Supreme Court of Texas

The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has exclusive jurisdiction over claims that Southwestern Bell Telephone (SWBT) improperly collected the Texas Universal Service Fund (TUSF) surcharge from customers.

Appellate Information

• Argued 01/24/2007
• Decided 08/31/2007
• Published 08/31/2007

Judges

• Chief Justice JEFFERSON delivered the opinion of the Court.

Court

• Supreme Court of Texas

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Philip J. John Jr., Baker & Botts L.L.P., Houston, TX, Shira R. Yoshor, Baker & Botts, Dallas, TX, Mitchell C. Chaney, Rodriguez Colvin & Chaney, Brownsville, TX, Maureen Flaherty McNiece, Southwestern Bell Telephone L.P., San Antonio, TX, Mike A. Hatchell, Charles R. Watson Jr., Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP, Thomas R. Phillips, Baker Botts L.L.P., Austin, TX, Neil E. Norquest, Rodriguez, Colvin, Chaney & Saenz, L.L.P., Edinburg, TX, Chris A. Brisack, Norquest & Brisack, L.L.P., McAllen, TX, for Relator., Ramon Garcia, Law Offices of Ramon Garcia, P.C., Edinburg, TX, Joseph Michael Gourrier, The Gourrier Law Firm, Houston, TX, John R. Griffith, Roy Jesse Elizondo III, Griffith & Garza, LLP, McAllen, TX, for Real Party in Interest., Don R. Richards, Richards & Elder L.L.P., Lubbock, TX, Brook Bennett Brown, McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore, L.L.P., Elizabeth R.B. Sterling, Office of the Attorney General, Austin, TX, for Amicus Curiae.