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The trend of intercepting and/or recording the mobile phone calls of celebrities, politicians and newsworthy people doesn't seem to be abating despite high-profile prosecutions of people and organizations who regularly break these laws.

The latest victim is pop singer LeeAnn Rimes, who is in the process of suing two women, Kimberly and Lexi Smiley, a mother and daughter, for secretly taping mobile phone calls with the singer without her consent. The Smileys are reportedly friends of Brandi Glanville, Rimes' husband's ex-wife.

The website Ace Showbiz is reporting that Rimes is accusing the defendants of recording her phone call without her consent, a practice that is illegal under California law. Rimes is seeking more than $25,000 in damages for the recorded conversation, which was ultimately posted on the Internet and led to cyber-bullying of the singer. She is also seeking to have the tape of the call blocked from further distribution on the Internet.

“The making of the unauthorized recording and the posting of it and edited excerpts of it on various websites have resulted in a public and damaging depiction of Ms. Rimes, have harmed her reputation and personal relationships, and have caused her emotional distress,” said a spokesperson for the singer.

The conversations were reportedly tapes in March of this year. In their defense, the Smileys are claiming the lawsuit is a publicity stunt and that they did not seek to profit from recording the telephone calls.

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