Sligh v. Rosenberg et al
Filing
3
MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Peter J. Messitte on 6/29/2016. (kn, Deputy Clerk)(c/m 6/30/16)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND
LISA SLIGH,
*
*
Plaintiff,
*
*
v
*
Civil Action No. PJM-16-1776
*
DIANE ROSENBERG,
*
SHERIFF MELVIN C. HIGH,
*
*
Defendants.
*
***
MEMORANDUM OPINION
On June 1, 2016, Lisa Slight submitted this filing styled as a “Notice” of a Right to
Pursue a Claim with attachments and a Motion to Proceed in Forma Pauperis. The filing will be
treated as a Complaint and the Motion to Proceed in Forma Pauperis will be granted for the
purpose of preliminary review. For reasons set forth herein, the Complaint will be dismissed
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2), which requires courts to dismiss the cases of pro se plaintiffs
proceeding in forma pauperis which fail to state a claim on which relief may be granted.
Rule 8(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides in relevant part that a
pleading that states a claim for relief must contain:
(1) a short and plain statement of the grounds for the court's jurisdiction,
unless the court already has jurisdiction and the claim needs no new
jurisdictional support; and
(2) a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled
to relief; and
Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a).
Rule 8 requires that a party submit a “simple, concise and direct” pleading. Holsey v.
Collins, 90 F.R.D. 122, 126 (D. Md. 1981). This requirement is not satisfied when a complaint
is “needlessly long, highly repetitious, or confused.” S. Volkswagen, Inc. v. Centrix Fin., LLC,
357 F. Supp. 2d 837, 841 (D. Md. 2005). Allegations in a complaint must “give the defendant
fair notice of what the plaintiff’s claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.” Swierkiewicz v.
Sorema N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 512 (2002) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Sligh who identifies herself in the caption of the Complaint as “I; woman Prosecutor,”
and Defendants Diane Rosenberg and Sheriff Melvin C. High as “wrongdoer[s]” states in the
Complaint:
I; Lisa Sligh of FULL AGE, require a FIDUCIARY of
ACCOUNTING for the TRUSTEE, I also require the TRUSTEE
RECORD, LEDGERS, with three FORMS OF PHOTO
IDENTIFICATION, Identification require that Sheriff is his first
name, and I would like to know what C. Stands for in the Sheriff
Name, Diane identification should state Diane Rosenburg, all
receipts for CASE NO. 8:14:CV-03508-gjh i; also require the
COURT FILE and Receipts for this case along with a Valid Claim
in have with PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY & State of Maryland. I
require this information within 15 days, or as soon as possible.
Thank you for your cooperation.
ECF No. 1. The attachments submitted with the Complaint are similarly unintelligible. The
attachments appear to concern a property foreclosure proceeding.
This Court recognizes that Sligh is a pro se litigant and accords her filings liberal
construction, see e,g, Gordon v. Leeke, 574 F.2d 1147, 1151 (4th Cir.1978), Erickson v. Pardus,
551 U.S. 89 (2007), but it is nearly impossible for even the most vigilant reader to determine
what is being alleged. Clearly, no cognizable cause of action is alleged.
In sum, the Complaint does not comply with Rule 8, and it will be dismissed without
prejudice. A separate Order follows.
June 29, 2016
______________/s/_________________
PETER J. MESSITTE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
2
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?