Charter Spectrum Hit with Combined $7.37 Billion Verdict for Robbery, Murder of Elderly Woman by Cable Installer

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Charter Communications (NASDAQ: CHTR) faces a staggering $7.37 billion verdict, including $7 billion in punitive damages, for systemic safety failures leading to the robbery and murder of an elderly woman by a cable repairman. A jury found the company 90% responsible, reflecting gross negligence in hiring practices and a pattern of violence against customers. Evidence presented revealed Charter's use of forged documents to deny a jury trial, heightening concerns over public safety and the company's disregard for customer welfare.

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• $7.37 billion verdict, including $7 billion punitive damages
• 90% liability for death due to systemic safety failures
• Use of forged documents to avoid a public trial
• Pattern of thefts (over 2,500 incidents) by employees
• Gross negligence in hiring process and safety practices

Verdict includes punitive damages for use of forged documents in attempt to prevent jury trial

DALLAS, July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Charter Communications (NASDAQ: CHTR) was hit with a combined $7.37 billion verdict – including $7 billion meant to punish the company – for systemic safety failures that led to the robbery and stabbing death of an 83-year-old woman by a cable repairman and for using forged documents to try to keep a jury from hearing the lawsuit.

"This was a shocking breach of faith by a company that sends workers inside millions of homes every year," said trial lawyer Chris Hamilton of Dallas-based Hamilton Wingo. "The jury in this case was thoughtful and attentive to the evidence. This verdict justly reflects the extensive evidence regarding the nature of the harm caused by Charter Spectrum's gross negligence and reckless misconduct. For the safety of the American public, we can only hope that Charter Spectrum and its shareholders are listening."

Trial testimony revealed that Charter Spectrum hired Roy Holden without verifying his employment history, which would have revealed that he had lied about his work history. In the weeks before he robbed and murdered Betty Thomas inside her Irving home, supervisors ignored a series of red flags, including Mr. Holden's own written pleas to upper management for help because of severe distress over financial and family problems.

Jurors agreed that Charter Spectrum's actions were the "proximate cause" of Ms. Thomas death, and found Charter Spectrum 90% responsible for the death, given Charter Spectrum's continued refusal to correct its negligent safety practices despite a repeated pattern of violence against innocent customers by its field techs over a period of years.

Jurors agreed that after Ms. Thomas' grieving family filed a lawsuit, Charter Spectrum attorneys used a forged document to try to force the lawsuit into a closed-door arbitration where the results would have been secret and damages for the murder would have been limited to the amount of Ms. Thomas's final bill. The jury found that Charter Spectrum committed forgery beyond a reasonable doubt, conduct that constitutes a first-degree felony under Texas law.

Mr. Holden performed a service call in Ms. Thomas' home the day before her Dec. 2019 murder. Although Charter contended he was off-duty the following day, he managed to learn that Ms. Thomas had reported that she was still having problems with her service and used his company key card to enter a Charter Spectrum secured vehicle lot and drove his Charter Spectrum van to her house. Once inside, while fixing her fax machine, the victim, Ms. Thomas, caught the field tech stealing her credit cards from her purse. The Charter Spectrum field tech, Roy Holden, then brutally stabbed the 83-year-old customer with a utility knife supplied by Charter Spectrum and went on a spending spree with her credit cards.

Charter Spectrum's employees admitted at trial the field tech's theft and crimes against the victim began while he was on duty and in the course and scope of his employment the day before. The company's employees further admitted that there was a pattern of thefts by Charter Spectrum employees against customers (more than 2,500 in the preceding several years), which the company refused to investigate or report to police.

"Charter Spectrum had too many chances to prevent this tragedy, and the company showed a complete disregard for the safety of its customers. Worse, the trial reveals how vulnerable Charter Spectrum customers remain today at the hands of a company that appears not to care about public safety," said Hamilton Wingo trial lawyer Ray Khirallah. "This verdict fairly reflects the extent of the evidence against Charter Spectrum and the dangerous nature of the company's serious misconduct and violations of the law."

The case is William Goff et al. v. Roy James Holden, Jr and Charter Communications, Cause No. CC-20-01579. In addition to the Hamilton Wingo trial team, the plaintiffs were represented by the Law Offices of Brad Jackson and Mullen & Mullen. 

ABOUT HAMILTON WINGO

Hamilton Wingo, LLP, is a nationally recognized plaintiff's trial firm based in Dallas. Our trial lawyers specialize in representing people and companies in high-stakes complex litigation. Our clients are more than cases; we strive to provide top-rated customer service and the best experience for our clients. We have obtained hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements across the country.

Contact:
Robert Tharp
robert@androvett.com
214-420-6011

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SOURCE Hamilton Wingo, LLP

FAQ

What is the recent verdict against Charter Communications (CHTR)?

Charter Communications was ordered to pay a combined $7.37 billion verdict, including $7 billion in punitive damages, for negligence related to the murder of an elderly woman.

What led to Charter Communications being found liable for $7.37 billion?

The company was found liable due to systemic safety failures, including hiring practices that ignored red flags regarding an employee who later committed robbery and murder.

What percentage of liability did the jury assign to Charter Communications (CHTR) in the recent case?

The jury assigned 90% liability to Charter Communications for the death of the elderly woman.

What actions did Charter Communications take to avoid a jury trial?

Charter Communications attempted to use forged documents to force the lawsuit into a closed-door arbitration.

How many theft incidents involving Charter employees were reported?

There were over 2,500 reported theft incidents by Charter employees against customers in recent years.