Opinion
Civil Action No. 08 2153.
October 30, 2008
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, who claims to reside in the District of Columbia, sues a judge in Hampton, Virginia, for an alleged debt of $10,000. Plaintiff alleges that he loaned defendant the money in 1986. Although the action is probably barred by a statute of limitations, the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction to reach that decision. The complaint does not allege a violation of either the Constitution or federal law, and the $10,000 amount in controversy negates a basis for diversity jurisdiction. Accordingly, the complaint will be dismissed by separate Order issued contemporaneously.
Plaintiff lists his address as 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. 23607. The Court judicially notices this address as that of The White House, except that the zip code is for Newport News, Virginia. See www.usps.com/zip4.