Verizon Wireless has settled a lawsuit filed in February 2009 against Feature Films for Families, a telemarketing company, for illegally calling Verizon Wireless customers and employees to advertise the movie, The Velveteen Rabbit.
In addition to a permanent injunction preventing any future calls, the Utah-based telemarketer has agreed to a $25,000 cash settlement.
The lawsuit alleged Feature Films for Families illegally used an autodialer to call Verizon Wireless customers about the movie. The lawsuit stated that over 10 days in early February 2009, nearly 500,000 calls were made to Verizon Wireless customers and employees. When customers answered these calls to their wireless phones they heard either a prerecorded voice message or an individual reading a script promoting the anticipated release of the film.
Steven Zipperstein, vice president and general counsel of Verizon Wireless, said: Our customers’ privacy is of utmost importance to Verizon Wireless, and we work every day to ensure it is protected. Telemarketers cannot be allowed to use unlawful methods to reach our customers and to invade their privacy.
