Time Warner Cable sues LA for pursuing back fees

In mid-March, Speed Matters reported that the city of Los Angeles had taken cable giant Time Warner to court over  outstanding franchise fees. LA said the company collects a half billion dollars a year from Angelinos and hadn’t paid for use of city rights-of-way.

But Time Warner didn’t become a $30 billion a year enterprise by caving in to lawsuits – merited or not. Instead TW countersued Los Angeles, claiming, that the city is really demanding the money from subscribers who are already taxpayers. “Not only do TWC’s customers not owe the city any more money; they are entitled to refunds of overpayments to the city,” said the suit filed in federal court.

A spokesman for city attorney Mike Feuer fired back, saying the countersuit was “designed to distract attention from our allegations that Time Warner owes the taxpayers of Los Angeles millions of dollars.”

Los Angeles sues Time Warner Cable for back fees (Speed Matters, Mar.  18, 2014)

Time Warner Cable Countersues Los Angeles Over Franchise Fees (Variety, May 15, 2014)