Opinion
Civil Action No.12 0483
03-22-2012
Shiron Brown, Plaintiff, v. Woodley House, Inc., Defendant.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This matter is before the Court on plaintiff's pro se complaint and application to proceed in forma pauperis. The Court will grant plaintiff's application and dismiss the complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
The subject matter jurisdiction of the federal district courts is limited and is set forth generally at 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1332. Under those statutes, federal jurisdiction is available only when a "federal question" is presented or the parties are of diverse citizenship and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000. A party seeking relief in the district court must at least plead facts that bring the suit within the court's jurisdiction. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). Failure to plead such facts warrants dismissal of the action. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3).
Plaintiff, a District of Columbia resident, sues her former landlord based in the District of Columbia for allegedly terminating her lease before she could prepare to leave. She also complains about seemingly unrelated matters and, in one instance, states serious criminal allegations against individuals who are not named defendants. See Compl. at 2. The complaint presents neither a federal question nor a basis for diversity jurisdiction because the parties are not of diverse citizenship. Plaintiff's recourse lies, if at all, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. A separate Order of dismissal accompanies this Memorandum Opinion.
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United States District Judge