The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FILED
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 8/23/2021
Clerk, U.S. District & Bankruptcy
ELLIS D. THOMAS, JR., ) Court for the District of Columbia
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) Civil Action No. 21-1383 (UNA)
)
)
DC LAW ENFORCEMENT et al., )
)
Defendants. )
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This matter is before the Court on its initial review of Plaintiff’s Complaint filed pro se
and his 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) 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 Ashcroft v.
Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678-79 (2009); Ciralsky 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, mount 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). It also
assists the Court in determining whether it has jurisdiction over the subject matter.
1
Plaintiff purports to sue “DC Law Enforcement,” Compl. Caption, as well as D.C.
Superior Court and an individual in Prince William County, Virginia, Compl. at 2-3. The events
giving rise to this action are alleged to have occurred in the District and Atlanta, Georgia, from
“2002 – currently.” Id. at 4-5. Plaintiff alleges only that “over the years,” he has been assaulted
by “DC MPD” and “plain clothed officers” during traffic stops and searches, “especially during
the raid of [his] D.C. residence in 2006.” Id. at 5. He seeks compensatory and punitive
damages of $7,750,000.00. Id. A complaint, such as here, “that contains only vague and
conclusory” assertions fails to satisfy the pleading requirements of Rule 8(a). Hilska v. Jones,
217 F.R.D. 16, 21 (D.D.C. 2003) (citing Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 514
(2002)). Therefore, this case will be dismissed. A separate order accompanies this
Memorandum Opinion.
_________s/_____________
EMMET G. SULLIVAN
Date: August 23, 2021 United States District Judge
2