A lawsuit filed on September 20, 2024, in the Eighth Judicial District Court of Clark County, Nevada, by Brass Monkey, LLC, the owner of the 80-year-old Huntridge Theater, against Crown Castle Inc. and AT&T Wireless Services threatens to delay the long-anticipated renovation of the historic landmark in downtown Las Vegas. The lawsuit alleges that a cell tower at the back …
AT&T to reel in 107,000 pounds of lead cables from Lake Tahoe
AT&T has agreed to remove approximately 107,000 pounds of lead cables that have been submerged in Lake Tahoe for decades as part of a settlement announced last week. The decision follows a lawsuit filed by the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA) in 2021, which claimed that the cables were leaching toxic lead into the lake, posing risks to the environment …
Beyond Telecom: Goodman Networks’ defrocked Frinzi reinvents himself in the arms trade
James Frinzi’s journey through the business world, from lobbying for the defense minister of Indonesia and officials in Qatar, has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows, marked by his rapid ascent as CEO of Goodman Networks, allegations of fraud, embezzlement, and corporate misconduct, and a dramatic downfall that stripped him of his ill-gained assets and pushed him to explore …
Luxury lifestyles, no bars: America’s wealthiest town in Texas blocks cell tower, Vertical Bridge lawsuit alleges
If you reside in Westlake, Texas, you’re part of the wealthiest community in the state, where the average home sells for nearly $5 million, and the mean household income soars to $508,000. In this exclusive enclave, dandelions dare not blemish the meticulously manicured lawns; luxury is the norm. However, even in a town that Forbes once named the most affluent …
T-Mobile’s overtime calculation practices challenged in class action lawsuit initiated by Florida technician
T-Mobile USA, Inc., is facing a collective action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, alleging Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) violations. The lawsuit, initiated by plaintiff Olvin Gomez from Palm Beach County, Florida, represents himself and similarly situated employees and claims that T-Mobile failed to calculate and pay the correct overtime rates …
In mixed ruling, Ninth Circuit invalidates FCC’s concealment provision, citing procedural missteps
On Friday, the United States Court of Appeals three-judge panel for the Ninth Circuit issued a mixed ruling in a case brought by several California cities and organizations against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding its 2020 Ruling that clarified regulations for modifying wireless communication facilities.” The ruling is a response to a 2020 FCC clarification of its existing rules …
FTC’s non-compete ban on hold after Texas Federal Judge declares rule is overreaching
In a momentous legal development, a federal judge in Texas has halted the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ‘s new rule aimed at facilitating employees’ transition to competitors. The ruling, delivered on August 20, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Ada Brown, is a significant win for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other plaintiffs who contested the FTC’s authority to enact …
Trustee alleges complex fraud scheme in Goodman Networks bankruptcy case
Scott M. Seidel, Trustee of the Goodman Networks, Inc. bankruptcy estate, has filed a detailed and compelling complaint in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, against Symbiont Ventures, LLC, formerly known as Goodman Investment Holdings, LLC. The complaint, filed on July 29, 2024, before Judge Michelle V. Larson, alleges a complex scheme of …
Court says workers’ compensation law provides SAC with immunity from tower site electrocution lawsuit
The Eleventh Circuit, a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, on Wednesday, declined to renew a lawsuit against SAC Wireless LLC by a crane oiler who was electrocuted and seriously injured while helping remove a crane from an American Tower site in Georgia. The court ruled that the worker was an employee …
Ericsson faces class action lawsuit by tower techs for unpaid wages stemming from meal break deductions
Ericsson, Inc. is facing a class action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The lawsuit, initiated by tower technicians Ryan Brewer and Kenneth Wiles on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, accuses Ericsson of failing to pay appropriate wages and overtime to its hourly tower technicians across the United States. According …
Dish adds another cut to the possibility of the contracting industry’s ‘death by a thousand cuts’
