Los Alamitos : City Files Suit in Bid to Cut Back Cable TV Fees

Calling a rate increase for cable television a breach of contract, the city filed a lawsuit Friday against Rogers Cablesystems in an effort to force the company to roll back rates to their previous level.

The suit is similar, but not identical, to one filed by Garden Grove against the cable company on Dec. 10, Los Alamitos City Manager Mike Graziano said. Both cities have hired the same special counsel, William Marticorena, to work with the city attorneys on the lawsuits.

Marticorena said the suit also seeks rebates for subscribers “who paid the excess rates.”

The city’s “game plan” is to “bring the case to a judgment as quickly as possible,” he said. That goal can probably be accomplished “within a couple of months,” he said.

Los Alamitos City Atty. Tom Allen said the Superior Court suit against Rogers involves “a basic contract issue.”

Rogers imposed similar rate hikes on the two cities last year. Rates in Garden Grove went up Oct. 1, followed by Los Alamitos a month later. Basic cable television service increased from $9.95 to $11.95 per month, and special services such as Home Box Office rose from $8.95 to $9.95. Additionally, the monthly fee for extra outlets went from $4.95 to $5.75.