John v. N.Y.C. Dept. of Corrections.

• Position: MAIL - Brief Article

U.S. District Court

OPENING MAIL

LEGAL MAIL

John v. N.Y.C. Dept. of Corrections, 183 F.Supp.2d 619 (S.D.N.Y. 2002). An inmate brought a pro se [section] 1983 action against a city corrections department and corrections officials, alleging deprivation of due process and denial of his right of access to the courts due to interference with legal mail. The district court dismissed the action. The court held that the department's alleged conduct of confiscating photocopies of currency and opening the inmate's legal mail outside his presence did not deprive the inmate of access to courts or cause the inmate to suffer damage that would support a First Amendment claim for mistreatment of mail. The inmate had been given the opportunity to examine...