James A. Howard v. Colbert Higgins, Sheriff, Murray County, Sulphur, Oklahoma

This action was brought by Howard under the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, with federal jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1343(3). The substance of the pro se claim is that the defendant, while acting as the sheriff of Murray County, Oklahoma, deprived the claimant of personal property valued at $500 while the claimant was in the sheriff’s custody.

The trial court dismissed the claim for lack of jurisdictional amount required by statute, but granted leave to appeal in forma pauperis. An appointed attorney filed a brief and argued the case for Howard. The defendant, Higgins, did not appear…