This text is machine-read, and may contain errors. Check the original document to verify accuracy.
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 1 of 28 PageID: 1
James E. Cecchi
Lindsey H. Taylor
CARELLA, BYRNE, CECCHI,
OLSTEIN, BRODY & AGNELLO
5 Becker Farm Road
Roseland, New Jersey 07068
(973) 994-1700
James A. Plaisted
Lin C. Solomon
WALDER, HAYDEN & BROGAN, P.A.
5 Becker Farm Road
Roseland, New Jersey 07068
(973) 992-5300
Attorneys for Plaintiffs
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
BOBBIE JAMES, CRYSTAL GIBSON, BETTY
KING, BARBARA SKLADANY, MARK
SKLADANY, MILAN SKLADANY, and DR.
JOHN F. CROW, on behalf of themselves and all
others similarly situated,
Civil Action No.:
COMPLAINT and
DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
Plaintiffs
v.
GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION,
INMATE TELEPHONE SERVICE, and DSI-ITI
LLC,
Defendants.
Plaintiffs Bobbie James, Crystal Gibson, Betty King, Barbara Skladany, Mark Skladany,
Milan Skladany, and Dr. John F. Crow by way of Complaint against Defendants Global
Tel*Link Corporation, Inmate Telephone Service, and DSI-ITI, LLC, say:
NATURE OF THE ACTION
1.
This is a consumer class action for violations of federal law and New Jersey state
law arising from (a) Defendants’ abuse of their monopoly power over phone calls made from
New Jersey by prisoners by charging rates, more than 100 times higher than market rates; (b)
Defendant’s abusive, discriminatory and unreasonable phone charges whereby Defendants
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 2 of 28 PageID: 2
permit New Jersey prisoners to make collect calls but only to family, friends and lawyers who
open credit/debit accounts and who customarily are required to make substantial advance
payments to Defendants from which charges of as much as 20% of the deposit are siphoned off
at opening and again at closing of the accounts as “administrative costs”; (c) Defendants’ failure
to fully and adequately disclose to their customers charges that they will incur in connection with
their use of Defendants’ telephone service and the rates that will be charged for calls made using
Defendant telephone service; (d) Defendants’ failure to disclose to their customers certain
practices followed by Defendants in connection with their telephone service that adversely affect
their customers’ accounts; (e) Defendants’ practices of forfeiting balances in accounts when the
account is not used for 90 days after that Defendants require that the accounts be opened with
minimum payments of $25, $50 or $100.
2.
Defendants’ wrongful conduct involves relatively small amounts of damages for
each class member and Defendants are carrying out a scheme to deliberately cheat large numbers
of consumers out of individually small sums of money. Plaintiffs bring this action in their own
right and on behalf of all other persons similarly situated.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
3.
Jurisdiction is proper in this Court by 28 U.S.C. 1332(d) because the amount in
controversy exceeds $5 million, exclusive of interest and costs, and at least one class member is
a citizen of a state other than that of a defendant. Jurisdiction is also proper in this Court
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 because this matter involves federal questions whether there are
violations of 47 U.S.C. § 201 et seq. and 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and the Court has supplemental
jurisdiction over Plaintiffs’ state law claims because they arise from a common nucleus of
2
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 3 of 28 PageID: 3
operative facts and are such that Plaintiffs ordinarily would expect to try them in one judicial
proceeding.
5.
Venue is proper in this judicial district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1391(b) in that all
Defendants transact substantial business within, and are subject to personal jurisdiction, in this
judicial District and thus “reside” in this District and because a substantial part of the events
giving rise to the claims asserted herein took place in this judicial District.
PARTIES
6.
Plaintiff Bobbie James is, and at the times relevant to the claims alleged herein
was, a citizen of the State of New Jersey and resides in Newark, New Jersey.
7.
Plaintiff Crystal Gibson is, and at the times relevant to the claims alleged herein
was, a citizen of the State of New Jersey and resides in Newark, New Jersey.
8.
Betty King is, and at the times relevant to the claims alleged herein was, a citizen
of the State of New Jersey and resides in East Orange, New Jersey.
9.
Plaintiff Barbara Skladany is, and at all times relevant to the claims alleged herein
was, a citizen of the State of New York, residing in New York, New York.
10.
Plaintiff Mark Skladany is, and at the times relevant to the claims alleged herein
was, a citizen of the State of New Jersey and was housed in New Jersey correctional facilities, in
the Somerset County Jail during the period approximately September 2010 to September 2012
and then thereafter in the New Jersey State Prison at Yardville, New Jersey.
11.
Plaintiff Milan Skladany is, and at all times relevant to the claims alleged herein
was, a resident in the State of New Jersey until approximately 2011 when he returned to the
Slovak Republic where he is a citizen.
3
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 4 of 28 PageID: 4
12.
Plaintiff Dr. John F. Crow is, and at all times relevant to the claims alleged herein
was, a citizen of the State of New York, residing in New York, New York.
13.
As used herein, “Plaintiffs” shall mean and refer to all Plaintiffs identified in ¶6 to
¶12, together.
