Calif. City Complaint on Charter Carriage Fight Now in Federal Court
El Centro, California, -- being sued in U.S. District Court by Charter Communications for allegedly interfering in the cable company's carriage dispute with Northwest Broadcasting (see 1804060003) -- is now pursuing its own complaint against the operator. Charter, in a…
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Communications Daily is required reading for senior executives at top telecom corporations, law firms, lobbying organizations, associations and government agencies (including the FCC). Join them today!
docket 18-cv-00785-JLS-BLM removal notice (in Pacer) Monday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, said the March El Centro complaint should move from California Superior Court to federal court because the civil penalties being sought could exceed $75,000 and because Charter is headquartered in Connecticut. Outside counsel for the city said Thursday that removal is automatic, though it has 30 days from the filing of a notice of removal to file a motion to remand. El Centro said Charter was violating the California False Claims Act in removal of two Northwest Broadcasting affiliates from its channel lineup without then reimbursing the city, a Charter subscriber. It said the operator continues to bill the city in full despite "knowingly submitting false claims for payment." The company didn't comment Thursday.