissed his complaint
without further leave to amend. Kissell timely appealed.
II.
The District Court had jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331, and we have
jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. Our review of the District Court’s dismissal
under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) is de novo. See Wiest v. Lynch, 710 F.3d 121, 128 (3d
Cir. 2013). Pro se complaints must be construed liberally, see Erickson v. Pardus, 551
U.S. 89, 93-94 (2007), but when reviewing a motion to dismiss, “we accept the factual
allegations contained in the Complaint as true, but disregard rote recitals of the elements
of a cause of action, legal conclusions, and mere conclusory statements.” James v. City
of Wilkes-Barre, 700 F.3d 675, 679 (3d Cir. 2012) (citing Bell Atlantic Corp. v.
Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555-57 (2007); Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 672 (2009)).
Where a complaint has not alleged sufficient facts to state a claim for relief that is
“plausible on its face[,]” dismissal is appropriate. Ashcroft, 556 U.S. at 678. We review
the denial of a motion for leave to amend for abuse of discretion. See Race Tires Am.,
Inc. v. Hoosier Racing Tire Corp., 614 F.3d 57, 73 (3d Cir. 2010).
On remand, Kissell filed an amended complaint attempting to reassert his Title VII
claims and raising a § 1983 claim against the D.O.C. and P.S.C.O.A. He has now filed
two complaints, along with objections that could be construed as attempts to amend those
complaints. The Magistrate Judge’s first report and recommendation determined that
Kissell’s Title VII claims, to the extent that they were against P.S.C.O.A, had only
alleged passivity on the part of the union and not discrimination. See Angelino v. New
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York Times Co., 200 F.3d 73, 95-96 (3d Cir. 1999); see also E.E.O.C. v. Pipefitters Ass'n
Local Union 597, 334 F.3d 656, 660 (7th Cir. 2003). The Magistrate Judge’s second
report and recommendation concluded that Kissell had not stated a viable claim.
We agree with the Magistrate Judge’s analysis. To state a claim for retaliation,
Kissell had to allege that: “1) he engaged in conduct protected by Title VII; 2) his
employer took an adverse action against him either after or contemporaneous with the
protected activity; and 3) a causal link exists between his protected conduct and the
employer's adverse action.” See Slagle v. Cty. of Clarion, 435 F.3d 262, 265 (3d Cir.
2006). Kissell did not sufficiently allege the second and third elements of retaliation. Id.
Kissell also failed to plead facts sufficient to allege discrimination on the basis of his sex,
race, or disability; failed to point to parties other than P.S.C.O.A. or D.O.C. that these
claims could be brought against; and otherwise failed to provide any clarity such that the
District Court could fairly assess his claims. See James, 700 F.3d at 679. Given the
above analysis, and that Kissell has been given several opportunities to amend his
complaint, the District Court properly dismissed Kissell’s complaint without further leave
to amend.1
Accordingly, we will affirm the District Court’s judgment.
1
Kissell’s § 1983 claim fell outside the scope of our remand. To the extent it was
properly before the District Court, we agree with the District Court’s determination that
the claim is meritless.
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