14.
Defendant GTL is, and at all times relevant hereto was, a privately held Delaware
corporation with it principal place of business located in Mobile, Alabama.
15.
Defendant ITS is a wholly owned subsidiary of GTL and a Delaware corporation
with its principal place of business in Mobile, Alabama.
16.
Defendant DSI-ITI is a Delaware limited liability company and, upon information
and belief, is the successor-in-interest to ITS. Upon information and belief, GTL is the sole
owner and member of DSI, and DSI-ITI assumed all of ITS’ existing contracts as of June 10,
2010.
12.
Defendants provide managed telecommunications services at state and local
correctional facilities in New Jersey and elsewhere in the United States so inmates can
communicate with family members, friends, attorneys and other approved persons outside the
correctional facilities.
DEFENDANTS’ UNFAIR, UNCONSCIONABLE AND DECEPTIVE
BUSINESS PRACTICES
13.
AT&T bid and won a New Jersey contract in 2002 to provide all
telecommunications services to inmates in the State of New Jersey’s correctional facilities.
14.
AT&T sold the New Jersey contract rights to be the sole telecommunications
provider for New Jersey inmates to GTL in 2002.
15.
Plaintiffs presently do not have information with respect to the arrangements
between GTL, ITS and/or DSI-ITI as to which entity customers purportedly deal with and which
4
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 5 of 28 PageID: 5
entity purportedly provides what service to customers. However, regardless of which entity does
what, GTL, ITS and DSI-ITI have operated as a single economic unit with respect to the
telephone services described herein.
16.
Defendants have the sole right to provide telecommunications services which
enable incarcerated persons to communicate by telephone with family members, friends and
other persons outside certain New Jersey state and county prison and detainee facilities.
17.
Defendants remit to the State approximately 40% of the rates charged for the right
to have a monopoly over phone services at certain State prisons and detainee facilities.
18.
Defendants ITS and DSI-ITI remit 50% or more to Essex, Monmouth, Bergen,
Hudson, among other counties, for the rights to have a monopoly over phone services provided
by those county prisons and detainee facilities.
19.
According to publicly available information, the State of New Jersey alone
receives $4.42 million per year as its percentage of revenue pursuant to its contract with GTL.
Based upon that figure, upon information and belief, the percentages paid to the various counties
should be greater. Further, this information would indicate that Defendants’ total revenue from
calls placed from New Jersey detention facilities would be in tens of millions of dollars per year.
20.
Defendant GTL has used the existing contract with the State of New Jersey as a
basis for its subsidiary ITS and DSI-ITI to enter similar agreements with many County prison
facilities such as Essex, Hudson, Monmouth and Bergen Counties among others.
21.
As a result of the foregoing contracts, since 2002, Defendants have been the sole
telecommunications provider for persons held in certain New Jersey State prison or detention
facilities to communicate by telephone with family members, friends and other persons.
5
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 6 of 28 PageID: 6
22.
Because of the exclusive provider position and the literally captive market,
Defendants are able to exploit customers by charging them unconscionably excessive rates for
calls, as well as unconscionable and undisclosed fees and connection charges, without regard to
what other providers of prepaid calling services are charging in the marketplace.
23.
Upon information and belief, Defendants purchase their minutes for calls
terminating within the United States for less than 3/10 of a penny per-minute, and Defendants
often resell the minutes it buys at more than 100 times their cost to Plaintiffs and other Class
Members.
24.
The market rate for competitively priced prepaid calling cards is approximately
1¢ to 2¢ per minute for calls within the United States. Depending upon the country being called,
the rates for international calls can be as low as 1¢ per minute. Defendants, however, charge
approximately 30¢ per minute for calls within the United States. Defendants likewise charge
exorbitant rates for international calls.
25.
The vast majority of Defendants’ customers establish their accounts over the
phone. When a prisoner wishes to call someone outside the detention facility, they must place a
collect call to that person. However, rather than an operator asking the called person whether
they will accept the charges for the call, a series of prompts routes the called person whereby the
called person is informed they must set up an account with Defendants in order to accept the call.
The same automated procedures are followed when customers seek to open an account by calling
the Defendants’ 800 number provided at the prison facility to customers.
26.
Using standardized scripts and prompts, the Defendants’ system sets up an
account for the customer or called person using a credit or debit card provided by the customer.
These accounts must be set up in amounts of $25, $50, or $100. After the account is set up, the
6
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 7 of 28 PageID: 7
called person is then provided with a PIN so he or she may accept calls from the prisoner in the
future and charges for all calls are deducted from the called persons’ account.
27.
Customers are told by Defendants that no information on rates and charges are
available until they have an account number.
28.
Customers of Defendants are not provided a written contract when they establish
an advance pay account with Defendants by telephone, nor are they advised of any of the terms
and conditions applicable to their account.
29.
Defendants do not issue account statements in writing or electronically to
customers in the ordinary course of business. When making or receiving a call, the customer is
given a voice prompt advising the customer how much money is left in their account, but a
customer cannot obtain an itemized statement of charges to their account, nor can the customer
determine how many minutes of calling time they have left because Defendants do not disclose
rates and applicable charges.
