Waste Management of Texas, Inc.

In 1997, following Waste Management’s publication of false statements about TDS and its landfill, TDS sued Waste Management for defamation and other claims. In 2010, a jury found in favor of TDS and awarded $5.45 million in actual damages and $20 million in exemplary damages, finding that Waste Management had knowingly published false and defamatory statements about TDS and its Creedmoor, Texas landfill in 1997 after TDS received approval from the San Antonio City Council, but before the contract was signed for a 30-year landfill disposal and transfer station contract, and during the decision making process for a City of Austin 30 year disposal and recycling services contract. The trial court judge reformed the award to $10.7 million including pre and post judgment interest and both WMI and TDS appealed. The Third Court of Appeals upheld the State District Court judge’s decision and both parties appealed to the State Supreme Court. On May 9, 2014, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of TDS, finding that Waste Management published defamatory statements with malice and caused injury to TDS’s reputation. TDS was awarded $2,025,514.49 on December 19, 2014.

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