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$5,703.97 Settlement In WA Mail Censorship Suit
In 1991 Gerald Enquist, a prisoner at the Clallam Bay Correctional Center
(CBCC), filed a law suit against the state for violating his First
Amendment rights. Enquist was mailing letters from CBCC addressed J.D.
Enquist, he was told that he could no longer use his initials on his
outgoing mail and the guards were writing their names and the date on his
outgoing legal envelopes. Enquist got a copy of the Department of
Corrections (DOC), policy stating that the guards were only to put their
initials on the legal mail after inspecting the envelopes. Sergeant, Doug
Frank instructed the officers to ignore Enquist and continue to put
additional writing on the legal mail. Enquist filed a grievance against
Sergeant, Frank and many other staff members and sent letters to Chase
Riveland, Secretary of the DOC, explaining that he was being harassed by
the guards at CBCC. After having his mail censored and being punished by
guards in the form of infractions and cell confinement etc. Lieutenant,
Joe Fitzpatrick told Enquist that he would allow him to use his initials
J.D. and wanted him to stop sending letters to Chase Riveland. Fitzpatrick
did not keep his word and continued to censor Enquist's outgoing letters.
Enquist filed a law suit against the state for allowing the guards at CBCC
to censor his letters and harass him. The DOC settled the suit in 1994 for
$5,703.97, $500.00 for Enquist and $5,203.97 for his attorney's fees.
Plaintiff was represented by attorney Don Lundahl. See: Enquist v. Frank,
USDC WD WA, Case No.C91-798Z.
(CBCC), filed a law suit against the state for violating his First
Amendment rights. Enquist was mailing letters from CBCC addressed J.D.
Enquist, he was told that he could no longer use his initials on his
outgoing mail and the guards were writing their names and the date on his
outgoing legal envelopes. Enquist got a copy of the Department of
Corrections (DOC), policy stating that the guards were only to put their
initials on the legal mail after inspecting the envelopes. Sergeant, Doug
Frank instructed the officers to ignore Enquist and continue to put
additional writing on the legal mail. Enquist filed a grievance against
Sergeant, Frank and many other staff members and sent letters to Chase
Riveland, Secretary of the DOC, explaining that he was being harassed by
the guards at CBCC. After having his mail censored and being punished by
guards in the form of infractions and cell confinement etc. Lieutenant,
Joe Fitzpatrick told Enquist that he would allow him to use his initials
J.D. and wanted him to stop sending letters to Chase Riveland. Fitzpatrick
did not keep his word and continued to censor Enquist's outgoing letters.
Enquist filed a law suit against the state for allowing the guards at CBCC
to censor his letters and harass him. The DOC settled the suit in 1994 for
$5,703.97, $500.00 for Enquist and $5,203.97 for his attorney's fees.
Plaintiff was represented by attorney Don Lundahl. See: Enquist v. Frank,
USDC WD WA, Case No.C91-798Z.
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Related legal case
Enquist v. Frank
| Year | 1994 |
|---|---|
| Cite | USDC WD WA, Case No.C91-798Z. |
| Level | District Court |
| Conclusion | Settlement |
| Attorney Fees | 5203.97 |
| Damages | 500 |
| Injunction Status | N/A |
no case text