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Missouri DOC Ordered to Pay Ex-Prisoner $10,600 for Wrongful Imprisonment
On May 20, 2005, a federal jury in Eastern Missouri awarded ex-prisoner, Daryl Davis, $10,600 after corrections officials in that State failed to release him for almost 60 days after his court-ordered release.
Convicted of theft in St. Louis County, Missouri, Davis received a seven-year sentence, which was reversed on appeal in December 1998. Unfortunately, by that time, Davis had already been paroled, whereupon he absconded only to be captured later in California and returned to Missouri where his parole was revoked on a sentence that had been reversed.
On April 22, 1999, Davis attended a court hearing in St. Louis where he entered an Alford plea, which provided for his immediate release. Instead, State officials returned him to Fulton Prison, then, weeks later, to Farmington Treatment Center. He explained to his counselor, Susan Martin, at Farmington about the court order for his release, but she disregarded his protestations as examples of "criminal thinking" and terminated his treatment. Only after being returned to the regular prison population was Davis able to convince someone to help him. Finally, almost 60 days after his release was ordered, Davis was freed.
Davis's attorney, W. Bevis Shock of St. Louis, filed suit against Martin and two other Farmington employees, Stacey Breedon and Travis Clyburn. The complaint alleged the defendants showed deliberate indifference to Davis' plight, thereby prolonging his wrongful imprisonment. The jury issued a mixed verdict exonerating Breeden and Clyburn while awarding $10,600 in compensatory damages against Martin. See: Davis v. Missouri DOC, USDC, E.D. Mo., No. 4:01-609. Source: Federal Jury Verdict Reporter, 2005.
Convicted of theft in St. Louis County, Missouri, Davis received a seven-year sentence, which was reversed on appeal in December 1998. Unfortunately, by that time, Davis had already been paroled, whereupon he absconded only to be captured later in California and returned to Missouri where his parole was revoked on a sentence that had been reversed.
On April 22, 1999, Davis attended a court hearing in St. Louis where he entered an Alford plea, which provided for his immediate release. Instead, State officials returned him to Fulton Prison, then, weeks later, to Farmington Treatment Center. He explained to his counselor, Susan Martin, at Farmington about the court order for his release, but she disregarded his protestations as examples of "criminal thinking" and terminated his treatment. Only after being returned to the regular prison population was Davis able to convince someone to help him. Finally, almost 60 days after his release was ordered, Davis was freed.
Davis's attorney, W. Bevis Shock of St. Louis, filed suit against Martin and two other Farmington employees, Stacey Breedon and Travis Clyburn. The complaint alleged the defendants showed deliberate indifference to Davis' plight, thereby prolonging his wrongful imprisonment. The jury issued a mixed verdict exonerating Breeden and Clyburn while awarding $10,600 in compensatory damages against Martin. See: Davis v. Missouri DOC, USDC, E.D. Mo., No. 4:01-609. Source: Federal Jury Verdict Reporter, 2005.
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Related legal case
Davis v. Missouri DOC
| Year | 2005 |
|---|---|
| Cite | USDC, E.D. Mo., No. 4:01-609 (May 20, 2005) |
| Level | District Court |
| Conclusion | Jury Verdict |
| Damages | $10,600 |
No other information is currently available.