Family of woman killed by cable employee issued $7B award
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A jury has issued a $7 billion punitive damages award against a cable company to the family of an 83-year-old woman who was murdered by one of its employees.
According to news reports, in 2019 Roy James Holden Jr., an employee of Stamford, Connecticut-based Charter Communications LLC, which operates under the name Spectrum, paid a service visit to Betty Thomas.
He returned the next day while off the clock wearing his company uniform and driving a company van and stabbed her to death with a company-issued knife. He is now serving a life sentence.
In June, a Dallas jury awarded Ms. Thomas’ family $375 million in compensatory damages. A second trial on punitive damages led to Tuesday’s $7 billion verdict.
Plaintiff attorney Chris Hamilton, of Dallas-based Hamilton Wingo LLP, said in a statement that the verdict “justly reflects the extensive evidence regarding the nature of the harm caused by Charter Spectrum’s gross negligence and reckless misconduct.”
Spectrum said in a statement, “The responsibility for this horrible act rests solely with Mr. Holden, who was not on duty, and we are grateful he is in prison for life. While we respect the jury and the justice system, we strongly disagree with the verdict and will appeal.”
The statement said, “The law in Texas and the facts presented at trial clearly show this crime was not foreseeable — and the plaintiffs’ claims of wrongdoing by Charter are categorically false.”
