LA Sues Time Warner Over Flaky Service

Time Warner's exceptionally poor reputation in Los Angeles has led the city attorney to file suit against the company, claiming it violated a franchise agreement.

Los Angeles consumers might not have much choice when it comes to cable service – Time Warner has been the major player in town since 2006 when it took over Comcast and Adelphia – but that doesn’t mean they’re happy about it. In fact, LA residents have been so rankled by the company’s takeover that the city of Los Angeles is actually suing Time Warner, claiming its poor service has caused “major havoc and distress.”

According to the Los Angeles Times, city attorney Rocky Delgadillo will lead the city’s legal crusade against Time Warner in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleging that the company engaged in fraudulent advertising and offered shoddy customer service. For instance, while the franchise agreement that Time Warner agreed to stipulated that it would answer 90 percent of service calls within 24 hours, the city claims that figure never reached over 60 percent in practice.

"Hundreds of thousands of Los Angeles residents were ripped off," Delgadillo said in a statement. "Time Warner must be held accountable for its promises." The New York Times reports that Delgadillo will seek $2,500 for each violation of Time Warner’s franchise agreement, a figure that could add up to millions for the company.