Howard v. Pettus

CLARK, Judge.

Frank Howard, an inmate at the Missouri State Penitentiary, sued prison officials claiming an identification card and four coupon books redeemable for commissary items to the value of $20.00 had been taken from him, the latter without subsequent credit to his account. Howard asserted that the seizure of his personal property violated his constitutional rights secured by the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments. He sought a declaratory judgment, an injunction and money damages.

The defendants filed no answer in the circuit court and they have filed no brief here. Sua sponte, the trial…