by Joe Watson

A federal judge returned a bench verdict in favor of Timothy H. Johnson, a prisoner at the Ely, Nevada state prison, in May 2008, awarding the plaintiff $1,514.35 in his suit alleging that he was fired from his prison job for refusing to sign a waiver of his constitutional rights.

Johnson’s pro se lawsuit against Robert Miller, chairman of the Nevada Board of Prison Commissioners, and other prison officials, dates back to April 1994, after he was ordered by Ely state prison employees to sign a revised Fiscal Agreement that would have impaired and restricted his right not to be deprived of personal property. After Johnson refused, he was terminated.

U.S. District Judge Larry R. Hicks, who concurred with Johnson that Miller and other employees of the Nevada prison system were liable for his termination, also awarded Johnson an unspecified amount for pre-judgment interest and costs. Johnson represented himself against three lawyers with the state Attorney General’s Office--Kelly S. Werth, Kristen R. Geddes and Michael L. Wolz--and one with the Carson City District Attorney’s Office, Edward L. Oueilhe.  See: Johnson v. Miller, U.S.D.C. (D. Nev.), Case No. 3:94-cv-00229.

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