30.
Defendants fail to inform their customers that they will be charged a service or
set-up fee which will be deducted from their advance pay balance, when an account is first
established.
31.
Defendants charges an unconscionable service fee of approximately 20% of the
deposit, i.e. $4.75 out of the first $25.00 deposit, $9.50 out of the first $50.00 deposit, and $19.00
out of the first $100.00 deposit, when an account is first established, and whenever an account is
recharged. In essence, Defendants charge their customers for the ability to pay for Defendants’
services.
7
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 8 of 28 PageID: 8
32.
Defendants fail to inform their customers when an account is first established that
they will be charged fees (a per-call transaction or connection fee) for each call placed in
addition to the call rates per minute.
33.
Defendants charge upwards of $1.75 per call as a connection or transaction fee.
34.
Defendants charge a $5.00 fee to close an account and obtain a refund of any
remaining balance. However, Defendants fail to inform their customers when an account is first
established that they will be charged this additional service fee to close the account.
35.
Defendants fail to inform their customers when an account is first established that
their account balances will be forfeited if they do not use Defendants’ service for a 90-day
period.
36.
Defendants fail to inform their customers when an account is first established that
a monthly inactivity fee will be charged against their account for any months when it is not used.
37.
Because customers must purchase calling time in multiples of $25, $50, or $100
and must establish an account in advance of paying for calls, it is inevitable that customers will
not use the exact amount of money in their account. As a result, every customer will incur either
the $5.00 fee to close their account or will forfeit their account as a result of it being inactive for
90 days.
38.
Defendants also fail to advise customers that the customers’ account may be
frozen if Defendants deem the amount remaining in the account to be too little to accept calls
from an inmate. In order to unfreeze the account so he or she can receive calls, the customer
must recharge his or her account, while incurring service charges of 20% of the amount
deposited in doing so.
8
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 9 of 28 PageID: 9
PLAINTIFFS’ EXPERIENCE WITH DEFENDANT
39.
Each of the Plaintiffs set up their accounts in accordance with the procedures set
forth above. Defendants did not disclose to any of the Plaintiffs the rates applicable to their
calls, nor did they disclose any of the fees and other charges applicable to their accounts, as
described above.
40.
Plaintiff Bobbie James became a customer of Defendants in approximately April
2011 in order to communicate with her grandson in Essex County Jail. She had helped raise and
support her grandson prior to his incarceration and established the advance pay account with
GTL in order to continue to communicate with him.
41.
Ms. James often deposited $25 into her accounts which permitted her to speak
with one of her grandsons approximately three times a week approximately 15 minutes total
calling time. The remainder of the $25 deposit is eaten up by fees and charges.
42.
Plaintiff Crystal Gibson became a customer of GTL in approximately September
of 2010 when her significant other was incarcerated in the Essex County Jail in New Jersey.
43.
Defendants charged Ms. Gibson a cancellation or closure fee in order for her to
get a refund of the balance in her account.
44.
Defendants also charged Ms. Gibson an inactivity fee of approximately $1.49 per
month when her account was not used.
45.
Defendants’ representative told Ms. Gibson that Defendants were charging her an
extra and additional fee for establishing an account because she used a live operator and did not
follow the scripted automated system when she first set up her account.
9
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 10 of 28 PageID: 10
46.
Betty King is a senior citizen who opened an account with Defendants to receive
phone calls from her brother who is an inmate at the East Jersey State Prison in Rahway,
Middlesex County, New Jersey.
47.
Mrs. King has never spoken with a representative of Defendants but has signed up
as a customer through Defendants automated phone system.
48.
From at least 2002 Mrs. King has deposited hundreds of dollars into her account
and her brother calls her regularly.
49.
Mrs. King normally deposits either $25 or $50 into the Defendants account.
50.
Defendants have never provided Mrs. King with any statement of her account.
51.
Defendants have never informed Mrs. King of the fees, rates and other charges
which are imposed on her for using the prepaid service.
52.
Plaintiff Barbara Skladany became a customer of GTL in or about 2010, when she
established an advance pay account with GTL in order to communicate by telephone with her
son, Mark Skladany, who was incarcerated in the Somerset County Jail. During the period of
Mark’s incarceration, Barbara Skladany has made deposits of many hundreds of dollars into her
accounts with Defendants.
53.
Plaintiff Milan Skladany, who was then a resident of Somerset County, became a
customer of GTL in and around 2010 when he established an advance pay account with GTL in
order to communicate with his son, Mark Skladany, who was incarcerated in the Somerset
County Jail.
54.
Plaintiff Mark Skladany deposited money in a pay phone account from his
resources available while he was in prison to fund advance pay accounts for him to make calls
from prison to his parents, lawyers, relatives and friends.
10
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 11 of 28 PageID: 11
55.
During that time, Ms. Skladany has had to pay service fees to open and recharge
her account and connection fees with respect to calls received from her son, Mark, as described
above.
56.
