The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
)
APRIL FAVORS, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) Civil Action No. 22-1212 (UNA)
)
ROUND ROCK COUNTY )
COURTHOUSE, et al., )
)
Defendants. )
___________________________________ )
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This matter is before the Court on consideration of plaintiff’s application to proceed in
forma pauperis, ECF No. 2, and her pro se complaint, ECF No. 1. For the reasons discussed
below, the Court grants the application and dismisses the complaint.
A pro se litigant’s pleading is held to less stringent standards than would be applied to a
formal pleading drafted by lawyer. 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
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determine whether the doctrine of res judicata applies. Brown v. Califano, 75 F.R.D. 497, 498
(D.D.C. 1977).
This plaintiff’s complaint, using a preprinted form titled “Complaint for a Civil Case,”
fails to meet the minimal pleading standard set forth in Rule 8(a). In the section designated for
the Statement of Claim, plaintiff states:
I have sent a copy again I can’t get a fair trail or court date without
being mistrated [sic.]. Oh yeah the system is for the high profile
secret of the system. I will explain
Compl. at 4. In the following section titled “Relief,” plaintiff states, “unknown at this time
something.” Id.
As drafted, plaintiff’s complaint fails to comply with the minimal pleading standard set
forth in Rule 8(a). Plaintiff neither states a basis for this Court’s jurisdiction nor sets forth a
short and plain statement of claim. Furthermore, plaintiff fails to demand damages, whether
monetary or some other form of relief. Accordingly, the Court will grant the application to
proceed in forma pauperis and dismiss the complaint without prejudice. A separate order will
issue.
2022.05.06
DATE: May 6, 2022 14:43:36 -04'00'
________________________
TREVOR N. McFADDEN
United States District Judge
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