The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
INEZ QTAISH, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) Civil Action No. 23-3638 (UNA)
)
WASHINGTON, DC, )
)
Defendant. )
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This matter is before the Court on review of pro se plaintiff’s application to proceed in
forma pauperis (“IFP”) and her civil complaint. The IFP application is GRANTED and, for the
reasons stated below, the complaint and this civil action are DISMISSED without prejudice.
Plaintiff’s complaint must be reviewed mindful that complaints filed by pro se litigants
are held to less stringent standards than are 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(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 pleading
standard set out in Rule 8 is to give sufficient fair notice to a defendant of the claim being
asserted so that the defendant may prepare a responsive answer and an adequate defense and to
enable a determination of whether the doctrine of res judicata applies. Brown v. Califano, 75
F.R.D. 497, 498 (D.D.C. 1977).
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Plaintiff alleges that she has attempted, unsuccessfully, to obtain a non-driver
identification card at the District of Columbia’s Department of Motor Vehicles, see Compl. at 1,
and to rent a Post Office Box, see id. at 2, because she was not receiving mail at her current
residence. The complaint neither articulates a legal claim nor demands relief of any sort.
Indeed, so few facts are alleged that the named defendant would have no adequate notice of the
legal claims. Consequently, as drafted, the complaint fails to meet the minimal pleading
standard set forth in Rule 8.
An Order consistent with this Memorandum Opinion is issued separately.
DATE: December 28, 2023 BERYL A. HOWELL
United States District Judge
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