DETROIT - A dispute over toothpaste in prison is going back to court.
A former Michigan inmate who says he was denied toothpaste for nearly a year while behind bars can sue, citing his right against cruel and unusual punishment.
Jerry Flanory says he developed gum disease as a result and had a tooth removed in 2005. A federal appeals court reinstated his lawsuit Thursday against officials at the Newberry prison.
The court says Flanory's problems amounted to "more than a mere inconvenience."
The Flint man says he got into a dispute with officials over education classes. As a result, he was disciplined and had to pay for his own toothpaste, which he couldn't afford.