Opinion ID: 390358
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Unauthorized scrip.

Text: 34 This claim arose when prison officials determined that all unused, authorized scrip held by inmates would be redeemed. The term authorized refers to scrip bearing the identification number of inmate holding it. Plaintiffs demand to be reimbursed for all scrip held by them. They do not contend that it is authorized. Instead, they maintain that, apparently by virtue of possession, they are entitled to redemption. Refusal to redeem the scrip, according to plaintiffs, amounts to a deprivation of property without due process. In Sell v. Parratt, 548 F.2d 753 (8th Cir. 1977), cert. denied, 434 U.S. 873, 98 S.Ct. 220, 54 L.Ed.2d 152, this court found a cognizable claim under section 1983 where money held by inmates in violation of prison regulations was confiscated and deposited in the Inmate's Welfare Fund. We found that while the regulations prohibited inmates from possessing currency, they did not authorize the forfeiture of currency illegally possessed and upheld the district court order requiring the money credited to the account of the incarcerated plaintiff. This case differs in that here plaintiffs assert a property right in the redemption of unauthorized scrip which is by prison regulation void if held by anyone other than the inmate to which the scrip was issued. It appears that plaintiffs failed to show a valid property right, much less a deprivation. Holder v. Claar, 459 F.Supp. 850, 852 (D.Colo.1978). The district court was correct in granting summary judgment. 35 2. Finally, plaintiffs theorize a violation of their civil rights in that prison officials at the time of the administrative suspension of the Wallstreet Jaycees confiscated concession stand equipment belonging to the organization and the organization's treasury. Plaintiffs seek an accounting. Defendants in their motion for summary judgment assert that prior to bringing this action plaintiffs failed to request a formal accounting, but that in any event one has since been provided through interrogatories. Affidavits and exhibits submitted by defendants show that $765.82 is on deposit in the Wallstreet Jaycee savings account in the Bank of North Dakota and $86.27 in a business account at the North Dakota State Penitentiary and that the concession equipment is in storage at the penitentiary. Defendants maintain and introduce supporting affidavits to show that the charter of the Wallstreet Jaycees has been terminated by both the state and national organizations and that a new Jaycee organization is being formed. Defendants state that once a new Jaycee organization has been formed all assets of the now defunct Wallstreet Jaycees will be transferred to the new organization. It is difficult to see how plaintiffs have been harmed. There appears to be no actual deprivation of property here and in any event it would seem that plaintiffs have already gotten the accounting they requested. Defendants are entitled to summary judgment on this issue. 36 Accordingly, summary judgment with regard to the issue of attorney-client mail is hereby vacated and the issue remanded for further proceedings. The district court's granting of summary judgment as to the other issues discussed above is hereby affirmed.