Burley v. United States Government

FILED UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUN f 5 2011 FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Clark, U.S. Olltflfa {\ Blltlkruptc

Courts for the District ot COIUmbra Toni Patricia Irons Burley, )

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Plaintiff, )

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v. ) Civil Action No. 11 1092

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United States Government et al., )

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Defendants. )

MEMORANDUM OPINION

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

Plaintiff, a resident of Kingston, New York, sues the United States, President Barack Obama "and administration," and the States of Georgia and Florida. She seeks $20 million "and [her] land and property back." Compi. at 4. However, the complaint allegations describing various events are too disjointed to provide any notice of a claim against the named defendants. A separate Order of dismissal accompanies this Memorandum Opinion.

United States District Judge Date: June