West v. Detroit Board of Education et al

Filing 8

ORDER FOR PLAINTIFF TO MAKE MORE DEFINITE STATEMENT. Signed by Magistrate Judge R. Steven Whalen. (GWil)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN SOUTHERN DIVISION DOROTHY R. WEST, Plaintiff, v. DETROIT BOARD OF EDUCATION, Defendant. / No. 10-10998 District Judge David M. Lawson Magistrate Judge R. Steven Whalen

ORDER FOR PLAINTIFF TO MAKE MORE DEFINITE STATEMENT On March 12, 2010, Plaintiff Dorothy R. West filed a pro se civil complaint in this Court. She claims that she has suffered "retaliation and discrimination" at the hands of the Defendant. Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a) requires that a pleading "shall contain...a short and plain statement of the grounds upon which the court's jurisdiction depends...[and] a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief." In her complaint, Ms. West states, "My reason for accusations of retaliation and discrimination is due to the attempt to put me out of HAP insurance coverage because I filed for Workmen's Compensation before I retired." This statement does not give the Court enough information to determine whether Ms. West may be entitled to relief. Therefore, Ms. West is ordered to file, in writing, a more definite statement of her claims of discrimination and retaliation.1 On what protected class does she base her

Pursuant to its supervisory power, a court may sua sponte order a more definite statement under Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(e). See Wagner v. First Horizon Pharmaceutical Corp., 464 F.3d 1273, 1275 (11th Cir.2006); Foster v. Argent Mortg. Co., L.L.C., 2008 WL 5244383, *5 (E.D.Mich. 2008).
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discrimination claim? Race? Gender? What facts make her believe she was discriminated against, that is, that she was treated differently from others? As for her claim of retaliation, what did she do that prompted the Defendant to retaliate? Was it her filing of a Workers' Compensation claim? What specific action did the Defendant take against her? Ms. West shall file a more definite statement with this Court, in writing, on or before JUNE 21, 2010. Her failure to do so may result in the dismissal of her complaint. IT IS SO ORDERED.

S/R. Steven Whalen R. STEVEN WHALEN UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE Dated: June 7, 2010 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE The undersigned certifies that a copy of the foregoing order was served on the attorneys and/or parties of record by electronic means or U.S. Mail on June 7, 2010. S/G. Wilson Judicial Assistant

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