8th Circuit Court of Appeals to hear Jasper County case

A Jasper County prisoner's lawsuit against county officials is scheduled to be heard Nov. 17 before a panel of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis.
James Edward Phillips sued the county, claiming jailers ignored a medical condition he has which includes seizures by assigning him a top bunk in his cell and failed to provide him with proper medical attention.
In his petition, Phillips claims Jasper County judges wrongly dismissed his lawsuit. "Mr.Phillips had a potentially meritorious claim for violation of his civil rights and,due to the District Court’s actions in denying him counsel, has never had the opportunity to develop these claims fully before a court," according to the notes at the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals website.
Jasper County Circuit Court records indicate Phillips was in jail on a felony tampering with a vehicle charge, later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years in prison.