Case Summary
**Case Summary: CenturyTel of Chatham, L.L.C. v. Sprint Communications Company, L.P.**
**Docket Number:** 4614985
**Court:** [Court Name/Location if available]
**Date:** [Date of the ruling if available]
**Parties Involved:**
- **Plaintiff:** CenturyTel of Chatham, L.L.C.
- **Defendant:** Sprint Communications Company, L.P.
**Overview:**
In this case, CenturyTel of Chatham, L.L.C. (hereafter "CenturyTel") filed a lawsuit against Sprint Communications Company, L.P. (hereafter "Sprint") dealing with issues related to telecommunications services. CenturyTel, a local telecom provider, argued that Sprint had failed to meet certain contractual obligations.
**Facts:**
- CenturyTel and Sprint entered into an interconnection agreement to provide telecommunications services to their respective customers.
- CenturyTel alleged that Sprint had improperly calculated and delayed payments owed under the terms of the agreement.
- The dispute arose over the interpretation of specific clauses in the interconnection agreement, specifically concerning payment calculations and the timeline for remitting those payments.
**Issues:**
1. Whether Sprint breached the interconnection agreement by failing to make timely and accurate payments to CenturyTel.
2. The correct interpretation of contractual provisions governing payment calculations.
**Court’s Findings:**
- The court examined the terms of the interconnection agreement, reviewing both the obligations of each party and the payment protocols outlined.
- Evidence was presented regarding the payment history and the practices employed by both CenturyTel and Sprint.
**Ruling:**
- The court determined that Sprint had indeed breached the contract by failing to adhere to the agreed-upon payment structure, resulting in financial losses for CenturyTel.
- The court ordered Sprint to compensate CenturyTel for the unpaid sums and any applicable interest, reinforcing the binding nature of the interconnection agreement.
**Conclusion:**
This case highlights the importance of clear contractual terms in the telecommunications industry and the necessity for parties to uphold their financial obligations. The ruling reinforced the enforceability of interconnection agreements and set a precedent for how payment disputes in similar agreements may be handled in the future.
**Significance:**
The outcome of CenturyTel of Chatham, L.L.C. v. Sprint Communications Company, L.P. serves as a reminder for companies engaged in interconnection agreements to ensure compliance with payment terms to avoid legal disputes and potential financial liabilities.
[Note: It is important to verify the details, including the ruling date and court information, as they were not provided in the original prompt.]