Texas Jury Says 83-Year-Old Grandmother Was Murdered By Cable Installer

[army judge]

Jurisdiction

Texas

Convicted murderer, Holden


The deceased victim, Betty Thomas

Charter Spectrum is paying $7.37 billion for "systemic safety failures" and punitive damages in the robbery and stabbing death of an 83-year-old Texas woman, according to an announcement on Tuesday.

Roy Holden, a Charter Spectrum cable installer, had performed a service call in Betty Thomas' home the day before her Dec. 2019 murder.

Trial testimony revealed Holden, who went on to rob and murder Thomas in her Irving home, was hired without employment history verification - which "would have revealed that he had lied about his work history," according to Dallas-based Hamilton Wingo trial lawyers.

When caught by Thomas in her home the next day, he stabbed her with a utility knife supplied by Charter Spectrum, according to the announcement.

"This was a shocking breach of faith by a company that sends workers inside millions of homes every year," said trial lawyer Chris Hamilton.

The verdict includes punitive damages for use of forged documents in an attempt to prevent a jury trial, according to the law office.

"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," said the announcement.

The jury found that Charter Spectrum committed forgery beyond a reasonable doubt, conduct that constitutes a first–degree felony under Texas law."

https://www.kxxv.com/hometown/texas...-employee-robbed-stabbed-texas-woman-to-death
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[justblue]

Pretty frightening...One should be able to trust that companies do background checks on the people they send into customers homes.

 

[army judge]

Pretty frightening...One should be able to trust that companies do background checks on the people they send into customers homes.

Agreed, which is one reason the jury awarded the huge verdict.

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

I agree that Charter should be held responsible. But $7.37 Billion? How is that possibly justified?

 

[justblue]

I agree that Charter should be held responsible. But $7.37 Billion? How is that possibly justified?

Because they (Charter) forged documents to cover up their f-uppery.

 

[army judge]

I agree that Charter should be held responsible. But $7.37 Billion? How is that possibly justified?

Charter Spectrum behaved dishonestly, attempted the most foul legal chicanery against the court and plaintiff's counsel.

Yes, the judgment appears huge, until their fraud and bullying is revealed.

Charter Spectrum wanted to sweep their negligence and fraud under the rug and bully the plaintiffs into accepting a paltry settlement.

"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," said the announcement.

"This was a shocking breach of faith by a company that sends workers inside millions of homes every year," said trial lawyer Chris Hamilton.

The verdict includes punitive damages for use of forged documents in an attempt to prevent a jury trial, according to the law office.

"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," said the announcement.

The jury found that Charter Spectrum committed forgery beyond a reasonable doubt, conduct that constitutes a first–degree felony under Texas law."

 

[adjusterjack]

I'd like to see corporate execs go to jail for that kind of "f-uppery."

(Great word, Blue.)

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

I agree individuals took part in criminal acts and should be prosecuted.

 

[army judge]

I'd like to see corporate execs go to jail for that kind of "f-uppery."

(Great word, Blue.)

I agree.

The lawless law firm that created the forgery and perpetrated the fraud upon the court should also pay a huge price.

The attorneys responsible for the felonious filings should also be held accountable for their gross misconduct!!!

 

[Tax Counsel]

I agree that Charter should be held responsible. But $7.37 Billion? How is that possibly justified?

It probably isn't justified. I expect the award will be knocked down considerably on appeal.