United States v. Board of Harbor Commissioners
United States District Court for the District of Delaware
73 F.R.D. 460 (D. Del. 1977)
SICO Company and North American Smelting Company (defendants) were charged with discharging oil into the Delaware River in violation of federal law, based on a complaint alleging generally that the defendants owned or operated facilities from which oil was discharged, or took actions causing such discharge; the defendants moved under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(e) for a more definite statement, arguing the complaint was too vague because it did not specify the amount of oil discharged or precisely what actions caused it.
Whether a motion for a more definite statement is appropriate when a complaint, while lacking specific factual detail, still fairly notifies the defendants of the nature of the claim against them.