Thomas v. Trump

• Court: District Court, District of Columbia
• Decided: June 29, 2026
• Docket: Civil Action No. 2026-1624
• Status: Published

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

CHUCKY THOMAS, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) Civil Action No. 26-1624 (UNA) ) DONALD TRUMP, et al., ) ) Defendants. )

MEMORANDUM OPINION

The Court has reviewed Plaintiff’s complaint, keeping in mind that complaints filed by

pro se litigants are held to less stringent standards than are applied to formal pleadings drafted by

lawyers. See Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972). Even 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 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 claim being asserted, sufficient to prepare a

responsive answer, to prepare an adequate defense and to determine whether the doctrine of res

judicata applies. Brown v. Califano, 75 F.R.D. 497, 498 (D.D.C. 1977).

The instant complaint alleges no facts and demands no relief, see Compl. at 5-6, without

which Plaintiff’s legal claims, and the Defendant(s) against whom he raises his claims, remain a

mystery. Because the complaint fails to comply with Rule 8, the court will dismiss it without

prejudice. An Order is issued separately. DATE: June 29, 2026 /s/ TANYA S. CHUTKAN United States District Judge