By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services via YourWestValley.com
The state’s high court won’t force the phone company to pay for $2 million in losses suffered by U.S. Airways because of a mistake that shut down the airlines reservations systems and affected 1,360 flights nationwide.
In a brief order Wednesday, the Supreme Court upheld the findings of the state Court of Appeals that the only thing Qwest Communications — now Century Link — owes to the airline is the cost of services it did not get. And that, the court concluded, is just $586.40.
The action of the court affects more than U.S. Airways, now merged with American Airlines. It essentially sets a legal precedent that could preclude other businesses and individuals from recovering their utility-caused losses.
At issue is a 2009 project to construct carports in a parking lot adjacent to the airline’s data center in Tempe.
