Wiretaps and Electronic Eavesdropping Federal Law and Legal Ethics

It is a federal crime to wiretap or to use a machine to capture the communications of others without court approval, unless one of the parties has given his prior consent. It is likewise a federal crime to use or disclose any information acquired by illegal wiretapping or electronic eavesdropping. Violations can result in imprisonment for not more than five years; fines up to $250,000; in civil liability for damages, attorney's fees and possibly punitive damages; in disciplinary action against any attorneys involved; and in suppression of any derivative evidence. This book provides an overview of federal law governing wiretapping and electronic eavesdropping under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA).