A U.S. businessman is engaged in a legal battle with AT&T Inc. over what he calls a fraudulent million-dollar phone bill.
Michael Smith, of Ipswich, Massachusetts, says in 2009 someone hacked into his small manufacturing company’s phone system and made nearly $900,000 in calls to Somalia. AT&T sued Smith for $1.15 million to recover the cost of the calls plus interest.
Smith tells The Salem News he has repeatedly asked AT&T to write off the bill but the company has not budged. He says if he is forced to pay it, his company will close and his 14 employees will lose their jobs.
Smith has countersued, alleging abuse of the legal process and violation of state consumer-protection laws.
An AT&T spokeswoman says the company does not comment on pending litigation.
Topics Massachusetts
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Florida Insurance Costs 14.5% Lower Than Without Reforms, Report Finds
A 10-Year Wait for Autonomous Vehicles to Impact Insurers, Says Fitch
What Analysts Are Saying About the 2026 P/C Insurance Market
Allstate CEO Wilson Takes on Affordability Issue During Earnings Call 

