Inmate's Attorneys Awarded $1.50 in Fees

A federal judge has awarded $1.50 in fees to attorneys for an Arkansas prison inmate who won a civil rights lawsuit against the state prison system after she was shackled while giving birth. The attorneys had asked for about $140,000 in fees -- but the judge said they are limited by state law to 150 percent of damages, which amounted to $1.00.

2010-09-17 12:00:00 AM

A federal judge has awarded $1.50 in attorney fees to attorneys for an Arkansas prison inmate who won a civil rights lawsuit against the state prison system.

The attorneys for Shawanna Nelson Lumsey had asked for about $140,000 in fees -- but Judge James Moody on Monday said they are limited by state law to 150 percent of damages in the case.

A federal jury in July found Lumsey's civil rights were violated when she was shackled as she gave birth while she was an inmate in 2003 and awarded her $1.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported the judge did award the attorneys just less than $1,800 for expenses.

The Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1996 limits attorney fees in inmates' lawsuits to 150 percent of the damages awarded.

Information from: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, http://www.arkansasonline.com