Schweigert v. Ernst ( 2012 )

FILED
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT APR 1 1 2012
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Clerk, U.S. District &Bankruptcy
Courts for the District of Columbia
)
Margaret E. Schweigert, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. )
)
Civil Action No. 12 0560
Ruth Ernst, )
)
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, a resident of New York, New York, sues an individual identified as the
Date: March 2:}__, 2012
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