Rahman v. Esseddiq ( 2013 )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
FILED
FEB- 5 20\3
Clerk U.S. District & Bankrupt~
Court~ 1or the District o1 Colum ta
Reema Rahman, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) Civil Action No.
)
Basma Esseddiq, )
)
18 0159
Defendant. )
)
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This matter is before the Court on plaintiffs pro se complaint and application to proceed
in forma pauperis. The Court will grant plaintiffs application and dismiss the complaint for lack
of subject matter jurisdiction.
The subject matter jurisdiction of the federal district courts is limited and is set forth
generally at 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1332. Under those statutes, federal jurisdiction is available
only when a "federal question" is presented or the parties are of diverse citizenship and the
amount in controversy exceeds $75,000. A party seeking relief in the district court must at least
plead facts that bring the suit within the court's jurisdiction. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). Failure to
plead such facts warrants dismissal ofthe action. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3).
Plaintiff is a resident of Columbia, Maryland, suing a resident of the District of Columbia
for alleged unpaid loans. She demands $2, 150.00. The complaint does not present a federal
question and the amount in controversy is way below the minimum amount to bring this case
(N\
within the Court's diversity jurisdiction. 1 A separate Order of dismissal accompanies this
Memorandum Opinion.
DATE: January _21_, 2013
II
1
Plaintiffs recourse lies, if at all, in the District of Columbia courts.
2