The United States Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit instituted by former inmate Tommy Randell seeking compensation for eight months he served in addition to his actual prison sentence. Randell claims that prison authorities did not give him credit for serving eight months in jail on a drunk driving charge.
In previous cases, the Court established that habeas corpus claims must be made while the prisoner is serving his sentence. According to the Court, because Randell is no longer in jail, he is ineligible to sue for monetary damages arising from an incorrect prison sentence. A case decided by the Court in 1994 devised strict rules for prisoners seeking damages. In order to win compensation, the rules require prisoners to prove their sentences were overturned, erased, or called into question by a judge.
A Federal trial court dismissed Randell's case because he did not meet the Court's requirements and an appellate court affirmed the decision. Randell appealed to the United States Supreme Court, citing a division between Federal appellate courts on how to treat situations similar to his; however, the Court dismissed his case.