FILED

MAY 17 2019 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Clerk, U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts CHRISTOPHER DESHAWN BUTLER, Plaintiff, V. : Civil Action No. 19-0111 (UNA)

CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, ef al.,

Defendants.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

This matter comes before the court on review of plaintiffs application to proceed in forma pauperis and pro se civil complaint. The Court will grant the application, and dismiss the

complaint without prejudice.

The Court notes that complaints filed by pro se litigants are held to less stringent standards than those applied to formal pleadings drafted by lawyers. See Haines v. Kerner,

(1972). However, even pro se litigants must comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Jarrell v. Tisch,

(D.D.C. 1987). Rule 8(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requires that a complaint contain a short and plain statement of the grounds upon which the Court’s jurisdiction depends, a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief, and a demand for judgment for the relief the pleader seeks. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). The purpose of the minimum standard of Rule 8 is to give fair notice to the defendants of the claims being asserted, sufficient to prepare a responsive answer, to prepare an adequate defense and to determine whether the doctrine of res judicata applies.

Brown y. Califano,

(D.D.C. 1977). It appears that the plaintiff's claims pertain to the custody of his daughter. The complaint is otherwise unintelligible. Missing from the complaint are statements of the grounds upon which this court’s jurisdiction depends and a cognizable claim showing the plaintiff's entitlement to relief. As drafted, the complaint fails to meet the standard set forth in Rule 8(a), and therefore,

it must be dismissed, An Order consistent with this Memorandum Opinion is issued separately.

ty y j ‘ DATE: May ie, 2019 (ws Klar Kobly

United States District Judge