Opinion
Civil Action No. 11 0430.
February 24, 2011
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, a District of Columbia resident, sues a District of Columbia hospital and three doctors there for medical malpractice. She seeks $300,000 in damages. The complaint neither presents a federal question nor provides a basis for diversity jurisdiction because the parties are not of diverse citizenship. Plaintiff's recourse lies, if at all, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. A separate Order of dismissal accompanies this Memorandum Opinion.
Date: February 22nd, 2011