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Costello v. Transportation Security Administration

United States District Court, D. New Jersey
Apr 29, 2005
Civil Action No. 05-1018 (MLC) (D.N.J. Apr. 29, 2005)

Opinion

Civil Action No. 05-1018 (MLC).

April 29, 2005


MEMORANDUM OPINION


THIS MATTER ARISING on the Court's order to show cause why the complaint should not be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § ("Section") 1331 (3-7-05 Ord. to Show Cause); and the plaintiff pro se bringing this action to recover damages for "age discrimination," "race discrimination," and fraud (Compl. at 2-3); and the plaintiff alleging — without more — the defendants' actions "are a violation of Federal Law" (id. at 3); and the Court reviewing jurisdiction sua sponte, see Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(h)(3) (stating court shall dismiss complaint if jurisdiction appears lacking); and

IT APPEARING the plaintiff, even though filing a complaintpro se, must comply with minimum pleading standards, Fultz v. Neighborhood Leg. Servs., 654 F.Supp. 881, 884 (W.D. Pa. 1987), Walker v. Comay, 640 F.Supp. 195, 196 (W.D. Pa. 1986); and the complaint failing to allege (1) the specific federal law forming the basis for federal-question jurisdiction under Section 1331, or (2) dates for the occurrences underlying the purported causes of action; and it appearing the mere possibility of federal issues being involved will not give rise to federal jurisdiction,Fran. Tax Bd. v. Constr. Lab. Vac. Tr., 463 U.S. 1, 9-12 (1983); and the Court being concerned federal law does not "create the cause of action" as to these claims, id. at 27-28, see Blum v. Seiler Corp., No. 92-2317, 1992 WL 177021, at *2 (E.D. Pa. July 17, 1992) (granting motion to dismiss because plaintiff failed to clarify basis for federal jurisdiction); and the Court concluding the body of the complaint fails to conform to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, see Fed.R.Civ.P. 8-10, see Becker v. Muriel Siebert Co., No. 97-1370, 1998 WL 209620, at *1-*2 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 29, 1998) (granting motion to dismiss breach-of-stock-purchase-contract claim for lack of jurisdiction since it did not present federal question); and it thereby appearing the complaint fails to give "fair notice of what the plaintiff's claim is and the grounds upon which it rests," Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47 (1957),see Simmons v. Cmty. Serv. Providers, 847 F.Supp. 351, 352-53 (E.D. Pa. 1994) (granting motion to dismiss with leave to amendpro se complaint, as complaint insufficient to enable defendant to bring defense); and

THE COURT ADVISING that the complaint would be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction under Section 1331 unless the plaintiff (1) asserted properly the basis for jurisdiction here, and (2) complied with the pleading requirements of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure; and

THE PLAINTIFF FAILING to respond to the Court's inquiry; and thus the Court intending to dismiss the complaint for lack of jurisdiction under Section 1331; and good cause appearing, the Court will issue an appropriate order and judgment.


Summaries of

Costello v. Transportation Security Administration

United States District Court, D. New Jersey
Apr 29, 2005
Civil Action No. 05-1018 (MLC) (D.N.J. Apr. 29, 2005)
Case details for

Costello v. Transportation Security Administration

Case Details

Full title:MIKE COSTELLO, Plaintiff, v. TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, et…

Court:United States District Court, D. New Jersey

Date published: Apr 29, 2005

Citations

Civil Action No. 05-1018 (MLC) (D.N.J. Apr. 29, 2005)