Opinion
Case: 1:16-cv-02452
12-19-2016
Larry Turner, Plaintiff, v. Miller Co. Sheriff's Department, Defendant.
Assigned To : Unassigned
Assign. Date : 12/15/2016
Description: Pro Se Gen. Civ (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 Texarkana, Arkansas, which is the county seat of Miller County, Arkansas. Plaintiff names the Miller County Sheriff's Department as the defendant. Beyond that, the complaint is largely incomprehensible and thus fails to provide any notice of a claim and a basis for federal court jurisdiction. A separate order of dismissal accompanies this Memorandum Opinion. Date: December 19, 2016
/s/_________
United States District Judge