CONCORD, N.H. -- The New Hampshire Supreme Court has ruled that cable television is a protected utility service under state law that can't be shut off during landlord-tenant disputes.

The court on Friday reversed a trial court judge's decision to dismiss a claim by Christopher Lally, who was being evicted by his landlord last year and lost the cable connection. The landlord, Lauren Flieder, argued that the cable provider told her Lally's apartment was receiving the service through an illegal connection, so she disconnected the wire.

The state Supreme Court found the law regards cable TV as a protected service and that Flieder's action basically amounted to a self-help eviction, which is illegal in most states, including New Hampshire. It sent the case back to the trial court for further review.

It's not the LLs job to police the cable.