MATTHEWS v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR et al

Filing 3

MEMORANDUM OPINION Signed by Judge Ellen S. Huvelle on 9/28/20. (ls, )

MATTHEWS v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR et al

Doc. 3

FILED
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

SFP 3 0 7110
Clerk, U.S. District & Bankruptcy Courts for the District of Columbia

Robert R. Matthews, Plaintiff,
)

1
) United States Department of Interior et al., )

Civil Action No.

Defendants.

1 1
MEMORANDUM OPINION

This matter is before the Court on its initial review of plaintiffs 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).

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