Sprint Awarded $27 Million in Damages From Handset Reseller

A U.S. district court in Maryland awarded Sprint $26.9 million in damages from Wireless Buybacks for “tortious interference” stemming from a handset resale operation involving several individuals and business entities, said the carrier Monday. "While we understand there is a legitimate secondary market for devices that is beneficial to customers and to carriers, we strongly believe that customers are injured by the types of activities challenged in this case," said Sprint Chief Legal Officer Jorge Gracia. Wireless Buybacks didn’t respond to a request for comment. The decision is subject to appeal, said Sprint.