Prison phone lawsuit allowed to continue

ALBANY - Families who've had to pay high phone rates to talk to loved ones in state prison can proceed with their lawsuit seeking refunds, the state's highest court ruled Tuesday.

The suit, first brought by the inmates' families in 2004, was dismissed by two lower courts that ruled the action was not filed on time.

In a 4-2 decision, the Court of Appeals disagreed and said the lawsuit should be allowed to go forward. It sent the case back to state Supreme Court in Albany.