Prominent Chicagoans Sue AT&T over NSA Surveillance

[Robbien]

Steve Grzanich Reporting

CHICAGO (WBBM Newsradio 780) -- A group of high-profile Chicagoans who also are customers of AT&T head to federal court Monday as plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the telecommunication giant for divulging private records to the National Security Agency.

The plaintiffs in this lawsuit include a who's-who of prominent Chicago-area professionals from the journalism, legal, medical and religious communities.

WBBM Newsradio 780's Steve Grzanich has learned the group includes Chicago author Studs Terkel, Dr. Quentin Young, Rabbi Gary Gerson of Oak Park Temple, former City of Chicago Corporation Counsel James Montgomery, Illinois House of Representatives Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie and Loyola Law School Professor Diane Geraghty. All are customers of AT&T. Their lawsuit alleges the phone company handed over private phone records to the National Security Agency without a lawful order.

Sources tell WBBM that the short term aim of the lawsuit being filed in Chicago is an attempt to stop the data collection by court order. The long term goal is to try and uncover details and other records of the surveillance program that still remain secret.

Details of the lawsuit will be disclosed during a news conference at Noon Monday at the offices of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, 180 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2300. Most if not all of the plaintiffs are expected to be available to answer questions.

http://www.wbbm780.com/pages/38142.php

[Supersedeas]

1. Go Chicago Go

[acmavm]

2. GO FOR IT!

[autorank]

3. Rock on prominent ones. One thing for sure...

...you know that their legal team will just kick ass. Chicago has a wealth of very capable legal talent.

People all over America should do this. Now they've pissed off their "patrons." The end is nigh.

K&R

[katty]

8. o yea! they won't take this s*** from 29% bush&co

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. I knew Studs would be on the list

I hope the lawsuit goes all the way to the SCOTUS and these people, representing all of us, are vindicated.

[Benhurst]

5. Studs,

you're still a stud in my book!

Restore the Republic!

[rodeodance]

6. k. go go go.

[katty]

7. love it when the Elite sue the puppet companies of the gov Elite

[mopinko]

9. woohoo- but, barbara flynn currie, i call you out.

majority leader currie- you know in your heart that supporting karen yarborough's resolution of impeachment is the right thing to do. please get behind it. i know the session is over, but you can add your name as a co-sponsor, and promise to drag it out of rules as soon as you get back. and only you can twist mike madigan's arm.
maybe you are already on it, but i have written and called, and cannot find out. we have worked together in the past. i know you have a good heart. i know you know what's right.
clearly you believe this administration has committed a high crime. you have a duty. please rise to it.

[maryallen]

10. Now THESE are PROGRESSIVE thinkers!

Hear that, Senator Levin!

[Kurovski]

11. When I lived full-time in the Chicago area 1 1/2 years ago I had AT&T

when I moved out of state I signed up with Qwest, but AT&T took over my account! Even Qwest was at a loss to explain how it all happened.

We assumed all along, and often joked about how the lines were bugged due in our household due to the clicking and odd behaviour of our line, and my political activities, including belonging to a local peace group protesting the Iraq war and frequently printed LTTE.

On two occasions when I was in the midst of rather ripe Bush diatribes on the phone the line was disconnected. I'm pretty sure it was mere coincidence, given the frequency of such conversations. But I did get the very real sense that the line was bugged. We often gave shout-outs to the feds.

Now we know everyone with AT&T and Verizon were being recorded if not actively listened to. We weren't so special after all! :D

[Us vs Them]

12. AWESOME!

I can't wait for more of these suits to happen!