Opinion
Case: 1:16-cv-00607
03-30-2016
DEBORAH DIANE FLETCHER, Plaintiff, v. TREASURER DEPARTMENT, et al., Defendants.
Assigned To : Unassigned
Assign. Date: 4/1/2016
Description: Pro Se Gen Civil MEMORANDUM OPINION
This matter comes before the court on review of plaintiff's application to proceed in forma pauperis and pro se civil complaint. The Court will grant the application, and dismiss the complaint.
Plaintiff alleges that she "is a victor [sic] of identity theft." Compl. at 2. According to plaintiff, "others are included on [her] bank records [and the] banks are not correct on the . . . balance" in her account. Id. at 1. "[S]he believe[s] that fraud has been committed," and she "strongly request[s] to see her complete present and past bank records." Id. at 2.
The Court has reviewed 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, however, 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 claims 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 Court has reviewed the complaint and finds that it fails to meet the standard set forth in Rule 8(a). Plaintiff's claims pertain to her bank account, yet she neither identifies her bank nor explains how or why the named defendants are liable for any harm she has sustained. Furthermore, the complaint does not state the grounds upon which this court's jurisdiction depends, or a statement of a cognizable claim showing plaintiff's entitlement to relief. Therefore, the complaint will be dismissed. An Order consistent with this Memorandum Opinion is issued separately. DATE: 3/30/16
/s/_________
United States District Judge