Adams v. Sumner
39 F.3d 933
In the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Case Number 93-15621
Before Circuit Judge Hug, Circuit Judge Farris, and Circuit Judge O’Scannlain
Decided on October 28, 1994

Relevancy of the case: Is the evidence obtained from unintentional eavesdropping admissible?

Statutes and Provisions Involved

• The Federal Wiretapping Statute, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2510-2520

Relevant Facts of the Case

• The appellant, Adams, allegedly committed a murder. He stayed in a hotel and engaged in a phone call in the hotel room, discussing various details about the said murder.
• A hotel clerk heard the phone call by eavesdropping. This was used as substantial evidence in the subsequent murder trial.

Prominent Arguments by the Counsels

• The appellant’s counsel argued that the contents of the telephonic conversation should have been excluded at her trial. This violated provisions of the Federal Wiretapping Statute by infringing her right to privacy by wilful eavesdropping.
• The appellee’s counsel submitted that the eavesdropping was justifiable. The clerk did not intend to eavesdrop on the conversation, but it later became lawful.

Opinion of the Bench

• The clerk did not intend to violate the appellant’s privacy. Hence, the evidence is admissible.

Final Decision

• The court affirmed the district court’s decision.