Opinion
Civil Action No. 21-0243 (UNA)
01-29-2021
OSCAR CEASER, Plaintiff, v. BARACK OBAMA, Defendant.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This matter is before the Court on review of this pro se plaintiff's application to proceed in forma pauperis and his civil complaint. The Court has reviewed the plaintiff's complaint, keeping in mind that complaints filed by pro se litigants are held to less stringent standards than those applied to formal pleadings drafted by lawyers. See Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972). Even pro se litigants must comply with the Federal 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 that a complaint contain a short and plain statement of the grounds upon which the Court's jurisdiction depends, a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief, and a demand for judgment for the relief the pleader seeks. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). The purpose of the minimum standard of Rule 8 is to give fair notice to the defendants of the claim being asserted, sufficient to prepare a responsive answer, to prepare an adequate defense and to determine whether the doctrine of res judicata applies. Brown v. Califano, 75 F.R.D. 497, 498 (D.D.C. 1977).
The plaintiff demands settlement of a claim against "AT/T and Verizon Service Network," yet demands "a large amount of money from Barack Obama." Compl. at 1. This complaint fails to meet Rule 8(a)'s minimal pleading standard. It neither states the basis for this Court's jurisdiction nor includes a short and plain statement showing that the plaintiff is entitled to the relief he demands.
The Court will grant the plaintiff's application to proceed in forma pauperis and will dismiss the complaint and this civil action without prejudice. An Order consistent with this Memorandum Opinion is issued separately. DATE: January 29, 2021
/s/
TANYA S. CHUTKAN
United States District Judge