The state of Missouri is suing a media provider, alleging illegal telemarketing practices.
The state of Missouri, ex rel. Attorney General Chris Koster, a lawsuit Oct. 19, in U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri Eastern Division against Charter Communications, Inc, doing business as Charter Communications, alleging violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR), The Missouri No-Call Law (MNCL), and the Missouri Telemarketing Practices Law (MTPL).
According to the complaint, Charter, a business that provides cable television, residential and commercial Internet, and telephone services throughout the country, employs third party telemarketers, some of which includes companies like Empereon Marketing, SatCom Marketing, MarketLink Inc. to try and engage potential customers.
However, Missouri alleges many of the people who are called are on the Missouri-do-not-call list or the federal do-not-call list. The suit says many of the Missouri residents have never had any association with Charter and did not give express prior permission for Charter and its affiliates to contact them. Missouri alleges Charter continued to call these consumers even after they requested Charter to stop calling.
Missouri seeks an injunction to prevent Charter from continuing to violate the specific laws, $16,000 for each violation of the TSR, $500 in civil penalties for each violation of the TCPA, treble damages for each violation of the TCPA if the court finds Charter willingly conducted its unlawful acts, civil penalties of up to $5,000 for every violation of Missouri statutes, full court costs and any other relief deemed just by the court. Missouri is represented by Attorney General Koster, assistant attorney general Mary B. Clark and assistant attorney general Mary Delworth Morris.
U.S. District Court Missouri Eastern District Court Eastern Division case number 4:15-cv-01593-RLW.