Adams v. Head

FILED
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OCT 20 2021
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Clerk, U.S. District & Bankruptcy
Court for the District of Columbia
DALE B. ADAMS, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) Civil Action No. 21-2670 (UNA)
)
CHRIS HEAD, et al., )
)
Defendants. )
MEMORANDUM OPINION
A pro se litigant’s pleadings are held to less stringent standards than would be 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 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
determine whether the doctrine of res judicata applies. Brown v. Califano, 75 F.R.D. 497, 498
(D.D.C. 1977).
According to plaintiff, any number of local, state, and federal officials are violating rights
protected under the First, Fourth, Fifth, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States
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Constitution. For example, plaintiff alleges that defendants have hacked his computer for the
purpose of abridging rights to free expression and association, subjected him to electronic
surveillance, searched and seized property, threatened him with detention, and otherwise have
caused him physical pain, mental distress, and monetary loss. Notwithstanding the length of the
complaint and the breadth of topics it addresses, the Court cannot identify a short and plain
statement showing plaintiff’s entitlement to the relief he demands. As drafted, the complaint
fails to comply with Rule 8(a), and no defendant can be expected to prepare a proper response to
it. For these reasons, the Court will grant plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma pauperis
and dismiss the complaint without prejudice. An Order is issued separately.
DATE: October 20, 2021 /s/
JAMES E. BOASBERG
United States District Judge
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