Yahoo users drop suits over scanning of e-mail

Yahoo reached an agreement with two groups of users to end their lawsuits alleging that the company illegally scanned e-mail messages for targeted advertising, according to filings by attorneys on both sides. Other lawsuits making similar claims are proceeding.

One of the cases being dropped was the first filed in federal court in San Jose over claims the scanning invades users’ privacy and violates state and federal wiretap laws. That case, which was filed Oct. 2 on behalf of residents of San Bruno, and five later cases were all assigned to U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh.

“Two of the six cases have been discontinued, but the other four are continuing,” David Straite, a lawyer in one of the related cases, said Wednesday. “The court is still considering a motion to consolidate the remaining four cases and appoint leadership.”

Lawyers in the Oct. 2 case said in a court filing Wednesday that they met with lawyers for Yahoo and “no longer believe this is a case they would like to pursue” based on the company’s “representations.”

Ara R. Jabagchourian, a lawyer representing the San Bruno plaintiffs, didn’t immediately respond to phone and e-mail messages about the agreement with Yahoo’s lawyers to drop the case.

Sarah Meron, a spokeswoman for Yahoo, didn’t immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.