Metro must pay $1 over jail lawsuit

Jace Radke

Thursday, June 17, 2004 | 9:10 a.m.

Metro Police have been ordered by a federal judge to pay $1 to a man who alleged he was not allowed to practice his religion when he wanted to while being held at the Clark County Detention Center.

Abdul Howard filed a federal lawsuit against Sheriff Bill Young and jail officers in November 2003 alleging that his constitutional right of freedom of religion was violated while he was an inmate at the jail earlier in the year.

According to the suit, Howard had asked to be allowed to practice his religion of Islam on Fridays in a "respectful atmosphere," but the request was denied. More information as to exactly how Howard was allegedly treated is not included in the judge's order.

Howard had sought up to $1 million in his suit, but U.S. District Judge Roger Hunt awarded him only $1.

"Plaintiff fails to give the court any guidance as to exactly what his damages are, and how they should be measured," Hunt wrote in his order filed last week. "The complaint simply states that the plaintiff is entitled to $1 million or a proper decision of the court."

The order goes on to state that because the plaintiff is no longer an inmate at the detention center, any declaratory relief would be moot.

Howard pleaded guilty to a felony coercion charge and was sentenced to 48 months in prison in June 2003.

Howard prevailed in his federal case against Metro without a trial because Metro failed to file a response to Howard's suit, and Howard filed a motion for default.

Metro officials hadn't responded to the lawsuit because they had misplaced the file, according to court documents. They filed a motion to set aside the default, but it was denied.