Opinion
Civil Action No. 12 0478
03-22-2012
Robert Lee Johnson, Plaintiff, v. Interstate Management Co. LLC, 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 plaintiff's application and dismiss the complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
The complaint is not a model of clarity but plaintiff appears to challenge the denial of workers compensation benefits. The complaint arises from an apparent injury plaintiff suffered on February 25, 2009, while employed at Hampton Crown Plaza Hotel presumably in the District of Columbia. Plaintiff alleges that he was injured when he ''open[ed] the hot box to put some food in it and a [sic] iron pot fell and hit me on top of my head, and I got dizzy." Compl. at 2. He seeks $50 million in damages. Plaintiff claims that he was "denied medical treatment under American Disability [sic] and under Workman Compensation Law." Id. at 2. He has not, however, stated any facts suggesting that he is suing under the Americans With Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.
Plaintiff's remedy lies exclusively under the District of Columbia's Workers' Compensation Act ("WCA"), D.C. Code § 32-1501 et seq., which provides for judicial review by the local courts. See id. § 32-1522; Doe v. U.S., 797 F. Supp. 2d 78, 82-83 (D.D.C. 2011) (examining cases finding WCA to be the exclusive remedy for most workplace injury claims). A separate Order of dismissal accompanies this Memorandum Opinion.
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United States District Judge