Ruther v. Sequential Brands Group Inc.

• Court: District Court, District of Columbia
• Decided: August 14, 2017
• Docket: Civil Action No. 2017-1386
• Status: Published

Opinion

`FILEa

" AUG 1 1 2017 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT mem U.S_ mgmt & Bankmptcy FGR TH.E DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Courts torthe District ot Columbla L. Ruther, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) Civil Action Nos. l7-l379 (UNA) ) 17-1386 (UNA) 1 ) Sequential Brands Group lnc., ) ) Defendant. ) 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 F ederal Rules of Civil Procedure. .]arrell v. Tisch, 656 F. Supp. 237, 239 (D.D.C. 1987). Rule S(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requires complaints to contain “(f) a short and plain statement of ihe 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, 556 U.S. 662, 678-79 (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. Browri v. Califarzo, 75

F.R.D. 497, 498 (D.D.C`. 1977).

Plaintiff resides in Manassas, Virginia. He has filed a purported complaint against what appears to be a private business. The complaint is incomprehensible and thus fails to provide any notice of a claim and the basis of federal court j urisdiction. A separate order of dismissal

accompanies this Memorandum Opinion.

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Date: August LO, 2017 'U'nited §ates District Judge