Arizona CenturyLink, Sprint Cable Line Class Action Website is Up

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A website has been established to notify Arizona landowners of updates to a Sprint, CenturyLink fiber-optic cable class action lawsuit.

While the website is live, it is not accepting claims yet. Top Class Actions will provide claim filing instructions as soon as they become available.

Meanwhile, viewers will receive an email notice when this article is updated with more information by using a free Top Class Actions account and clicking the “Follow Article” button at the top of the post.

Sprint, CenturyLink, WilTel Communications and Level 3 Communications agreed to settle claims that the companies obtained authorization to install fiber-optic cable along railroad rights of way from rail companies that did not have the authority to approve the action.

This settlement takes the form of around $3 million that will be payed to landowners and be used to cover attorneys fees. Preliminary approval and Class Certification of the CenturyLink, Sprint class action settlement was granted in November 2018. 

Class Members include landowners or former landowners in the following Arizona counties: “Cochise, Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, or Yuma that is next to or under a railroad right of way where Telecommunications Facilities have been installed by Sprint, CenturyLink, WilTel, or Level 3 Communications.”

Under the terms of the proposed settlement, Class Members are expected to get $1.16 per linear foot of property that they own next to the railroad.

The proposed CenturyLink, Sprint cable line settlement will allocate $2 million that will be paid to landowners who say that the companies did not properly obtain permission to install fiber-optic cable along railroad rights of way. Under the proposed deal, the companies will also have to cover attorneys’ fees, bringing the settlement total to around $3.8 million.

This settlement would resolve one of dozens of similar fiber-optic cable class action lawsuits filed against Sprint and other companies since 2001. Allegedly, the companies failed to receive proper authorization from landowners for installing fiber-optic cable along rail corridors in numerous instances.

In 46 of these comparable access rights class action lawsuits, similar settlements have been reached.

According to the landowners, the rail companies that granted the telecommunications companies access to install cable did not have authority to license third-parties to access the land for communications purposes.

According to the motion, the proposed settlement deal would cover 2,632 parcels of land in Arizona that cover 334 linear miles of rights of way.

This settlement deal is not the first attempt by the landowners and the companies to reach a settlement. They failed to receive approval for two proposed settlements — reached in 2004 and 2009. 

Landowners who wish to wish to contact the claims administrator can do so by calling 1-877-900-9196.

If you believe you are a Class Member, register with the Claims Administrator to get a Claim Form once the settlement is approved. Register online by clicking here or by calling 1-877-900-9196.

The landowners are represented by John D. Curtis II of Burch & Cracchiolo PA, Dan Millea of Zelle LLP, Nels Ackerson of Ackerson Kauffman Fex PC, Henry J. Price of Price Wiacukauski Joven & Catlin LLC, Scott D. Gilchrist and Irwin Levin of Cohen & Malad LLP, and Roger C. Johnson of Koonz McKenny Johnson DePaolis & Lightfoot LLP.

The CenturyLink, Sprint Fiber-Optic Cable Authorization Class Action Lawsuit is Sample, et al. v. CenturyLink Communications LLC, et al., Case No. 4:16-cv-00624-RM, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona.