Intel Corporation v. Hamidi
Supreme Court of California
71 P.3d 296 (Cal. 2003)
Intel Corporation (Intel) (plaintiff) allowed reasonable non-business use of its employee email system. Former employee Kourosh Kenneth Hamidi (defendant) sent mass emails critical of Intel's employment practices to up to 35,000 current employees on six occasions over two years, letting recipients opt out; the emails caused employees to discuss the content with each other and managers but caused no other disruption to Intel's computer systems. Intel repeatedly asked Hamidi to stop and then sued for trespass to chattels; the trial court granted summary judgment for Intel and enjoined Hamidi, and the court of appeals affirmed.
Whether sending unwanted electronic communications that cause no actual injury to personal property is actionable as trespass to chattels.