GTE Finds Employees Acted ‘Improperly’

Stamford, Conn.-based GTE Corp. said it will discipline some workers after an investigation into document shredding concluded that workers acted “improperly,” although no shredding was actually uncovered. The allegations stem from a 1992 California investigation in which GTE was ordered to refund $3.2 million for charging Spanish-speaking customers for services they didn’t order. In May, GTE hired former California Supreme Court Chief Justice Malcolm Lucas to conduct an inquiry after the California Public Utilities Commission started investigating the charges. Lucas’ subsequent report, which was submitted to the commission Oct. 30, said a “small number” of GTE California employees acted improperly by altering a document requested by the commission and by misleading the CPUC in other ways. A spokesman declined to say how many employees were involved or what the discipline would be. GTE shares rose 88 cents to close at $43.63 on the New York Stock Exchange.