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Selden v. Bennett

United States District Court, D. Columbia
Jun 1, 2011
Civil Action No. 11-0733 (UNA) (D.D.C. Jun. 1, 2011)

Opinion

Civil Action No. 11-0733 (UNA).

June 1, 2011


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, 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).

Plaintiff is a Florida prisoner confined in Daytona Beach, Florida. He has submitted a complaint against various defendants, including the a State's Attorney and the Governor of Florida, and what the Court has construed as an amended complaint, both of which are wholly incomprehensible. A separate Order of dismissal accompanies this Memorandum Opinion.

Date: May 25, 2011


Summaries of

Selden v. Bennett

United States District Court, D. Columbia
Jun 1, 2011
Civil Action No. 11-0733 (UNA) (D.D.C. Jun. 1, 2011)
Case details for

Selden v. Bennett

Case Details

Full title:Glenn Lee Selden, Plaintiff, v. Terryn H. Bennett et al., Defendants

Court:United States District Court, D. Columbia

Date published: Jun 1, 2011

Citations

Civil Action No. 11-0733 (UNA) (D.D.C. Jun. 1, 2011)