Woubetu v. Pat Handy Legacy Shelter

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

SAMSON WOUBETU, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) Civil Action No. 23-0945 (UNA) ) PAT HANDY LEGACY SHELTER, et al., ) ) Defendants. )

MEMORANDUM OPINION

This matter is before the Court on consideration of plaintiff’s application to proceed in

forma pauperis and pro se complaint. The Court grants the application and, for the reasons

discussed below, the dismisses the complaint.

A pro se litigant’s pleading is held to less stringent standards than would be applied to a

formal pleading drafted by lawyer. See Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972). Even pro

se litigants, however, must comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Jarrell v. Tisch,

656 F. Supp. 237, 239 (D.D.C. 1987). Rule 8 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).

1 Plaintiff, who currently resides at a homeless shelter, alleges that another resident stole

his pants as well as the cash and keys in the pockets. See Compl. at 1. He further alleges that

shelter staff refused to help him with this incident and another incident where plaintiff’s Bible,

books, jacket and papers were stolen. See id. Missing from the complaint is a statement

establishing a basis for this Court’s jurisdiction. This defect, along with the complaint’s failure

make a clear statement of claim and demand for relief, warrant dismissal of the complaint for

failure to comply with the minimum pleading standard set forth in Rule 8(a).

A separate order will issue.

/s/ TANYA S. CHUTKAN DATE: April 20, 2023 United States District Judge