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Employer E-Mail Liability

Former Bullock Creek technology coordinator claims district leaders intercepted his e-mail

 

By LaNia Coleman | The Bay City Times

December 01, 2009, 7:52PM

The Bullock Creek School District, its top administrator and another employee have been named in a federal civil suit filed by a former district technology coordinator.

 

The suit, filed by Saginaw attorney Victor J. Mastromarco, Jr., on behalf of Michael Wittbrodt, claims that from November 2008 through February, Wittbrodt’s “private and personal” e-mail was intercepted by school personnel.

 

Wittbrodt claims the actions violate eavesdropping and federal wiretap laws and infringe on his right to privacy.

 

Jan. 7, the principal at Bullock Creek Middle School told Wittbrodt that Jeffrey Taylor, one of the defendants, had intercepted the e-mails and Superintendent John Hill, the other defendant, had read two of them to the principal, the suit alleges.

 

The suit also accuses Taylor of diverting Wittbrodt’s e-mail to Hill’s e-mail address.

 

Wittbrodt is seeking more than $75,000 for statutory, punitive and other damages.

 

Hill said Tuesday he was not aware of the suit so he could not comment.

 

All district employees must sign documents stating they understand that e-mails sent or received via district equipment are not private, Hill said.

 

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