A Nevada prisoner was awarded $28,800 Friday in a civil rights case in Las Vegas.
Reginald C. Howard, 55, represented himself when he filed the lawsuit in August 2011, but he began receiving free assistance in May from attorney Travis Barrick in conjunction with the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada Pro Bono Pilot Program.
"Even though my client was no angel, the jury still found that what was done to him was not right. At all," Barrick said in an email Monday.
Howard, who is incarcerated at High Desert State Prison in Indian Springs, claimed prison officials used excessive force and infringed upon his free exercise of religion.
Monica Moazez, a spokeswoman for the Nevada attorney general's office, said the office "is exploring options to appeal the verdict."
U.S. District Judge Richard Boulware presided over the trial, which began Oct. 26. The jury's verdict included $18,800 in punitive damages.
Contact reporter Carri Geer Thevenot at cgeer@reviewjournal.com or 702-384-8710. Find her on Twitter: @CarriGeer
Reginald C. Howard, 55, represented himself when he filed the lawsuit in August 2011, but he began receiving free assistance in May from attorney Travis Barrick in conjunction with the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada Pro Bono Pilot Program.
"Even though my client was no angel, the jury still found that what was done to him was not right. At all," Barrick said in an email Monday.
Howard, who is incarcerated at High Desert State Prison in Indian Springs, claimed prison officials used excessive force and infringed upon his free exercise of religion.
Monica Moazez, a spokeswoman for the Nevada attorney general's office, said the office "is exploring options to appeal the verdict."
U.S. District Judge Richard Boulware presided over the trial, which began Oct. 26. The jury's verdict included $18,800 in punitive damages.
Contact reporter Carri Geer Thevenot at cgeer@reviewjournal.com or 702-384-8710. Find her on Twitter: @CarriGeer
