The opinion
FILED
7/13/2020
Clerk, U.S. District & Bankruptcy
Court for the District of Columbia
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
DALE B. ADAMS, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) Civil Action No. 20-1486 (UNA)
)
UNITED STATES PRESIDENT )
DONALD J. TRUMP, )
)
Defendant. )
MEMORANDUM OPINION
A pro se litigant’s pleadings are held to less stringent standards than would be applied to
formal pleadings drafted by lawyers. See Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972). Even pro
se litigants, however, must comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Jarrell v. Tisch,
656 F. Supp. 237, 239 (D.D.C. 1987). Rule 8 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).
This complaint addresses several topics, from mail tampering to the use of military force,
without articulating an actual legal claim or demonstrating plaintiff’s entitlement to monetary
damages. For these reasons, the Court will grant plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma
pauperis and dismiss the complaint without prejudice. An Order is issued separately.
DATE: July 14, 2020 /s/
JAMES E. BOASBERG
United States District Judge