Mark Skladany was moved to different institutions at various times in 2011 and
2012. As a result of a move, Ms. Skladany’s existing account was no longer valid to receive
calls from Mark, so she had to set up another account. In doing so, she incurred additional
service fees, as well as a $5 charge to close her prior account and receive a refund of the amounts
remaining in her old account.
57.
At various times during the time that Ms. Skladany has maintained an account for
Mark with the Defendants, the Defendants have frozen her account pending verification of calls
made by Mark and required additional prepayments even before the advance pay balance was
depleted in order to continue to receive telephone calls from Mark.
58.
Despite many requests, Defendants refused to provide Barbara Skladany and
Milan Skladany with written statements of their accounts identifying charges and rates.
59.
Dr. Crow became a customer of GTL when he established an advance pay
account in April 2013 in order to communicate by telephone with his son who was incarcerated
in the Mercer County Correctional Facility, Lambertville, New Jersey.
60.
Defendants forfeited the balance in Dr. Crow’s account in approximately July of
2013.
CLASS ACTION ALLEGATIONS
61.
Plaintiffs bring this action, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly
situated, as a class action pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 23. Subject to confirmation, clarification
11
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 12 of 28 PageID: 12
and/or modification based on discovery to be conducted in this action, the class that Plaintiffs
seek to represent (“the Class”) shall be defined as follows:
all persons of the United States who, at any time since 2002 were incarcerated in a
New Jersey prison institution who use or used the phone system provided by
Defendants or, who established an advance pay account with Defendants in order
to receive telephone calls from a person incarcerated in New Jersey.
62.
As used herein, “Class Members” shall mean and refer to the members of the
Class as set forth above.
63.
This action is brought and properly may be maintained as a class action pursuant
to the provisions of Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(a)(1)-(4) and 23(b)(1), (b)(2) or (b)(3) and satisfies the
requirements thereof.
64.
Numerosity – Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(a)(1).
The members of the Class are so
numerous that individual joinder of all the members is impracticable. On information and belief,
there are not less than tens of thousands of persons who have been affected by Defendants’
conduct. The precise number of Class members and their addresses is presently unknown to
Plaintiff, but may be ascertained from Defendants’ books and records. Class members may be
notified of the pendency of this action by recognized, Court-approved notice dissemination
methods, which may include U.S. Mail, electronic mail, Internet postings, and/or published
notice.
65.
Commonality and Predominance – Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(a)(2) and 23(b)(3).
Common questions of law and fact exist as to the class members, as required by Fed.R.Civ.P.
23(a)(2), and predominate over any questions that affect only individual class members within
the meaning of Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(b)(3).
66.
The common questions of fact include, but are not limited to, the following:
12
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 13 of 28 PageID: 13
67.
(a)
whether Defendants have failed to fully and adequately disclose to
Plaintiffs and the other Class Members service charges to open and close
the account that are assessed to the class members in connection with their
use of Defendant’s telephone service;
(b)
whether Defendants have failed to fully and adequately disclose to
Plaintiffs and the other Class Members Defendant’s practice of forfeiting
the advance pay balance of their accounts whenever accounts remain
unused for 90 days and charging monthly inactivity fees;
(c)
whether Defendants have failed to fully and adequately disclose to
Plaintiffs and the other Class Members the per-minute rates that they will
be and have been charged when calls are made to them by incarcerated
persons;
(d)
whether Defendants’ practice of requiring advance fee deposits with such
charges, fees and forfeitures is a practice which warrants restitution or
treble damages under the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act;
(e)
whether Defendants’ charging rates for phone calls that are a 100 times or
more higher than the rates at which they are acquired and charging such
opening, closing, transactional and forfeiture fees without disclosure of the
amounts at the times of sale are unconscionable commercial practices
and/or are practices constituting unfair enrichment; and
(f)
whether Plaintiffs and the other Class Members have sustained
ascertainable losses and damages as a result of Defendant inflated and
abusive charges and practices of non-disclosure and, if so, the proper
measure and appropriate formula to be applied in determining such
damages.
The questions of law that are common to Plaintiffs and the other class members
include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a)
whether the practices of Defendant complained of herein and/or
Defendant’s failure to make full and adequate disclosures to their
customers concerning such practices violate §201(b) of the Federal
Communications Act and regulations thereunder and/or 48 N.J.S.A. §
48:3-1 and § 48:3-2;
(b)
whether the practices of Defendant complained of herein and/or Defendant
failure to make full and adequate disclosures to their customer concerning
such practices violate one or more provisions of the New Jersey Consumer
Fraud Act (“CFA”) and regulations promulgated thereunder;
13
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 14 of 28 PageID: 14
68.
(c)
whether the practices of Defendant complained of herein and/or
Defendant’s failure to make full and adequate disclosures to their
customer concerning such practices constitute unfair, unlawful and/or
fraudulent business practices which warrant a refund as unjust enrichment
or treble damages under New Jersey law;
(d)
whether the inflated and abusive charges levied by the Defendants upon
their customers pursuant to the exclusive monopoly rights granted by the
State and County government constitutes an illegal taking in violation of
42 U.S.C.§1983; and
(e)
whether Plaintiffs and the other Class Members are entitled to the
declaratory relief sought herein.
