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SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah company has filed a federal complaint after a man placed hundreds of obscene calls to the company during which he breathed heavily and made inappropriate proposals to females who answered the phone.
Sorenson Communications filed the complaint Sept. 19 in the U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City. The company provides communication technology and services for deaf and hard-of-hearing customers.
The company claims the man, whose identity is not currently known, has placed more than 300 of the obscene calls to the company since July 18. If the phone goes unanswered, the company claims, the man would often leave graphic voicemails.
The man, a Verizon Wireless customer, has in the past identified himself to the company as "Rick Smith," although Sorenson has been unable to confirm his name. The phone numbers from which the man called were all based in Sacramento, although the company believes the phone numbers may have been falsified.
At least 30 Sorenson employees have been contacted by the man, who the company says has falsely claimed to be a Sorenson customer. At least one female employee has been contacted up to six times a day.
An Aug. 20 cease and desist notice failed to dissuade the man from making further calls. The company has said calls are harmful and keep employees from handling legitimate calls. Sorenson is seeking a minimum of $5,000 in court.








