The opinion
FILED
JUL 12 2011
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT Clerk, U.S. District & Bankruptcy
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Courts for the District of Columbia
)
Sallijo Freeman, )
)
Plaintiff, )
v.
)
) Civil Action No. 11 1259
)
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., )
)
Defendant. )
)
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This matter is before the Court on review of plaintiff s application for a temporary
restraining order ("TRO") or a preliminary injunction ("PI"), which is accompanied by her
complaint and application for leave to proceed informa pauperis. The Court will grant the in
forma pauperis application, deny the TRO/PI motion, 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. 1987). Rule 8(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requires
complaints to contain ''(1) 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. 8(a); see Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1950 (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
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defense and determine whether the doctrine of res judicata applies. Brown v. Califano, 75
F.R.D. 497, 498 (D.D.C. 1977).
Plaintiff, a District of Columbia resident, sues Wal-Mart Stores. She lists her allegations
as "Violation ofthe American with Disabilities Act" and "Breach of Agreement," CompI. at L
but she has stated no supporting facts and, thus, has failed to provide any notice of a claim.
Plaintiff seeks permission to file an amended complaint, but she does not explain why she
submitted a wholly deficient complaint in the first place. Furthermore, plaintiff states no basis
for issuing a temporary restraining order or a preliminary injunction "to enjoin the defendant
from the destruction of documents pertaining to" what appears to be her employment application.
TRO Mot. at 1. Hence, the Court will dismiss the instant action without prejudice to plaintiff
refiling a complaint that complies with Rule 8. A sep'~~ate Order ~f dismi-ssal~ompanies this
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Memorandum Opinion. I/ /
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Date: July Ji-, 2011
United States Distric Judge
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