Typicality – Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(a)(3). Plaintiffs’ claims are typical of the claims of
the other class members whom they seek to represent under Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(a)(3) because
Plaintiffs and each of the Class Members have been subjected to the same wrongful practices and
have been damaged thereby in the same manner.
69.
Adequacy of Representation – Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(a)(4). Plaintiffs will fairly and
adequately represent and protect the interests of the class members as required by F.R.Civ.P.
23(a)(4). Plaintiffs are adequate representatives of the Class because they have no interests that
are adverse to the interests of the other Class Members. Plaintiffs are committed to the vigorous
prosecution of this action and, to that end, Plaintiffs have retained counsel who are competent
and experienced in handling class action litigation on behalf of consumers.
70.
Superiority – Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(b)(3) A class action is superior to any other
available means for the fair and efficient adjudication of this controversy, and no unusual
difficulties are likely to be encountered in the management of this class action. The damages or
other financial detriment suffered by Plaintiff and each of the other Class members are relatively
small compared to the burden and expense that would be required to individually litigate their
claims against Defendants, so it would be impracticable for Class members to individually seek
14
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 15 of 28 PageID: 15
redress for Defendants’ wrongful conduct. Even if Class members could afford individual
litigation, the court system could not. Individualized litigation creates a potential for inconsistent
or contradictory judgments, and increases the delay and expense to all parties and the court
system. By contrast, the class action device presents far fewer management difficulties, and
provides the benefits of single adjudication, economy of scale, and comprehensive supervision
by a single court.
71.
Declaratory and Injunctive Relief – Fed. R.Civ.P. 23(b)(2) In the alternative,
this action is certifiable under the provisions of Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(b)(1) and/or 23(b)(2) because:
72.
(a)
the prosecution of separate actions by individual Class Member would
create a risk of inconsistent or varying adjudications with respect to
individual class members that would establish incompatible standards of
conduct for Defendant;
(b)
the prosecution of separate actions by individual Class Member would
create a risk of adjudications as to them that would, as a practical matter,
be dispositive of the interests of the other Class Members not parties to the
adjudications or substantially impair or impede their ability to protect their
interests; and
(c)
Defendant have acted or refused to act on grounds generally applicable to
the Class, thereby making appropriate final injunctive relief or
corresponding declaratory relief with respect to the Class as a whole and
necessitating that any such relief be extended to the class members on a
mandatory, class wide basis.
Plaintiffs are aware of no difficulty that will be encountered in the management of
this litigation that will preclude its maintenance as a class action.
FIRST COUNT
(Violation of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act)
73.
Plaintiffs repeat and incorporate herein by reference each and every allegation in
paragraphs 1 through 72 as though fully set forth herein.
15
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 16 of 28 PageID: 16
74.
Plaintiffs bring this claim pursuant to the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act
(“CFA”).
75.
The CFA applies to Defendant’s actions and conduct described herein because it
extends to transactions that are intended to result, or that have resulted, in the sale of services to
consumers with a nexus to New Jersey, i.e.¸ telephone calls placed from New Jersey.
76.
Plaintiffs and each Class Member are “consumers” within the meaning of CFA.
77.
The telephone service that Plaintiffs and Class Members obtained from
Defendants comes within the definition of “services” set forth in CFA.
78.
Defendants have engaged in fraudulent and/or deceptive commercial practices in
violation of the CFA by charging excessive, undisclosed fees and charges as described above.
79.
In addition, Defendants have engaged in an unconscionable commercial practice
in violation of the CFA by charging excessive per-minute phone rates which are grossly in
excess of Defendants cost, and grossly in excess of the market price for phone calls, which they
are able to charge only because they have a monopoly on phone calls from designated detention
facilities, free from competition.
80.
Likewise, Defendants’ undisclosed fees are unconscionable in that Defendants
provide no services and Plaintiffs receive no benefit in return for those charges and/or the fees
and charges are grossly in excess of the incremental cost to Defendants for the activity for which
the fees and charges are imposed.
81.
Plaintiffs and other Class Members have suffered an ascertainable loss as a result
of Defendants violations by having to pay the foregoing excessive, undisclosed charges and fees,
as well as having to pay excessive rates for making or receiving telephone calls from New Jersey
inmates, as described above.
16
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 17 of 28 PageID: 17
82.
Further, unless Defendants are enjoined from continuing to engage in these
violations of the CFA, Plaintiffs and the other class members will continue to be injured by
Defendant’s actions and conduct.
SECOND COUNT
(Violations of the Disclosure Requirements
of the CFA effective August 1, 2008)
83.
Plaintiffs repeat the allegations contained in Paragraphs 1-82 as if fully set forth
84.
New Jersey amended the CFA effective on August 11, 2008 to require certain
herein.
additional disclosure requirements specifically applicable to prepaid telephone calling services,
such as those offered by Defendants described above, to those who purchase those services, such
as Plaintiffs and other Class Members.
85.
