Opinion

Spencer v. United States

Court
District Court, District of Columbia
Filed
Apr 10, 2019
Status
Published
On the bench
Judge Dabney L. Friedrich
Nature of suit
Civil
Cited by
0 cases
Authority
More cited than 7.4%

The opinion

APR~ 1,\2019

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT clerk, U_S_ District & gankruptcy

FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COUF'IS for the DiStrict of Co|umbia

ROLLIN LEE SPENCER, )

Plaintiff, §

` v. § Civil Action No. 18-2741 (UNA)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, §

Defendant. §

MEMORANDUM OPINION

This matter comes before the Court upon review of plaintiffs application for leave to

proceed in forma pauperis and assorted documents, including a “Notice of Errata” and “Motion

to Expidit [sic] Hearing.” The Court has reviewed plaintiffs submission, keeping in mind that

pleadings 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. 5 l9, 520 (1972). Evenpro se

litigants, however, must comply With the F ederal 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 claims

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, 'l'5 F.R.D. 497, 498

(D.D.C. 1977).

Aside from plaintiff s failure to submit documents in accordance with Federal Rule of

Civil Procedure 10 and Local Civil Rule 5.1, and his failure to respond to the Court’s January 18,

2019 Order, the pleading alleges no facts and generally fails to set forth a short and plain

statement showing plaintiffs entitlement to relief as is required under Federal Rule of Civil

Procedure \8 (a). Accordingly, the Court will grant plaintiffs application to proceed in forma

pauperis and dismiss the complaint

An Order is issued separately.

l/'M_/,

Un`fceld/ States District Judge

DATE:March 22 ,2019

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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