The opinion
,
FILED
JUN 1 5 '011
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT Clerk, U.S. District & Bankruptcy
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Courts for the Olstr,ct of (;olumbia
Toni Patricia Irons Burley, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. )
)
Civil Action No.
11 1091.
United States Government et aI., )
)
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. 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
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 resident of Kingston, New York, sues the United States, President Barack
Obama "and administration," and the State of New York. She seeks $60 million "and property
and land back." Compl. at 3. In the complaint, plaintiff mentions fraud, bribery, conspiracy, and
constitutional violations, but she states no coherent facts to provide any notice of a claim. A
separate Order of dismissal accompanies this Memorandum Opinion.
Date June' ~
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