WOUBETU v. DSK MARIAM ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX TEWAHIDO CHURCH PEOPLE, No. 1:2023cv00949 - Document 3 (D.D.C. 2023)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 04/19/2023. (zsl)

Download PDF
WOUBETU v. DSK MARIAM ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX TEWAHIDO CHURCH PEOPLE Doc. 3 Case 1:23-cv-00949-UNA Document 3 Filed 04/19/23 Page 1 of 2 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SAMSON WOUBETU, Plaintiff, v. DSK MARIAM ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX TEWAHIDO CHURCH PEOPLE, Defendant. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Civil Action No. 23-0949 (UNA) MEMORANDUM OPINION This matter is before the Court on consideration of plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma pauperis and pro se complaint. The Court grants the application and, for the reasons discussed below, the 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 determine whether the doctrine of res judicata applies. Brown v. Califano, 75 F.R.D. 497, 498 (D.D.C. 1977). 1 Dockets.Justia.com Case 1:23-cv-00949-UNA Document 3 Filed 04/19/23 Page 2 of 2 Generally, plaintiff alleges that the priest and members of his church refuse to give him money, talk to him, or allow him to eat in the dining room; they also beat him, insult him, and watch him on camera. Missing from the complaint, however, is a statement establishing a basis for this Court’s jurisdiction, a statement of claim or a demand for relief. As drafted, the complaint fails to comply with the minimum pleading standard set forth in Rule 8(a) and, therefore, must be dismissed. A separate order will issue. DATE: April 19, 2023 /s/ TANYA S. CHUTKAN United States District Judge 2

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.