N.J.S.A. § 56:8-176(h) provides that a prepaid telephone service company “shall
not impose any fee or surcharge that is not disclosed as required by this section or that exceeds
the amount disclosed by the company.”
86.
New Jersey has adopted pertinent rules and regulations to enforce the
requirements of N.J.S.A. §56:8-176(h) which requires specific disclosures at the time of
solicitation or sale.
87.
Those regulations provide that the amendment to the CFA and regulations
promulgated pursuant thereto requiring disclosure by pre-paid telephone services are a
supplement to the enforcement and prosecutions of other practices unlawful under the CFA.
88.
As described above, Defendants did not disclose their fees, surcharges and
forfeiture policies when it required Plaintiffs to first open an account and purchase the right to
receive calls.
17
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 18 of 28 PageID: 18
89.
As described above, Defendants did not disclose the amounts of fees, surcharges
and forfeiture policies to customers who received a collect call for the first time from an inmate.
90.
Defendants informed customers, like Plaintiffs, in the initial set up call that their
telephone service was not programmed to receive collect calls and that they must open an
account with Defendant and prepay that account in the amount of $25, $50, or $100 or they
could not receive calls. Defendants did not disclose any specific set-up or closure fees or
surcharges or inactivity fees to be deducted and charged to customer’s accounts at the time of the
sale, as required by the N.J.S.A. § 56:8-176(a)(3) and applicable regulations.
91.
Defendants did not disclose that balances unused for 90 days would be forfeited
when customers received their first invitation to purchase the rights to receive calls and open an
account as required by N.J.S.A. § 56:8-176(a)(3).
92.
Defendants did not refer new customers to their websites in the first automated
calls inviting customers to purchase the right to receive calls and open an account.
93.
Defendants web-site now references that there will be fees but that website fails to
disclose the amounts of any set-up, closure or forfeiture fees as required by the N.J.S.A. § 56:8176(a)(3).
94.
Defendants, up through the filing of the action, failed to disclose any specific fee
amount that would be charged or forfeited by the customers at the time of sale as required by
N.J.S.A. § 56:8-176(a)(3).
95.
Defendants also violate N.J.S.A. § 56:8-176(a)(8) by failing to disclose
information required to be disclosed by regulations enacted by the Department of Consumer
Affairs. Those violations include failing to disclose:
18
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 19 of 28 PageID: 19
a.
Any surcharges and call setup charges, in violation of N.J.A.C. § 13:45A8.3(a)(1);
b.
The name of the provider of the actual calling services, in violation of
N.J.A.C. § 13:45A-8.3(a)(2)(i);
c.
The expiration period of the customer’s account, in violation of N.J.A.C. §
13:45A-8.3(a)(2)(v);
d.
That the service is subject to maintenance and other fees and charges, in
violation of N.J.A.C. § 13:45A-8.3(a)(2)(vi);
e.
Instructions as to how to obtain complete information about the use of the
calling services, including fees and charges for, and any restrictions or
limitations on the use of the account, in violation of N.J.A.C. § 13:45A8.3(a)(2)(vii)
96.
Defendants also violate N.J.A.C. § 13:45A-8.4 in that they charge fees, taxes,
surcharges and other amounts which are not permitted fees and/or which are not disclosed
pursuant to N.J.A.C. § 13:45A-8.3.
97.
Defendants also violate N.J.A.C. § 13:45A-8.11 in that the calling time purchased
from Defendants expire 90 days after their last use, but this expiration date is not provided to
customers when they open their accounts. In addition, Defendants violate this section in that the
90-day expiration date on accounts is less than the presumptive one-year expiration date set forth
in this regulation for accounts without a specific expiration date.
98.
Violations of the foregoing regulations are per se violations of the Consumer
Fraud Act.
19
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 20 of 28 PageID: 20
99.
Plaintiffs and other Class Members have suffered an ascertainable loss as a result
of Defendants violations by having to pay the foregoing excessive, undisclosed charges and fees,
as well as having to pay excessive rates for making or receiving telephone calls from New Jersey
inmates, as described above.
100.
Further, unless Defendants are enjoined from continuing to engage in these
violations of the CFA, Plaintiffs and the other class members will continue to be injured by
Defendant’s actions and conduct.
THIRD COUNT
(Violation of New Jersey Public Utilities Statutes)
101.
Plaintiffs repeat and incorporate herein by reference each and every allegation in
paragraphs 1 through 100, inclusive, as though fully set forth herein.
102.
Plaintiffs bring this claim for relief on behalf of themselves and the Members of
the Class.
103.
Intrastate phone rates within New Jersey are required to be “reasonable” and not
discriminatory by N.J.S.A. § 48:3-1 and § 48:3-2, which provides in pertinent part that a
company providing telecommunication services cannot:
a.
Make, impose or exact any unjust or unreasonable, unjustly discriminatory
or unduly preferential individual or joint rate, commutation rate, mileage and
other special rate, toll, fare, charge or schedule for any product or service supplied
or rendered by it within this state;
b.
Adopt or impose any unjust or unreasonable classification in the making
or as the basis of any individual or joint rate, toll, fare, charge or schedule for any
product or service rendered by it within this state.
