United States v. Middleton
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
231 F.3d 1207 (2000)
Relevant factsFree
Nicholas Middleton (defendant) was convicted under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act for intentionally damaging data on a computer owned by his employer, a corporation; the statute criminalized intentional damage to data owned by 'individuals.' Middleton appealed, arguing the statute did not reach his conduct because the damaged data belonged to a corporation rather than an 'individual.'
IssueFree
Whether, in interpreting statutes, courts will look to the plain language of the statute, give ordinary meaning to terms, and avoid interpretations that would thwart legislative intent.