In a recent legal battle, Dish Wireless Inc. emerged victorious against Crown Castle USA Inc., with a Denver jury ruling on April 11, 2024, that Dish did not violate the 30-year master lease agreement between the two companies. The dispute centered around Dish’s use of an additional three feet of space on cell tower sites, which Crown Castle claimed should …
American Tower is gaveled a $4 million award: Court says yes, tenant’s wallet says no
In a recent decision from the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney granted a motion for default judgment in favor of American Tower Corp. against TPT SpeedConnect LLC (TPT), a subsidiary of TPT Global Tech, Inc (TPTG). The court’s ruling, issued on June 11, 2024, orders TPT to pay a sum of almost …
Five fiber cuts near Florida’s Lion Country Safari resulted in a lawsuit filed by Crown Castle
Near the renowned Lion Country Safari in South Florida, Crown Castle Fiber LLC (Crown Castle) has laid miles of crucial fiber optic cables along the bustling State Road 80. A lawsuit recently filed in the Southern District of Florida reveals a disturbing pattern — underground utility contractor DP Development, LLC (DPD) has not only caused significant damage but has done …
Judge throws out Vertical Bridge’s trade secret lawsuit against Everest Infrastructure in Pennsylvania
The United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania has dismissed the lawsuit filed by Vertical Bridge REIT, LLC and its subsidiaries against Everest Infrastructure Partners, Inc. The lawsuit, which included allegations of trade secret misappropriation, violations of the Lanham Act, and other claims, was dismissed without prejudice by Judge W. Scott Hardy. Vertical Bridge initially filed the …
Legal battle heats up as Bloosurf sues T-Mobile over alleged spectrum interference
In a high-stakes legal battle that could set a precedent for the telecommunications industry, Bloosurf LLC has filed a lawsuit against T-Mobile USA, Inc. and its subsidiary TDI Acquisition Sub, LLC. The lawsuit, lodged in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, accuses T-Mobile of purposefully interfering with Bloosurf’s fixed wireless broadband operations on the Eastern Shore, resulting in …
Department of Labor’s new rule could transfer $1.5 Billion to workers in overtime pay
A new rule from the US Department of Labor unveiled on Tuesday will extend overtime eligibility to millions of salaried workers by raising the salary threshold in two phases. Starting July 1, the threshold will be set at $43,888 annually or $844 per week. It will increase to $58,656, or $1,128 per week, beginning January 1, 2025. According to the …
Senator Cruz leads opposition to FCC’s plan to fund Wi-Fi on school buses, citing legal overreach and safety concerns
In a significant legal challenge, U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz, along with several Republican senators, has filed an amicus brief in the Fifth Circuit, opposing the Biden administration’s move to extend the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) E-Rate program to include funding for Wi-Fi on school buses. The lawsuit, titled Molak v. FCC, has been instigated by parents …
Everest’s defense in Vertical Bridge’s trade secrets theft lawsuit is they weren’t even close to trade secrets
In an April 3, 2024, Western District of Pennsylvania court filing, Everest Infrastructure Partners moved to dismiss an amended complaint filed by Vertical Bridge, arguing that the trade secrets Everest is accused of stealing and benefitting from were not secrets. Vertical Bridge filed a lawsuit against competitor Everest last June, alleging that it ran an unfair “multi-million dollar scheme to …
Over 3 feet, Dish and Crown Castle’s MLA marriage is on the rocks and a Denver trial will decide its fate
When Dish Wireless announced its infrastructure partnership with Crown Castle to lease space on up to 20,000 towers in 2020, it was an engagement arranged by Dish’s EVP of network development, Dave Mayo, that married the two companies to a 30-year commitment. However, marriage vows aren’t always everlasting, and Crown Castle has decided to move on – into a Denver …
Alabama contractor’s tower crews to share in an expected $120 million windfall from an unexpected fine art find
All 22 employees of a four-crew wireless contracting firm in Bessemer, Alabama, are about to get a financial windfall so huge that they wake up each morning rereading a letter from Sotheby’s to ensure it’s not a dream. Each is on the verge of claiming at least $5.45 million, thanks to the auction of an Edvard Munch masterpiece, “The Scream.” …
