Opinion
Civil Action No. 18-448 (UNA)
04-24-2018
Patricia Michelle Williams Collin Erikanders, Plaintiff, v. Suntrust Bank, Defendant.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This matter is before the Court on its initial review of plaintiff's pro se complaint and application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis. The Court will grant the in forma pauperis 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.
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 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).
Plaintiff resides in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She sues SunTrust Bank for problems she may have had with an account in Miami, Florida, which might have been closed or depleted. The complaint does not include a coherent statement of facts to provide adequate notice of a claim and the basis of federal court jurisdiction. Therefore, it will be dismissed. A separate order accompanies this Memorandum Opinion. DATE: April 24, 2018
/s/_________
United States District Judge