THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, April 8, 1995 TAG: 9504080237
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARC DAVIS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
Here's a legal theory you don't see every day.
Robert Lee Brock, an inmate at the Indian Creek Correctional Center in Chesapeake, has sued himself for getting drunk and violating his civil rights.
And he wants the state to pay him $5 million.
Brock, who is serving 23 years for breaking and entering and grand larceny, filed the seven-page, handwritten lawsuit last month in Norfolk's federal court.
``I partook of alcoholic beverages in 1993, July 1st, as a result I caused myself to violate my religious beliefs,'' Brock wrote. ``This was done by my going out and getting arrested, which caused me to be in prison and receive a six-digit ID number. . .
``For violating my religious beliefs, I want to pay myself 5 million dollars, but ask the state to pay it in my behalf since I can't work and am a ward of the state.''
Brock wants $3 million for his wife and children ``for their pain and suffering and college tuition.'' He wants $2 million ``for my support over the next 23 years (in prison) and when I get out I'd pay it back to the state by court order.
``I am a failure as a husband, a Christian, a Cherokee and a prisoner,'' Brock wrote.
Judge Rebecca Beach Smith was unimpressed. She dismissed the lawsuit Thursday as frivolous.
``Plaintiff has presented an innovative approach to civil rights litigation,'' Smith wrote. ``However, his claim and especially the relief sought are totally ludicrous.'' by CNB