Scotto et al v. Devine et al

Filing 8

ORDER adopting in part 6 --Report and Recommendations; denying 2 --motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis; amended complaint due 2/17/2017; directing the plaintiffs either to pay the filing fee or to move to proceed in forma pauperis by 2/17/2017. Signed by Judge Steven D. Merryday on 2/7/2017. (BK)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
TAMPA DIVISION
LIVIA M. SCOTTO, et al.,
Plaintiffs,
v.

CASE NO. 8:16-cv-3379-T-23AEP

CHARLES DEVINE, et al.,
Defendants.
____________________________________/

ORDER
The magistrate judge recommends (Doc. 6) denying Livia M. Scotto’s motion
(Doc. 2) to proceed in forma pauperis; recommends dismissing Livia Scotto’s
complaint for failing to state a valid claim; and recommends allowing Angela M.
Scotto and Carmela A. Sciabama thirty days either (1) to each submit a motion on
her own behalf to proceed in forma pauperis, (2) to pay the filing fee, or (3) to
voluntarily dismiss the action. More than fourteen days has passed, and no party
objects. The report and recommendation (Doc. 6) is ADOPTED IN PART, and
Livia Scotto’s motion (Doc. 6) to proceed in forma pauperis is DENIED.
The complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, and the
allegations lack an arguable basis in fact and law. Although the plaintiffs almost
certainly can allege no claim against the defendants, no later than
FEBRUARY 17, 2017, the plaintiffs must amend the complaint and either pay the

filing fee or move to proceed in forma pauperis. Failure to comply with this order will
result in dismissal of the action without further notice. In preparing the amended
complaint the plaintiffs must comply with Rules 8, 9, 10, and 12, Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure and the Local Rules.
For example, Rule 8, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure states that a complaint
must include: “(1) a short and plain statement of the grounds for the court’s
jurisdiction . . . (2) a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader
is entitled to relief; and (3) a demand for the relief sought . . . .” Rule 10 states that
“[a] party must state its claims . . . in numbered paragraphs, each limited as far as is
practicable to a single set of circumstances . . . . If doing so would promote clarity,
each claim founded on a separate transaction or occurrence . . . must be stated in a
separate count.” The plaintiffs must identify to which particular defendant each
separate count applies.
The plaintiffs are warned that litigation in federal court is difficult. The
complaint is mostly incomprehensible and suffers from acute deficiencies that suggest
the plaintiffs require legal advice and assistance from a member of The Florida Bar.
The court cannot assist a party, even a pro se party, in conducting a case.
ORDERED in Tampa, Florida, on February 7, 2017.

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