Mudgett v. Navy Federal Credit Union

**Worker Sues Credit Union Over Unwanted Phone Calls, But Loses Case** Mudgett sued her employer, Navy Federal Credit Union, claiming the company violated federal law by making unwanted automated calls to her personal cell phone. She argued these calls broke the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), which restricts businesses from using automatic dialing systems to call people's cell phones without permission. The court ruled in favor of Navy Federal Credit Union and dismissed the case. The judge found that Mudgett couldn't prove the credit union actually used an automatic dialing system to make the calls to her phone. Under federal law, simply making unwanted calls isn't enough - the calls must specifically be made using automated dialing equipment for a TCPA violation to occur. **What This Means for Workers:** This case shows that employees who receive unwanted calls from their employers on personal cell phones face a high bar to prove legal violations. Workers must be able to demonstrate that their employer used specific automated technology, not just that they received annoying or excessive calls. If you're dealing with unwanted work calls on your personal phone, document how the calls are being made and consider discussing boundaries with your employer first.