Daily Briefing

AT&T Mobility sues Md. company over phone calls

AT&T Mobility has named a Maryland company among nine nationwide that it accuses of violating federal law by using automated dialers to make millions of unsolicited car warranty calls to its wireless customers. According to the complaint, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, Baltimore-based Volcano Leads was associated with more than 8.4 million calls made from 207-925-1732 between November 2008 through January 2009. AT&T seeks to stop these companies from calling its customers, a violation of the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act. It's also seeking damages of $1,500 for each knowing violation. Justin Ramsey, owner of Volcano Leads, said the company never made any of the alleged calls because it has never owned an automated dialer. Ramsey said the economy drove the company out of business about a month ago.

- Liz F. Kay and Lorraine Mirabella

Fed says recession easing, inflation has been tame

WASHINGTON -: The Federal Reserve signaled Wednesday that the weak economy likely will keep prices in check despite growing concerns that the trillions it's pumping into the financial system will ignite inflation. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and his colleagues held a key bank lending rate at a record low of between zero and 0.25 percent.

- Associated Press