The opinion
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FILED
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA NOV 3 0 20C9
Clerk, u.s. District and
Bankruptcy Courts
ANOKI PINON SULTAN,
Plaintiff,
v. Civil Action No. 09 2273
BUSINESS BUREAU,
Defendant.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This matter comes before the Court on consideration of plaintiffs application to proceed in
forma pauperis and pro se complaint. For the reasons explained below, the Court will grant the
application and will dismiss the complaint.
The Court has reviewed plaintiffs complaint, keeping in mind that complaints filed by pro
se litigants are held to less stringent standards than those applied to formal pleadings drafted by
lawyers. 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(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
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doctrine of res judicata applies. Brown v. Califano, 75 F.R.D. 497, 498 (D.D.C. 1977).
As drafted, the Count cannot discern plaintiffs claim or claims. Amidst the pleading's
many biblical references, the Court cannot discern plaintiffs claim or claims against the named
defendant. In addition, the complaint neither states a basis for this Court's jurisdiction nor
includes a short and plain statement showing her entitlement to relief. For these reasons, the
complaint will be dismissed for its failure to comply with Rule 8(a). An Order consistent with
this Memorandum Opinion is issued separately.
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United States District Judge
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