Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in Ohio

Contact lists in work email accounts

I have a co-worker who waited for me to go to lunch and got on my work computer. She copied my contact list and forwarded to her email address, then forwarded my contact list to another employee. It is sometimes acceptable for staff in our office to use other people's computers when the staff is out of the office (usually sending files needed to do their jobs). But, I do not beleive that it is acceptable for other staff to get on other staff computers without permission especially to copy and send contact lists (a little differnt than a file). We are a small organization under 10 employees and do not have personel policies to address issues such as this. I believe that the eployee acted in malace. She waited for me to leave the office. I believe that copying my contat list and sending it to herself and then forwarding it to another staff person was considered to be theft. Do I have a case? is there anything I can legally do about this? Is this considered a civil or criminal case? Can I sue the staff person and not the organization?


Asked on 5/17/07, 9:14 am

2 Answers from Attorneys
Edward DiCato Edward DiCato Attorney at Law

Re: Contact lists in work email accounts

Probably a civil matter. You could sue her and your damages would be for whatever the monetary value of the list may be. That might be hard to determine. You might get punitive damages also.

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Answered on 5/17/07, 11:13 am
Regina Mullen Legal Data Services, PLC

Re: Contact lists in work email accounts

The list belongs to the employer, not the employee. This incident gives your employer and excellent chance to set policy, so why not take the lead and bring the problem out in the open?

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Answered on 5/19/07, 11:33 pm


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