Ralph Nader has nothing on David D. Richardson.
Other than his freedom.
Unlike Nader, the famous consumer advocate, Richardson is an inmate at the State Correctional Institution at Greensburg. And he fashions himself as a consumer advocate, challenging the prison's telephone provider and seeking for inmates cheaper delivery rates from the U.S. Postal Service.
Richardson, 49, is serving a five-to-10-year prison sentence for a 2006 robbery conviction in Chester County.
He filed lawsuits on Monday against the Postal Service and MCI Telecommunications Co. over services they provide to inmates at the prison. Richardson claims both companies overcharge inmates.
According to his lawsuits, he contends the telephone company falsely advertised its long-distance calling rate charged to inmates at the prison.
Richardson claimed that based on the advertised rate he should have been charged $8.23 for three calls he made from the prison last spring. He said he was charged more than $14.
He is suing for $100 in damages plus an additional $25 an hour for lawyer fees. Richardson is serving as his own attorney.
Richardson also is taking on the Postal Service. He wants a county judge to force the agency to provide a discounted delivery tracking service that is offered to those who are not behind bars.
He accused the Postal Service of offering a tracking rate for packages at 75 cents. That service is not offered to prison inmates, though. Instead the Postal Service charges inmates $4.80 per to track delivery of packages through certified mail, Richardson contended.
"As a consumer, plaintiff retains a right to select and (choose) from the rates offered by the defendant in terms of delivery confirmation that best suits plaintiff's financial means without being monopolized due to plaintiff's incarcerated status," Richardson said.
Toni Colland, spokeswoman for SCI-Greensburg, said she was unaware of the lawsuits and declined to comment on the prison's phone service and postal fees.
Representatives for MCI and the Postal Service could not be reached for comment.
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