Free Letter - District Court of Delaware - Delaware

Case 1 :04-cv-00962-Gl\/IS Document 15 Filed 03/07/2005 Page 1 of 3
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VIA HAND DELIVERY AND E—FILING
The Honorable Gregory M. Sleet
U.S. District Court
844 North King Street, Room 4209
Lock Box 19
Wilmington, DE 19801
Re: DIRECTV vs. Donald Hail
C.A. No. 04-962
Dear Judge Sieet:
Plaintiff DIRECTV, Inc. ("D1RECTV") hereby submits this letter brief, pursuant to the
Court’s request at the hearing held on February 25, 2005 concerning DIRECTV’s October 25,
2004 Request for Entry of Default against Defendant Donald Hall (“I~1ai1”).
With regards to tlie amount of damages requested by DIRECTV, the vast majority ot`
Courts to consider the amount of damages DIRECTV may recover on default pursuant to 18
U.S.C. § 2520 have granted DIRECTV’s request for $10,000 per violation. See, eg., DIRECTV
v. T/20112a.s Roberts, Civil Action No. 03-610-A (E.D. Va. October 7, 2003) (Report and
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DIRECTV v. Alan Plotkin, Civil Action No. 3:04CV658WN (S.D. Miss. February 25, 2005)
(Default Judgment granting DIRECTV $20,000 in dentult damages and $850.00 in attorneys’
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Case 1:04-cv-00962-Gl\/IS Document 15 Filed 03/07/2005 Page 2 of 3
reuse Courtwnr Sranonrr & Tnvroa, r.rr• -
The Honorable Gregory M. Sleet
March 7, 2005
Page 2
fees attached as Exhibit B); DIRECTV vi Donald C/rybcz, Case No, 04-73072 (ED. Mich. Sept.
29, 2004) (Order Granting Plaintiff" s Motion for Default Judgment granting DIRECTV $10,000
in default damages and $850 in attorneys’ fees attached as Exhibit C); DIRECTV v. Kevin H,
Craig, No. C03··5659 (WD., Wa. February 15, 2005 attached as Exhibit D) (Order Granting
Default Judgment Against Defendant Kevin H. Craig granting DIRECTV $30,000 in default
damages and $850 in attorneys’ fees).
As set forth above, the majority of Courts to have considered the issue have awarded
DIRECTV $10,000 per violation in statutory damages. However, a small minority of
jurisdictions have refused to award DIRECTV any default damages at allr See ag. DIRECT V v.
Van La, Civ, No. 036630 (D. Minn. May l9, 2004) (Memorandum Opinion and Order finding
defendant in default but refusing to award any damages attached as Exhibit E). in cases such as
Van La, the Court accepted as true DIRECTV’s allegations that Van La purchased and used
Pirate Access Devices to steal DIRECTV programming, but refused to award damages because
there was no “evidence" ot`, inter alia, whether Defendant’s "interception resulted in actual
damages to DIREC'I`V," With all due respect to the Van La court, it is axiomatic that DIRECTV
suffers “actual damage" when someone steals its programming, DIRECTV further submits that
to require an evidentiary showing of actual damages would thwart Congress’ intent in creating
statutory damages for violations of the statuter
DIRECTV also requests that it be awarded attorneys’ fees. Attached as Exhibit F is
Plaintiff ’s counsel’s affidavit regarding attorneys’ fees and portions of relevant time sheets, As
these documents indicate, DIRECTV has incurred fees and costs in excess of the $850.00
requested in the Complaint.
Accordingly, DIRECTV respectfully requests that this Court follow the lead ofthe vast
majority of other District Courts, and award DIRECTV $20,000 in statutory damages ($10,000
per violation) pursuant to i8 U.S..C. §2520,
Respectfully,
/___,tZYZ¥·~r··“‘““t "”‘”"‘”“"“`——~\
Timothy E, Lengkeek
TEL:ksj
cc: Clerk of Court
Peter Stutheit, Esquire
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Case 1:04-cv-00962-Gl\/IS Document 15 Filed 03/07/2005 Page 3 of 3
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that on March 7, 2005, I eiectronically filed a true and correct copy of
Letter Bzief with the Clerk of the Court using CM/ECP, which will send notification that such
tiiing is available for viewing and downloading. I further certify that on March 7, 2005, I served
Letter Brief on the following HO1l··1'®gIS’ECI"Bd paiticipants in the manner indicated below
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE, FIRST CLASS MAIL
Mr. Donald Hall
1901 Lipscomb, Apt. E1
Wilson, NC 2789.3
( ___n,_ 3,. _,,o ,.i.
Melanie K. Sharp (No. 2501)
Timothy E. Lengkeelc (No. 4116)
YOUNG CONAWAY STARGATT & TAYLOR, LLP
The Brandywine Building
1000 West Street, 17m Floor
Wilmington, DE 19801
P.O. Box .391
Wiimington, DE 19S99—039i
(302) 571-6605
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tlengkeek@,ycst.com
Attorrzeys for P/c1int.Q§'iDIRECTl/Q Inc.
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