MASSACHUSETTS. - AT&T, the massive phone and wireless company, has dropped its lawsuit against Michael Smith, a Massachusetts businessman who was charged with a one million dollar phone bill for calls made to Somalia in 2009. Smith claimed that the bill resulted from a hacking incident, he is countersuing the company.
Smith, owner of Todd Tool & Abrasive Systems told Salem News, "We are proceeding with the countersuit...They put me through three years of absolute hell. I can't have them fold up shop and say, 'Oh, sorry to inconvenience you' and walk away."
AT&T announced that it withdrew its lawsuit which was of $1.15 million and are "open to resolving his (smith's) concerns...and sympathetic," to the businessman, as reported by the Associated Press.
Smith and his lawyers argue that the telecommunications slapped with him a $900,000 bill and when he refused to pay claiming his phone was hacked, the company filed a $1.15 million, which included interest charges as well. Smith says that the company did not inform him of the suspicious transactions and allowed charges to accumulate. In addition, the lawsuit cost him $30,000 in bills and lawyer fees as well as numerous hours. Smith says he is not backing from his claim and that he will continue to pursue his counter claim.
"It's not only about the money, I want this publicized so people in my position understand the vulnerability that exists," as reported on Salem News.
Smith's Todd Tool & Abrasive Systems is a small manufacturing located in Ipswich, Massachusetts.
