The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FILED
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA APR 2 2 2009
NANCY MAYER WHllTINGTON CLERK
u.s. DISTRICT COURT'
Robert R. Matthews, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) Civil Action No. 09 U'743
)
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, )
)
Defendant. )
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This matter comes before the Court on consideration of a pro se complaint and an
application to proceed in forma pauperis. The Court will grant the application and dismiss the
complaint because it fails to meet the minimum requirements of Rule 8 of the Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure.
The factual allegations of the complaint consist of only the following words: "Fraud
many hundred's judicial review error's, failure to treat's, misdiagnosis's, treatment for disability
claims compensation pain and suffering[.]" Compi. at l. The remainder of the one-paragraph
complaint identifies the Secretary of Veterans Affairs ("V A"), Erik K. Shinseki, and several VA
offices or sub-agencies and their addresses. Id. The complaint asks for no relief. See id.
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 doctrine of res
judicata applies. Brown v. Califano, 75 F.R.D. 497, 498 (D.D.C. 1977).
The Complaint fails to meet the requirements of Rule 8(a). The complaint does not make
clear what conduct or decision by the V A gives rise to this complaint. It does not indicate what
the plaintiff wants from this lawsuit, and it does not provide the court with enough information to
determine its own jurisdiction. Accordingly, the Court will dismiss the complaint without
prejudice. An appropriate order accompanies this memorandum opinion.
Date: ¥/¥,~ Unid±~i£~
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