During her employment with Verizon, Sandi Lazette was issued a company-owned Blackberry device, which she was allowed
Question:
During her employment with Verizon, Sandi Lazette was issued a company-owned Blackberry device, which she was allowed to use for personal, as well as professional, business. When Lazette left Verizon in October of 2010, she attempted to delete her personal Gmail account prior to returning the device to her former boss, Chris Kulmatycki. She believed that the device would be ‘recycled’ and given to another employee. Unbeknownst to Lazette, the Gmail deletion was unsuccessful. Over the next 18 months, Kulmatycki accessed over 48,000 emails from Lazette’s personal Gmail account, including “communications about family, career, financials, health, and other personal matters.” Lazette filed suit, asserting that Kulmatycki had invaded her privacy, amongst other claims. Kulmatycki and Verizon sought to have the case dismissed, arguing that Kulmatycki could not violate Lazette’s privacy by accessing a company-owned device in his capacity as a company employee. Whose claim prevailed?
Step by Step Answer:
Employment Law for Business
ISBN: 978-1138744929
8th edition
Authors: Dawn D. Bennett Alexander, Laura P. Hartman