N.J.S.A. § 48:3-1 or
… adopt, maintain or enforce any regulation, practice or measurement which shall
be unjust, unreasonable, unduly preferential, arbitrarily or unjustly discriminatory
or otherwise in violation of law.
20
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 21 of 28 PageID: 21
N.J.S.A. § 48:3-2
104.
Defendants have engaged in and continue to engage in the unlawful practices
alleged herein and have failed and continue to fail to make full and adequate disclosures to their
customers concerning these practices.
105.
Defendants’ customers are charged for unauthorized and inappropriate connection
fees, service fees and forfeiture charges among other charges which are unjust, unreasonable,
discriminatory and preferential in violation of N.J.S.A. §§ 48-3.1 and 48:3.2.
106.
Defendants take steps to conceal their unfair, unreasonable, preferential and
discriminatory charges to customer accounts willfully refusing to provide written account
statements.
107.
Defendants have not filed rates with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.
108.
As a direct and proximate result of Defendant’s violations of New Jersey Public
Utility Laws, Plaintiffs and the New Jersey class have been damaged in an amount according to
proof at trial.
FOURTH COUNT
(Unjust Enrichment)
109.
Plaintiffs repeat and incorporate herein by reference each and every allegation in
paragraphs 1 through 108, as though fully set forth herein.
110.
Plaintiffs and other Class Members reasonably expect that they would only have
to pay market rates for telephone calls placed by New Jersey inmates and would not have to
incur other charges which provide no commensurate benefit to them.
111.
As is described above, Plaintiffs and other Class Members do not receive what
they pay for with respect to the per-minute rates for telephone calls, because those rates are
grossly in excess of market rates, nor do they receive what they pay for with respect to the
21
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 22 of 28 PageID: 22
undisclosed fees and charges in that Plaintiffs and other Class Members receive no benefit
whatsoever from those charges.
112.
Defendants have been unjustly enriched at the expense of Plaintiffs and other
Class Members because Defendants have charged per-minute calling rates grossly in excess of
market rates and charged excessive fees and charges that Defendants would not be able to charge
but for the fact that they have a monopoly on telephone calls placed from New Jersey detention
facilities and are not subject to any competitive pressures of the market.
113.
The revenues and profits derived from these excessive charges run into several
million dollars per year.
114.
Under the circumstances it would be unjust for Defendants to keep such revenues
and profits.
115.
As a result, Defendants should be required to disgorge and restore to Plaintiffs
and the Class all monies wrongfully obtained by Defendant as a result of their extra charges to
open and closed accounts, forfeited balances and all other improper charges, together with
interest thereon.
116.
Wherefore Defendants should be enjoined from these unconscionable, abusive
and extortionate billing practices and Defendants should pay over all such unjust enrichment
received.
FIFTH COUNT
(Violation of The Federal Communications Act, 47 U.S.C. § 201)
117.
Plaintiffs repeat and incorporate herein by reference each and every allegation in
paragraphs l through 116, inclusive, as though fully set forth herein.
118.
Plaintiffs bring this claim for relief on behalf of themselves, the Members of the
Class.
22
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 23 of 28 PageID: 23
119.
Defendants are engaged in interstate wireless communications for the purpose of
furnishing communication services within the meaning of § 201(a) of the Federal
Communications Act (“FCA”), 47 U.S.C. § 201, et seq.
120.
Defendants’ practices complained of herein constitute unjust and unreasonable
charges and practices in connection with communication service and, therefore, violate § 201(b)
of the FCA. In addition, Defendants failure to make full and adequate disclosures of these
practices to their customers violates CFR § 64.2401 and, therefore, violates §201(b) of the FCA.
121.
Defendants have not filed its rates with the Federal Communication Commission.
122.
As a direct and proximate result of Defendants’ violations of §201(b) of the FCA,
Plaintiffs and the other Class Members have been damaged in amounts according to proof at
trial.
SIXTH COUNT
(Claim Under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 For Taking of Property
Without Just Compensation In Violation of the Fifth Amendment)
123.
Plaintiffs repeat and incorporate herein by reference each and every allegation in
paragraphs 1 through 122, inclusive, as though fully set forth herein.
124.
As is set forth above, Defendants are in a position to charge the excessive rates for
telephone calls and impose unconscionable rates and fees because of their exclusive contracts
with the State of New Jersey and various New Jersey Counties.
125.
Those contracts set the rates Defendants charge for making telephone calls from
the facility or facilities subject to the contract, and further provide that Defendants will pay a
percentage of the gross revenue (excluding certain collected taxes and fees) derived by
Defendants as a result of the contract which shall be paid to the contracting governmental entity.
23
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 24 of 28 PageID: 24
126.
Those percentages of revenue paid by Defendants to the governmental entities
range from 40% in the case of the State of New Jersey to 60.5% in the case of Bergen County.
127.
Upon information and belief, the percentage of revenue and per-minute calling
rates are agreed to as part of the process whereby the governmental entity contracts with the
qualified bidder who will pay the highest revenue to the governmental entity.
