2.9.2007

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Affirms That Employers May Consent to Government Search and Seizure of Employee’s Private Office and Workplace Computer

In a unanimous decision, a three judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed that an employer has the ability to give valid third party consent for a government search of an employee’s private office and workplace computer located on the company premises. In United States v. Ziegler, the defendant, Brian Ziegler, was convicted by a lower court of various criminal charges arising from his use of his workplace computer to view and download child pornography. View full article (PDF).