US Judge Boots Warrantless Wiretap Cases Vs. Telecoms

A federal judge has tossed out more than three dozen lawsuits filed against the nation's telecommunications companies for allegedly taking part in the government's email and telephone eavesdropping program that was done without court approval. The dismissals were widely expected after Congress in July agreed on new surveillance rules that include immunity from lawsuits for telecommunications companies that allegedly helped the US spy on Americans.

A US District judge today upheld the constitutionality of the new surveillance rules and dismissed the lawsuits. But the judge did allow the losing attorneys a chance to revise their lawsuits to include new allegations, if any, that aren't covered by the immunity rules. (More Bush administration stories.)