Opinion
Civil Action 1:22-cv-01347 (UNA)
06-21-2022
KENT ALLEN, JR., Plaintiff, v. WILLIAM WANG et al., Defendants.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
DABNEY L. FRIEDRICH, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
This matter is before the Court on its initial review of Plaintiff's pro se Complaint, Dkt. 1, and Application for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis (IFP), Dkt. 2. The Court will grant the IFP Application and dismiss the case because the Complaint fails to meet the minimal pleading requirements of Rule 8(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
Plaintiff Kent Allen, Jr., a resident of Miami, Florida, Compl. at 1, sues the CEO of Vizio, who is located in Irvine, California, see id. at 2; Notice at 1, Dkt. 5, and his own father, Kent Allen, Sr., who is located in Milton, Delaware, see Compl. at 2-4; Not. at 1. Preliminarily, the Complaint and IFP Application both fail to comply with Federal Rule 10(a) and D.C. Local Rule 5.1(g), because neither are captioned for this Court, or for that matter, any other. See Compl. at 1; IFP Application at 1.
Pro se litigants must comply with the Rules of Civil Procedure. Jarrell v. Tisch, 656 F.Supp. 237, 239 (D.D.C. 1987). Rule 8(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requires complaints to contain “(1) a short and plain statement of the grounds for the court's jurisdiction [and] (2) a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a); see Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678-79 (2009); Ciralsky v. CIA, 355 F.3d 661, 668-71 (D.C. Cir. 2004). The Rule 8 standard ensures that defendants receive fair notice of the claim being asserted so that they can prepare a responsive answer and an adequate defense and determine whether the doctrine of res judicata applies. Brown v. Califano, 75 F.R.D. 497, 498 (D.D.C. 1977). “A confused and rambling narrative of charges and conclusions . . . does not comply with the requirements of Rule 8.” Cheeks v. Fort Myer Constr. Corp., 71 F.Supp.3d 163, 169 (D.D.C. 2014) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Plaintiff alleges that his father “defrauded” him by taking his “business names and ideas,” by using his “personal information” to renew various “business domains,” despite having previously provided this information to his father “willingly.” See Compl. at 4. He further alleges that his father “continuously contacts [plaintiff's] employer,” and provides them with information regarding Plaintiff's “personal lifestyle and living situation,” and that he has slandered his work reputation “by use of the general public.” See id. He contends that his father also “directed” “threatening images toward” him and that he has invaded his privacy by use of a “wave bus.” See id. He demands $50,000 in damages. Id. at 4, 7.
Put simply, the Complaint consists of a random collection of statements without clarity or particularity. Plaintiff provides no factual context or information to connect the two named Defendants or to make out any discernible claim, nor does he establish any basis for subject matter jurisdiction or venue. An Order consistent with this Memorandum Opinion is issued separately.