Opinion
Civil Action No. 12 10290
06-22-2012
Thomas Andrew Newcomer et al., Plaintiff, v. Corporate America d/b/a the United States, Defendant.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This matter is before the Court on its initial review of two plaintiffs' pro se complaint and applications for leave to proceed in forma pauperis. The Court will grant the in forma pauperis applications 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, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1950 (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).
Two residents listing their address as a residence in "District of Columbia, Maryland," Compl. Caption, purport to sue the United States and/or corporate America. The complaint, consisting of various unexplained attachments, provides no notice of a claim and a basis for exercising federal court jurisdiction. A separate Order of dismissal accompanies this Memorandum Opinion.
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United States District Judge