Is it illegal to request a phone number that was deactivated do to business bankruptcy?

I asked my phone company to give an account with a number that had been used buy a competitor that was going through bankruptcy. The phone company gave me the phone number I requested. He says that the number was owned jointly by his company and the bankruptcy court. Have I violated any laws? Is this criminal theft, or could he have a viable civil case against me simply for requesting a phone number that was "disconnected or no longer in use." Even if he has a case against the phone company does he have a case against me? If the phone company takes the line from me do I have a case against them?