PATOCK v. FOX NEWS et al

Filing 3

MEMORANDUM OPINION Signed by Judge Rosemary M. Collyer on 10/18/2011. (ls, )

FILED
NOV - 1 2011
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Clerk, U.S. District &Bankruptc
Courts for the District 01 CO/Umbra

JAMES MICHAEL PATOCK, SR.,
Plaintiff,
Civil Action No.

v.

11 1910

FOX NEWS, et al.,
Defendants.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Plaintiffs claims arise from his arrest by United States Park Police officers and media
coverage of his case. It appears that plaintiff has filed a substantially similar complaint in the
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, see Patock v. Fox News, et al.,
No. 11-0974 (E.D. Va. filed Sept. 12,2011), and the matter has not yet concluded. Although "no
precise rule has evolved, the general principle is to avoid duplicative litigation" between federal
district courts. Colorado River Water Conservation Dist. v. United States, 424 U.S. 800, 817
( 1976) (citations omitted). "Considerations of comity and orderly administration of justice
dictate that two courts of equal authority should not hear the same case simultaneously."
Washington Metro. Area Transit Auth. v. Ragonese, 617 F.2d 828,830 (D.C. Cir. 1980) (citation
omitted). Accordingly, the Court will grant plaintiffs application to proceed in forma pauperis,
and dismiss this action without prejudice. An Order consistent with this Memorandum is issued
separately on this same date.

-3