Selden v. Bennett

Opinion

FILED

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FoR THE Dlsmicr oF COLUMBIA JUN - 1 2911 Clork, U.S. Dlsutct & Bankruptcy courts for the Dlstrlct of columbia

Glenn Lee Selden, ) ) Plaintiff, ) )

v. ) Civil Action No. ll-0733 (UNA) ) Terryn H. Bennett el al., ) ) 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. l987). Rule 8(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requires complaints to contain "(l) 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. S(a); see Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1950 (2009); Cz'ralslcy v. CIA, 355 F.3d 661, 668-71 (D.C. Cir. 2004). 'l`he 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. Callfano, 75 F.R.D. 497, 498 (D.D.C. 1977).

Plaintiff is a Florida prisoner confined in Daytona Beach, Florida. He has submitted a

complaint against various defendants, including the a State’s Attorney and the Governor of Florida, and what the Court has construed as an amended complaint, both of which are wholly

incomprehensible. A separate Order of dismissal accompanies this Memorandum Opinion.

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zb nitjed States Distric(]udge Date: May , 2011