Q: California and other states have a “two-party consent” law for recording conversations or phone calls. Since Donald Sterling didn’t consent to his recording their private conversations, what might be the penalty imposed on his alleged mistress? Which other states have a two-party consent law?
—Leon E. Collins, Stone Mountain
A: California penal code section 632 states anyone who records a conversation without the consent of the other party faces a fine of $2,500 or one year in jail, or both. Code 637.2 allows for a civil lawsuit in such cases.
Sterling’s alleged mistress V. Stiviano’s attorney told the Los Angeles Times that Sterling, who owns the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers, knew he was being recorded when he chided her for posting photos of herself and black people on social media.
Other two-party consent states are: Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Washington, according to the Digital Media Law Project at Harvard University.
Q: Can you please print a list of which states allow same-sex marriages?
—Buddy Acree, Forest Park
A: Same-sex marriages are legal in 19 states and the District of Columbia. They are: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois (takes effect June 1), Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. Oregon and Pennsylvania joined the list last week when two federal judges ruled those state's bans on same-sex marriage were unconstitutional.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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