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GLD-062 NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
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No. 11-3807
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PATRICK D. TILLIO, SR.; EMANUELA COKER, Esquire; JIM OSMAN
PATRICK D. TILLIO, SR,
Appellant
v.
NORTHLAND GROUP INC; SHERAWN M HOLLIE;
HARRY SPIESS; VINCENT'S HARDWARE FLOORING; JULES MANDELSOHN
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On Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
(E.D. Pa. D.C. Civil No. 11-cv-05516)
District Judge: Honorable Cynthia M Rufe
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Submitted for Possible Dismissal for Lack of Jurisdiction,
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
December 8, 2011
Before: FUENTES, GREENAWAY, JR., and STAPLETON, Circuit Judges
(Opinion filed: January 4, 2012)
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OPINION
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PER CURIAM
Patrick Tillio, Sr., proceeding pro se, appeals the decision of the District Court
dismissing his complaint without prejudice for failure to comply with Rule 8(a) of the
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Tillio filed a pro se complaint against several
individuals which appears to allege that they had „scammed‟ him in some fashion. The
complaint offered little insight into either the nature of his claims or any basis for federal
jurisdiction. The District Court determined that his complaint did not comply with Rule
8(a) of the Fed. R. Civ. P. and dismissed it without prejudice. It further provided Tillio
with 30 days during which to amend his complaint prior to administratively closing the
case. Tillio did not amend, and appealed after that period had run.
We have jurisdiction over this appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 12911 and review
the District Court‟s dismissal under Rule 8 for an abuse of discretion. In re
Westinghouse Sec. Litig., 90 F.3d 696, 702 (3d Cir. 1996). Rule 8(a) requires a pleading
to contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to
relief.” A district court may sua sponte dismiss a complaint for failure to comply with
Rule 8, but dismissal “is usually reserved for those cases in which the complaint is so
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“Generally, an order which dismisses a complaint without prejudice is neither
final nor appealable because the deficiency may be corrected by the plaintiff
without affecting the cause of action.” Borelli v. City of Reading, 532 F.2d 950,
951 (3d Cir. 1976). “Only if the plaintiff cannot amend or declares his intention to
stand on his complaint does the order become final and appealable.” Id. at 951-52.
Here, Tillio did not amend his complaint within the 30 days provided by the
District Court and instead appealed after the period‟s close. As a result the
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confused, ambiguous, vague, or otherwise unintelligible that its true substance, if any, is
well disguised.” Simmons v. Abruzzo, 49 F.3d 83, 86 (2d Cir. 1995) (quotations
omitted). We agree with the District Court that Tillio‟s complaint was rambling and
unclear, and discern no error in its dismissal.
As the appeal presents no substantial question, we will summarily affirm the
judgment below. See 3d Cir. L.A.R. 27.4 and 3d Cir. I.O.P. 10.6
District Court‟s order is deemed final and appealable.
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