Here we go! Two lawsuits have already been been filed, both in New York. One was filed back in February of this year and another today.
Michael S. Pacazi, Attorney and Counselor-at-Law has filed a class action lawsuit against Verizon Communications Inc. on February 16, 2006, alleging and accusing the telecom giant of violating the law and the privacy of its customers by collaborating with the National Security Agency("NSA") in the NSA's massive and illegal program to wiretap and data-mine Americans' communications. Docket No.:SDNY 06 Civ. 1221
The lawsuit alleges that Verizon has open it key telecomunications facilities and database to direct access by the NSA and/or other government agencies, thereby, disclosing to the government the contents of its customers' and others', communications, as well as detailed communications records about millions of its customers and others whose communications pass over and through Verizon's telecommunications facilities...
The lawsuit also alleges that Verizon has given the government unfettered access to it's over 19,000 gigbyte databases of information, some of the largest data bases in the world...
The suit estimates and alleges damages totaling $20 billion.
This was actually filed back in February, but I'll bet it is getting some more attention today. For a link to the full press release, click here. For contact information and information on joining the suit click here. click here.
Another lawsuit was filed today in Manhatten by New Jersey Attorneys.
From the AP
TRENTON, N.J. - Two New Jersey public interest lawyers sued Verizon Communications Inc. for $5 billion Friday, claiming the phone carrier violated privacy laws by turning over phone records to the National Security Agency for a secret government surveillance program.
Attorneys Bruce Afran and Carl Mayer filed the lawsuit Friday afternoon in federal district court in Manhattan, where Verizon is headquartered.
The lawsuit asks the court to stop Verizon from turning over any more records to the NSA without a warrant or consent of the subscriber.
"This is the largest and most vast intrusion of civil liberties we've ever seen in the United States," Afran said of the NSA program.
The lawsuit claims that by turning over the records to the government, Verizon violated the Telecommunications Act and the Constitution.
The lawsuit seeks $1,000 for each violation of the Telecommunications Act, or $5 billion if the case is certified as class-action.
I can't seem to find any contact information for Attorneys Bruce Afran or Carl Mayer, but will update the diary when I find it!