Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

TexasTowelie

(117,584 posts)
Wed Jul 27, 2022, 09:47 PM Jul 2022

Spectrum ordered to pay $7 billion in punitive damages after employee killed Irving woman

A Dallas County jury on Tuesday ordered Charter Communications to pay $7 billion in punitive damages to the family of an 83-year-old woman who was killed by a technician in her Irving home the day after he helped her with her phone service.

The payment is in addition to $375 million a jury ordered the company to pay in compensatory damages last month. Charter, which also operates as Spectrum, is responsible for 90% of the compensatory payment.

Chris Hamilton, an attorney for the victim’s family, said her relatives were “very grateful” for the verdict.

“It’s a bittersweet day, because they lost their mom in a horrifying, preventable tragedy they’re never going to recover from,” he said. “There is certainly some relief for the family that the public has the ability to know about this danger that their mother didn’t have the opportunity to know about.”

The company said that the technician was solely responsible for the death and that it plans to appeal the verdict.

Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/courts/2022/07/26/spectrum-ordered-to-pay-7-billion-in-punitive-damages-after-employee-killed-irving-woman/

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Spectrum ordered to pay $7 billion in punitive damages after employee killed Irving woman (Original Post) TexasTowelie Jul 2022 OP
7 - Billion Dollars? OAITW r.2.0 Jul 2022 #1
it does seem to be a bit la-la land stopdiggin Jul 2022 #2
The punitive damages will be reduced to $750,000 because of tort law restrictions. TexasTowelie Jul 2022 #4
not a big fan of 'tort reform' stopdiggin Jul 2022 #5
The compensatory damages are also excessive. nt TexasTowelie Jul 2022 #3
Paywall, but if he was on the clock and in her house because of her job, seems straightforward. Shell_Seas Jul 2022 #6
Here is a link without a paywall Trailrider1951 Aug 2022 #7

OAITW r.2.0

(28,711 posts)
1. 7 - Billion Dollars?
Wed Jul 27, 2022, 09:51 PM
Jul 2022

Sorry, seems non-sensical. But, if true, I'm informing my next of kin, I'm worth 98.7 BB.

stopdiggin

(13,020 posts)
2. it does seem to be a bit la-la land
Wed Jul 27, 2022, 10:03 PM
Jul 2022

on the other hand - is there a legal principal that punitive damages may be adjusted - so as to actually incur a desired (and punitive) penalty against the defendant (and their unique financial position)?

(which does kinda make sense. a couple million is 'walking around' money to and entity like Comcast.)

TexasTowelie

(117,584 posts)
4. The punitive damages will be reduced to $750,000 because of tort law restrictions.
Wed Jul 27, 2022, 10:14 PM
Jul 2022

I suspect that most of the compensatory damages will be reduced also.

stopdiggin

(13,020 posts)
5. not a big fan of 'tort reform'
Wed Jul 27, 2022, 11:26 PM
Jul 2022

(to my way of thinking - if you're looking for a place where the wealthy and powerful are exercising privilege and tilting the scales ... here ya' go.)

But thank you for the info and explanation anyway. Nice to have solid information.

Shell_Seas

(3,474 posts)
6. Paywall, but if he was on the clock and in her house because of her job, seems straightforward.
Thu Jul 28, 2022, 08:03 AM
Jul 2022

Also, did he have a past criminal record? If he did, the employer should have known about it.

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Texas»Spectrum ordered to pay $...