The opinion
FILED
NOV 302009
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT Clerk, U.S. District and
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Bankruptcy Courts
Deborah K. Kearby, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) Civil Action No. 09 2276
)
Social Security Office in DC, )
)
Defendant. )
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 Ashcrofi 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, who lists her address as homeless in Washington, D.C., sues a Social Security
Office in the District of Columbia, but most of her statements are unrelated to social security
benefits. She does indicate that her receipt of social security benefits may be ending in
November 2009, see CompI. at 2, but that claim appears to be the subject of an action pending
before Judge Reggie B. Walton. See Kearby v. Brown, Civ. Action No. 09-2000. Rather than
direct the assignment of this mostly incoherent complaint as related to the pending action, the
Court will dismiss it under Fed. R. Civ. P. 8. A separate order of dismissal accompanies this
Memorandum Opinion.
~~.~
United States District Judge
Date: November 9-5," 2009
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