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A Dallas County choose has dominated that telecommunications firm, Constitution Communications, has to pay the household of a lady that was murdered by one of many firm’s cable employees $1.5 billion.
Betty Thomas, 83, was murdered in her Irving, Texas dwelling by Constitution cable tech Roy Holden in December 2019. Holden, who had visited Thomas’ dwelling on a home name the day prior, returned to her dwelling the subsequent day in uniform the place he tried to rob her earlier than in the end killing her with a knife.
Whereas on trial, it was discovered that Constitution “ignored numerous purple flags” on behalf of Holden, together with that he was fired a number of occasions prior on account of “misconduct.”
It was additionally found that the corporate cast a service settlement on behalf of Thomas after she had been murdered “in an try to pressure the lawsuit into arbitration” which might have set the utmost variety of damages Constitution may have paid at below $200, based on plaintiffs’ legal professional.
“We’re grateful that, after cautious consideration and assessment of the regulation and trial document, the Court docket entered judgment ordering Constitution to pay greater than $1 billion in complete damages to the sufferer’s household,” mentioned Chris Hamilton, lead trial lawyer. “The ultimate judgment consists of findings that Constitution additional dedicated felony forgery in inflicting hurt to the plaintiffs, which correctly eliminates the cap on punitive damages below Texas regulation.”
Constitution, nevertheless, is just not happening with no combat.
The corporate is making an attempt to attraction the decision, based on The Hollywood Reporter, although this week’s verdict is a discount from the unique $7.38 billion Constitution was ordered to pay Thomas’ household this previous July.
“We’re dedicated to the security of all our clients and took the required steps, together with an intensive pre-employment prison background test — which confirmed no arrests, convictions or different prison conduct,” Constitution mentioned in a press release. “Nor did something in Mr. Holden’s efficiency after he was employed counsel he was able to the crime he dedicated, together with greater than 1,000 accomplished service calls with zero buyer complaints about his conduct.”
Holden is presently serving life in jail.
Constitution was down over 51% in a one-year interval as of early Wednesday afternoon.
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