Adding to this site’s archived case summaries of damages awarded for combat sports piracy, reasons for judgement were released recently by the US District Court, S.D. Texas, Galveston Division, awarding $80,000 in damages and legal fees for the commercial piracy of a UFC Pay Per View program.
In the recent case (Joe Hand Promotions, Inc v. Madres Restaurant LLC) the Defendant displayed UFC 149 in their restaurant without paying the commercial sub licencing fees to the Plaintiff. The Defendant failed to respond to the lawsuit and default judgement was obtained. In awarding $10,000 in statutory damages, $50,000 in enhanced damages and a further $20,000 in legal fees District Judge George Hanks provided the following reasons:
Before the Court is Plaintiff’s Motion for Final Default Judgment and Brief in Support(“Motion”) filed by Plaintiff Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. (“Plaintiff”). Upon consideration of the Motion, the accompanying brief and evidence, the pleadings on file and the relevant authorities, the Court concludes that Plaintiff has established that it is an aggrieved party under the Federal Communications Act, 47 U.S.C. § 605 and recognizes Plaintiff’s election to seek statutory damages. The Court also concludes that it has jurisdiction over the subject matter and parties to this action; that Defendant 1) Madres Restaurant LLC, individually, and d/b/a Madres Mexican Restaurant a/k/a Madres Restaurant (“Defendant”) failed to answer or otherwise defend as provided by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure following proper service; that the allegations in Plaintiff’s Original Complaint are deemed admitted against Defendant; that Defendant exhibited the closed circuit, July 21, 2012 UFC 149: Urijah Faber v. Renan Barao Event, including undercard or preliminary bouts, without authorization from Plaintiff; and that Defendant’s actions were willful and for purposes of direct or indirect commercial advantage or private financial gain. Therefore, additional damages are warranted in this action.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED:
1. That Judgment by default be entered in favor of Plaintiff and against Defendant.
2. That Plaintiff recover statutory damages pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 605(e)(3)(C)(i)(II) from Defendant in the amount of $10,000.00.
3. That Plaintiff recover additional damages pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 605(e)(3)(C)(ii) from Defendant in the amount of $50,000.00.
4. That Plaintiff recover attorneys’ fees from Defendant in the amount of $20,000.00; along with attorney’s fees for post-trial and appellate services.
5. That Plaintiff recover the following conditional awards of attorney’s fees from Defendant in the following circumstances:
a) Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) in the event a defendant a files a motion to vacate, Rule 60 motion, motion for new trial, motion for reconsideration or other post-judgment, pre-appeal motion that does not result in a reversal of the Judgment obtained in this action;
b) Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) in the event a defendant files an appeal to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that does not result in a reversal of the Judgment obtained in this action;
c) Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) in the event a defendant files a motion for rehearing or reconsideration in the Court of Appeals that does not result in a reversal of the Judgment obtained in this action;
d) Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) for making and/or responding to a petition for certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court that does not result in a reversal of the Judgment obtained in this action;
e) Seventy Five Thousand Dollars ($75,000.00) for an appeal to the United States Supreme Court in the event a petition for certiorari review is granted and does not result in a reversal of the Judgment obtained in this action; and
f) For collection of the Judgment, Two Thousand Five Dollars ($2,500.00) each time Plaintiff obtains a writ of execution, writ of garnishment, writ of attachment or other post-judgment writ.
6. The Court also enjoins Defendant from ever intercepting or exhibiting an unauthorized program in violation of the Federal Communications Act.
7. The Court also awards Plaintiff court costs and post-judgment interest on the amounts awarded herein at an annual rate of .52% from the date of this Judgment until paid.
8. All writs and process for the enforcement and collection of this judgment may issue as necessary. In connection with any Writ of Execution in this case, the Court directs the United States Marshals Service to use any means or force reasonably necessary to satisfy this Judgment.
9. This Judgment is a final judgment.
Combat Sports Law 