Background

Country Place Homes (complainant) is a residential real estate brokerage firm. Complainant formerly operated under a Century 21 franchise. Cendant Corporation (Cendant) is the parent marketing company for Century 21. Complainant is represented by its president and owner, Bernice Cannutt (Cannutt).

On May 18, 1999, complainant filed this complaint against Pacific Bell (Pacific) alleging that Pacific disconnected complainant's telephone service without Cannutt's authorization, request or knowledge, and further, that Pacific refused to restore service. Consequently, complainant alleges it had to close down a 21-year-old business and incurred severe financial loss.

On July 26, 1999, a prehearing conference (PHC) was held in Palmdale, California.