The opinion
FILED
MAR - 5 2009
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NANCY MAYER WHITTINGTON ClERIc
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA U.S. DISTRICT COURr'
)
Jaime Luevano, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. )
)
Civil Action No.
09 0423
Immigration and Customs )
Enforcement et al., )
)
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 Oralsky 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 is an inmate at the county jail in EI Paso, Texas. In papers submitted to the
Clerk comprised mostly of scribblings, plaintiff lists officials of the Immigration and Customs
Enforcement as defendants but his allegations are incomprehensible. Accordingly, the case will
be dismissed by separate Order issued contemporaneously.
United States District Judge
Date: February JL, 2009
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