The opinion
FILED
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
NOV 2 7 2009
NANCY MAYER WHITTINGTON CLERK
U.S. DISTRICT COURT'
TYRONE JULIUS, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) Civil Action No. (j9 ~250
)
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, )
)
Defendant. )
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This matter comes before the court on plaintiff s application to proceed in forma pauperis
and pro se civil complaint. The court will grant the application, and dismiss the complaint.
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 reliefthe 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).
Plaintiffs complaint sets forth no facts at all, and utterly fails to comply with the minimal
requirements of Rule 8(a). Neither the court nor the defendant can discern the nature or basis of
plaintiffs claim, and the basis of the court's jurisdiction is unclear. As drafted, the complaint
fails to comply with Rule 8(a) , and, accordingly, the complaint will be dismissed. An Order
consistent with this Memorandum Opinion will be issued on this same date.
Date: \ \ ItO Id\
rk+~.~
United States District Judge