Opinion
Civil Action 19-3150 (UNA)
08-13-2021
WILLIE YOUMANS, Plaintiff, v. VETERANS AFFAIRS, Defendant.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
EMMET G. SULLIVAN, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
The Court has reviewed plaintiff's complaint, keeping in mind that complaints filed by pro se litigants are held to less stringent standards than those applied to formal pleadings drafted by lawyers. See Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972). Even pro se litigants, however, 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 that a complaint contain a short and plain statement of the grounds upon which the Court's jurisdiction depends, a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief, and a demand for judgment for the relief the pleader seeks. Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a). The purpose of the minimum standard of Rule 8 is to give fair notice to the defendants of the claims being asserted such that they can prepare a responsive answer, prepare 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).
Instead of setting forth factual allegations to support a particular legal claim, the complaint instead appears to list grievances pertaining to a prior civil action, Youmans v. McDonald, No. 1:15-cv-0589 (EGS), which the undersigned dismissed without prejudice by Minute Order on May 8, 2019. Plaintiff neither states a basis for this Court's jurisdiction, makes a short and plain statement of the claim showing that he is entitled to relief, nor demands judgment for any particular form of relief. As drafted, plaintiff's pro se complaint fails to comply with the minimal pleading standard set forth in Rule 8(a).
The Court will grant plaintiff's application to proceed in forma pauperis and dismiss the complaint and this civil action without prejudice. An Order is issued separately.