W. Pa. man files lawsuit against networking company LinkedIn over unauthorized account

The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A Pittsburgh-area man has filed a federal lawsuit against the networking company LinkedIn, claiming that it must tell him who put his name, personal cellphone and personal email on the site.

Rick D. Senft, president of Passavant Memorial Homes, claims in the lawsuit that someone set up a LinkedIn account in his name without his permission and included his personal contact information. Passavant assists people who have developmental disabilities.

The lawsuit claims that LinkedIn, which is based in Mountain View, Calif., has taken down the page in dispute but won't turn over the identity of its creator without a court order. The lawsuit says that Senft, of Cranberry, keeps his personal contact information private.

LinkedIn's public relations department couldn't be reached for comment.