Monday, Nov. 5, 2012

ATLANTA (AP) -- The Supreme Court of Georgia ruled against a company accused of partnering with a Texas firm to send more than 300,000 junk faxes to metro Atlanta homes and businesses, meaning it could be liable for a $459 million penalty.

In an opinion released Monday, the court reversed a lower court decision, ruling against home maintenance firm American Home Services Inc.

Norcross-based A Fast Sign Co., which received some of the faxes, sued the company in 2003 in a class-action lawsuit.

A trial court entered a judgment against American Home Services for $459 million but an appeals court threw it out. In Monday's ruling, the supreme court sent the case back to the appeals court, saying the company could still remain liable for $459 million, depending on how issues in the case are resolved.

(Copyright 2012, The Associated Press)