Abraham v. Heinemann

FILED
FEB - 4 2009
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NANCY MAYER WHmINGTON. CLERK
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA U.S. DISTRICT COURT
)
Samuel Petro Abraham, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) Civil Action No.
) 09 0207
Rabbi Moses Heinemann et al., )
)
Defendants. )
)
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This matter is before the Court on its initial review of plaintiff's pro se complaint and
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) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 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 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 and 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).
Plaintiff, who claims to be homeless in Brooklyn, New Yark, sues a rabbi in Baltimore,
Maryland, an organization in Brooklyn New Yark, and his "millionaire" wife, Complaint
Caption, but he has not set forth cogent facts from which a claim or the basis of federal court
jurisdiction may be discerned. Accordingly, the case will be dismissed by separate Order issued
contem poraneously.
iJ.
Date: January L, 2009
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