01-2293 Alliant Energy Corporation, et al. v. Bie, et al.

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“A complaint need only state the nature of the claim; details can wait for later stages, such as an evidentiary hearing under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1) or summary judgment under Rule 56… “[G]eneral factual allegations”, which suffice at the pleading stage, are exactly what Alliant provided. It plans to reincorporate outside Wisconsin, wants to sell more stock to investors not incorporated in Wisconsin, and so on. Details- reincorporate where? when? sell to whom?- -can come later. The extra detail provided with the proposed second amended complaint and affidavits does not plead the case out of court. These documents do not show that the case is doomed. They just leave things open; too open, the district judge thought, but supplying details is not the function of a complaint. It is easy to imagine facts consistent with this complaint and affidavits that will show plaintiffs’ standing, and no more is required.”

Reversed and remanded.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Shabaz, J., Easterbrook, J.