128.
Defendants act under color of law for purposes of 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
129.
At all times pertinent hereto, Defendants have acted with the help of and in
concert with state officials in that they were given the exclusive right to provide telephone
services for inmates housed in the respective detention facilities.
130.
Controlling access to and communications with incarcerated persons is a
traditional governmental function.
131.
But for the fact that Defendants have exclusive contracts with governmental
entities to provide phone services to persons incarcerated within that entity’s jurisdiction,
Defendants would not be able to charge the excessive per-minute rates and unconscionable fees
and charges to Plaintiffs and other Class Members because they would otherwise be able to
purchase substitute phone service elsewhere at a significantly lower costs.
132.
The entities represented by the aforementioned state officials receive a substantial
benefit from the unlawful activities of Defendants when the governmental entities are paid a
portion of the revenues generated by the charges imposed by Defendants.
133.
The governmental entities’ are encouraged by Defendants to turn a blind eye to,
Defendants’ imposition of unconscionable fees and charges on top of the already unconscionable
per-minute charges for telephone calls.
24
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 25 of 28 PageID: 25
134.
Defendants’ excessive and unconscionable charges constitute a taking of property
from the Plaintiffs without just compensation and is contrary to the Fifth Amendment of the
Constitution.
135.
Plaintiffs and other Class Members have a property interest in their money.
136.
The calling time that Plaintiffs and other Class members receive is not just and
adequate compensation for the unconscionably excessive per-minute charges for phone calls
imposed by Defendants.
137.
In addition, as is set forth above, the other fees and charges imposed by
Defendants, such as the 20% set-up fee, the per-call connection fee, the $5.00 refund charges,
inactivity fees and the forfeiture of unused accounts, are likewise a taking of property without
just compensation because those charges are grossly in excess of any benefit provided.
138.
The State and Counties have delegated authority to the Defendant’s sufficient that
the Defendants’ forfeiture actions and takings of the Plaintiffs’ money is an illegal taking by
virtue of State action with the meaning of 42 U.S.C. §1983.
139.
As a result of the imposition of the foregoing unlawful charges and fees, Plaintiffs
and other Class Members have been damaged.
SEVENTH COUNT
(Declaratory Relief Under The Declaratory
Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201, et seq.)
140.
Plaintiffs repeat and incorporate herein by reference each and every allegation in
paragraphs 1 through 139, inclusive, as though fully set forth herein.
141.
Plaintiffs bring this claim for relief on behalf of themselves and other similarly
situated prisoners and detainees.
25
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 26 of 28 PageID: 26
142.
An actual controversy has arisen and now exists between Plaintiffs and the other
Class Members, on one hand, and Defendants, on the other hand, concerning their respective
rights and duties in that Plaintiffs and the other Class Members contend that Defendant has
engaged in and are continuing to engage in the unlawful practices alleged herein and have failed
and continue to fail to make full and adequate disclosures to their customers concerning these
practices, while Defendant apparently will contend that their actions and conduct are lawful and
proper.
143.
A judicial declaration is necessary and appropriate at this time, under the
circumstances presented, in order that Plaintiffs and the other class members may ascertain their
rights and duties with respect to Defendant’s practices.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs pray for judgment as follows:
(a)
For compensatory damages;
(b)
For treble damages in accordance with the New Jersey Consumer Fraud
(c)
For an Order enjoining Defendants from engaging in the practices alleged
Act;
herein and/or mandating that Defendants make full and adequate disclosures to their
customers concerning these practices.
(d)
For disgorgement and restitution to Plaintiffs and the other Members of
the Class of all monies wrongfully obtained by Defendants; and
(e)
For prejudgment interest on the monies wrongfully obtained by
Defendants from the date of collection through the date of entry of judgment in this
action;
26
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 27 of 28 PageID: 27
(f)
For all attorneys’ fees, expenses and recoverable costs reasonably incurred
in connection with the commencement and prosecution of this action in accordance with
the Consumer Fraud Act and 42 U.S.C. § 1988; and
(g)
For such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.
CARELLA, BYRNE, CECCHI,
OLSTEIN, BRODY & AGNELLO PC
Attorneys for Plaintiffs
By: /s/ James E. Cecchi
JAMES E. CECCHI
WALDER, HAYDEN & BROGAN, P.A.
Attorneys for Plaintiffs
By: /s/ James A. Plaisted
JAMES A. PLAISTED
Dated: August 20, 2013
27
Case 2:13-cv-04989-WJM-MF Document 1 Filed 08/20/13 Page 28 of 28 PageID: 28
JURY TRIAL DEMAND
Plaintiffs request jury trial on all issues so triable.
CARELLA, BYRNE, CECCHI,
OLSTEIN, BRODY & AGNELLO PC
Attorneys for Plaintiffs
By: /s/ James E. Cecchi
JAMES E. CECCHI
WALDER, HAYDEN & BROGAN, P.A.
Attorneys for Plaintiffs
By: /s/ James A. Plaisted
JAMES A. PLAISTED
Dated: August 20, 2013
28
