Knight v. United Medical Center

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

MARVIN KNIGHT,

Plaintiff,

v. Civil Action No. 1:25-cv-02726 (UNA)

UNITED MEDICAL CENTER, et al.,

Defendants.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Plaintiff, appearing pro se, has filed a complaint and an application to proceed in forma

pauperis (IFP). For the following reasons, the Court grants the IFP application and dismisses the

complaint.

The subject-matter jurisdiction of the federal district courts is limited and is set forth

generally at 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1332. Under those statutes, federal jurisdiction is available

only when a “federal question” is presented, id. § 1331, or the parties are of diverse citizenship

and the amount in controversy “exceeds the sum or value of $75,000, exclusive of interest and

costs,” id. § 1332(a). A party seeking relief in the district court must plead facts that bring the suit

within the court’s jurisdiction or suffer dismissal of the case. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a); 12(h)(3).

Plaintiff, a resident of Washington, D.C., sues United Medical Center and Cedar Hill

Regional Medical Center (“Cedar Hill”) located in the District’s southeast quadrant. See Compl.,

ECF No. 1 at 2, 4. Plaintiff alleges cryptically that he has fluid in his eye from an assault in 2014,

has fluid in his head from a concussion he sustained in 2008, and was “sexually assaulted by a

male nurse assistant” at an unstated place and time. Id. at 4. Plaintiff “accuse[s]” United Medical Center of misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, failure to provide necessary medical care, and

discrimination but has alleged no supporting facts. Id. Plaintiff makes no allegations against Cedar

Hill, and he demands no relief. Because the complaint does not establish diversity jurisdiction or

present a federal question, this case will be dismissed by separate order.

Date: October 7, 2025 _______________________ CARL J. NICHOLS United States District Judge