Opinion
Case: 1:16-cv-01903
09-21-2016
Bronina Ruslana Olegovna, Plaintiff, v. U.S. Department of Energy et al., Defendants.
Assigned To : Unassigned
Assign. Date : 9/26/2016
Description: Pro Se Gen. Civil (F Deck)
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 Kiev, Ukraine. She purports to sue the United States Department of Energy, Voice of America, a Houston-based energy company, and several international entities in Austria, Russia, and Germany. The prolix complaint is difficult to follow. Plaintiff alleges a vast conspiracy of corruption in the energy sector, particularly with regard to gas production and suppliers. The complaint simply fails to provide any notice of a cognizable claim and the basis of federal court jurisdiction. Accordingly, this case will be dismissed. A separate order accompanies this Memorandum Opinion. Date: September 21, 2016
/s/_________
United States District Judge