Huff v. Michigan Bell Telephone Company

LEVIN, District Judge.

The question raised by the defendants’ motion to dismiss is whether a telephone company and its agent have violated the federal wiretapping law, 47 U.S.C. § 605.

The plaintiffs, Robert Huff and Mary Holt, were employed by the defendant, Michigan Bell Telephone Company, as a mechanic and elevator supervisor respectively. A telephone of the usual type with a regular exchange number was placed in an employees’ lounge of the central offices of the Telephone Company. The employer’s instructions were that the telephone could be used for personal calls but only when necessary…