Nov 23, 2009 10:51 am US/Eastern
NY's Top Court Rejects Prison Phone Rate Refunds
NEW YORK (AP) ―
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New York's highest court is ruling that families who've had to pay high phone rates to talk to relatives in state prison won't receive refunds for the cost.
The lawsuit was first brought by the inmates' families in 2004.
In a 5-1 decision Monday, the Court of Appeals affirmed a lower courts ruling that the families failed to assert legitimate claims under the state constitution.
Defense organizations and relatives of inmates argued the state had illegally collected millions of dollars through a prison telephone service contract. They said the state's contract with MCI Worldcom Communication was unconstitutional and violated the state constitution.
The contract was amended in 2003 to set a new flat rate for calls -- $3 per call plus 16 cents per minute.
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