NY prison inmate wins lawsuit over missing items

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A New York State Court of Claims judge has awarded a prison inmate about $200 for items that were apparently lost when the inmate was moved to a solitary confinement unit.

Jacques Dorcinvil represented himself in the pro se claim he filed in July 2017 seeking $397.19 in damages. Court of Claims Judge Edwina G. Richardson awarded Dorcinvil $190.71, plus applicable interest.

Dorcinvil was an inmate at Green Haven Correctional Facility at the time the property was lost. He is now at Sing Sing.

In 2007, Dorcinvil, 50, killed his ex-girlfriend and stabbed her 12-year-old son. He is serving a sentence of at least 52 years, five months and two days, and a maximum of life, for second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, aggravated criminal contempt, and second-degree assault.

Richardson held a trial on Aug. 14, 2025, via Microsoft Teams.

Dorcinvil testified that on Feb. 14, 2017, he was moved to a special housing unit and that guards packed up his belongings.

Two days later, Dorcinvil realized many of his possessions were missing. The missing items include his hot pot, colored pencils, sweatpants, radio, headphones, coffee, Muslim oils, family pictures, and commissary items.

Dorcinvil filed three separate inmate claim forms. The first was filed on Feb. 17, 2017, seeking $225.63 for several items. The facility denied the claim in March 2017. Dorcinvil appealed, and the facility denied his appeal on March 31, 2017.

The second form sought reimbursement for the same items, plus a pair of earbuds, sneakers, gym shorts, a typewriter, four t-shirts, a pair of gloves, shower shoes, nylon ribbons, a mirror, and other items.

Paperwork did not show whether the facility issued an initial or final determination, or whether Dorcinvil appealed the determination.

The third form, dated March 31, 2017, sought $31.46. Prison officials denied that claim in April 2017, and Dorcinvil appealed. The appeal was denied.

Dorcinvil testified on his own behalf. Attorneys for the state did not cross examine Dorcinvil or present evidence before filing a motion to dismiss the claim, arguing that Dorcinvil failed to meet his burden of proof.

The state argued that Dorcinvil failed to exhaust administrative procedures for some of the missing items sought in the second claim form, which does not indicate whether he exhausted administrative remedies for the second form.

Richardson dismissed the portion of the claim seeking reimbursement for the items sought in the second form.

She ruled that Dorcinvil exhausted his administrative remedies for the first and third claim forms, which show that prison officials denied his claims, Dorcinvil appealed, and that the appeals were denied.

Dorcinvil “credibly testified that his property was not returned. Defendant did not question claimant, present contradicting evidence or testimony, or otherwise rebut Claimant’s prima facie case,” Richardson wrote.

Richardson ruled that Dorcinvil established a claim for a radio, a hot pot, colored pencils, sweatpants, headphones, commissary items, family pictures, coffees, and Muslim oils.

He sought reimbursement for lost family photographs, but he did not specify a monetary value.

“Because the Court cannot award an amount higher than that sought by claimant, the Court cannot award compensation for the intrinsic value of claimant’s lost photographs,” Richardson wrote.

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