A Texas jury recently found Charter Communications responsible for $7 billion in damages in a 2019 case in which one of its technicians killed an elderly woman in her home.
Wall Street Magazine A Texas jury this week found Charter Communications guilty of $7 billion in punitive damages after the cable company found one of its employees responsible for robbing and killing an elderly customer in 2019.
Betty Thomas, 83, hired Roy Holden Jr., a cable technician for Charter. was killed by Holden does business at Thomas’ house and returns the next day, where he steals credit cards from Thomas’ wallet and stabs him with a tool from his company’s toolbox.
Holden pleaded guilty in April 2021 and was sentenced to life in prison. Holden was on leave when he killed Thomas, but he was wearing a Charter uniform and driving a shuttle van. A few weeks ago, a jury awarded the Thomas family $375 million in damages, 90 percent of which is Charter. On Tuesday, the jury awarded $7 billion in punitive damages.
“This is a remarkable amount of punitive damages. I think this judgment will have a very short lifespan,” said Brian Kabatek, a California attorney. Kabatek pointed out that the sentence previously given by the Supreme Court should not exceed 10 times the compensation multiplier.
“Usually in punitive damages cases, the judges are the 13th jury because they have the discretion to either uphold or reverse the decision entirely. “I hope this judge will probably be vague about the size of this sentence and possibly reduce it,” he said.
W. Mark Lanier, a Texas civil litigation attorney, said, “These punitive damages are never paid – they are always reduced. They talk about how disappointed the jury was with the ugly facts.”
A spokesperson for Charter said: “Our hearts go out to Ms. Thomas’ family after this senseless and tragic crime. Responsibility for this disgusting act is only Mr. We thank Holden, who is off duty, for his life sentence. While we respect the jury and the justice system, we strongly disagree with the verdict and will appeal.”
Chris Hamilton, attorney for Hamilton Wingo LLP, which represents the Thomas family, argues that there is overwhelming evidence that Charter’s negligence led to crime and that Holden raised multiple red flags in the days leading up to the crime.
A spokesperson for Charter commented: “Plaintiff’s allegations that Charter was wrongful are absolutely false.” The spokesperson added that the company did a thorough background check of Holden’s criminal history before he was hired, and that “no arrests, convictions, or other criminal behavior has come across”. There’s nothing wrong with Bey’s acting. After his admission, Holden suggested that he could have committed the crime he had committed.”
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Source: Breitbart
