Opinion
Civil Action No. 08 1681.
September 15, 2008
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This matter comes before the Court on consideration of plaintiffs pro se complaint and application to proceed in forma pauperis. The Court will grant the application, and dismiss the complaint.
Federal district courts have jurisdiction in civil actions arising under the Constitution, laws or treaties of the United States. See 28 U.S.C. § 1331. Here, however, the complaint does not explicitly identify a basis for this Court's jurisdiction and, as plaintiff does not identify herself as a member of a protected class, the complaint does not identify a claim arising under the laws of the United States or otherwise provide sufficient information for the Court to discern a basis for its jurisdiction. Federal district courts also have jurisdiction over civil actions in matters where the controversy exceeds $75,000 and is between citizens of different states. See 28 C.F.R. § 1332(a). But here, although the parties appear to reside or conduct business in different districts, plaintiff does not establish diversity of citizenship by claiming that the matter in controversy exceeds $75,000. Accordingly, the Court will dismiss the complaint without prejudice for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. An appropriate order accompanies this memorandum opinion.