Doe v. Housing Solutions

Background

John Doe filed a complaint, an application to proceed without prepaying filing fees, and a motion to proceed under a pseudonym. He submitted all three documents as “John Doe” but did not provide his true name, signature, or mailing address. He provided an email address but had not consented to receive court documents electronically.

Court’s Analysis

The court explained that the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure generally require a complaint to identify the parties and require an unrepresented party to personally sign pleadings, motions, and other papers. The court also explained that a party may proceed under a pseudonym only in limited circumstances. It therefore required John Doe to provide his true name and signature before the court would rule on his pseudonym request.

The court also required John Doe to provide a mailing address or complete and sign a form consenting to electronic service. The court noted that if it granted his fee-waiver application, he could proceed without prepaying fees, and if it granted his pseudonym motion, he could proceed as “John Doe.” If the court denied the pseudonym motion, he would have 30 days to withdraw the action if he did not wish to proceed under his true name.

Order and Disposition

Judge Swain directed John Doe, within 30 days, to return signed pages for the complaint, fee-waiver application, and pseudonym motion, each bearing his true name and signature, and to provide a mailing address or consent to electronic service. The court directed that no summons issue at that time. It did not decide the fee-waiver application or pseudonym motion. If John Doe complied, the Clerk’s Office would process the action; if he failed to comply within the allowed time, the action would be dismissed without prejudice. The court also denied fee-waiver status for an appeal from the order after certifying that an appeal would not be taken in good faith.