Case Summaries 
of Importance to Counties

2017 Emergency Communications Districts

  • Hamilton County Emergency Communications District v. BellSouth Telecommunications LLC, (6th Cir. 2017) —Hamilton County Emergency Communications District sued BellSouth for failing to collect and remit 911 charges as required by the Tennessee Emergency Communications District Law.  The federal district court dismissed one of the claims and gave summary judgment to BellSouth on the remaining claims.  On appeal, the Sixth Circuit reversed and remanded the case back to the district court.  The Court found that the 911 law created an implied private right of action for the emergency communications district to sue BellSouth for failing to comply with the statute.  In addition, the Court found that there is no “bad faith” requirement in the Tennessee False Claims Act, contrary to what the district court held (March 24, 2017).  
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