Crabshaw Music v. K-Bob's of El Paso, Inc.

744 F. Supp. 763, 1990 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16324, 1990 WL 121392
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Texas
DecidedAugust 8, 1990
DocketEP-86-CA-227
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 744 F. Supp. 763 (Crabshaw Music v. K-Bob's of El Paso, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Crabshaw Music v. K-Bob's of El Paso, Inc., 744 F. Supp. 763, 1990 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16324, 1990 WL 121392 (W.D. Tex. 1990).

Opinion

AMENDED ORDER ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

BUNTON, Chief Judge.

BEFORE THIS COURT is the Motion of the Plaintiffs for Summary Judgment in the above-numbered cause. Having considered the Motion, the Defendants’ Response thereto and the Plaintiffs’ Reply, this Court is of the opinion the Motion is meritorious and should be granted.

STANDARD ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

Rule 56(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides for summary judgment “if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Rule 56(e) provides:

When a motion for summary judgment is made and supported as provided in this rule, an adverse party may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of the adverse party’s pleading, but ... must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.

Thus, the focus of this Court is upon disputes over material facts; facts that might affect the outcome of the lawsuit under the governing substantive law will preclude summary judgment. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247-48, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2509-10, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986); Phillips Oil Co. v. OKC Corp., 812 F.2d 265, 272 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 851, 108 S.Ct. 152, 98 L.Ed.2d 107 (1987), and the cases cited therein.

The Supreme Court’s 1986 trilogy of summary judgment cases clarified the test for granting summary judgment. In Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, the Court stated the trial court must consider the substantive burden of proof imposed on the party making the claim. In the case before this Court, the Plaintiffs have the burden with respect to their claims; Defendants have the burden with respect to certain defenses they raise. The Court in Anderson v. Liberty Lobby defined “material” as involving a “dispute over facts which may affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby requires this Court to substantively evaluate the evidence offered by the moving and non-moving parties to determine whether the evidence raises a “material” fact question which is “genuine.”

In a second case, the Supreme Court reiterated that where the party moving for summary judgment has established prima facie that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact, the non-moving party must then come forward with “specific facts” showing a'genuine issue for trial. It must be “more than simply ... that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.” Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). A third case, Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986) held where the moving party shows the opposing party is unable to produce evidence in support of its case, summary judgment is appropriate. In Cel-otex Corp., it was not necessary for the motion for summary judgment to be supported by affidavits or other material specifically negating the non-moving party’s claim so long as the District Court was satisfied there was an absence of evidence to support it. At that point the burden shifted to the non-moving party to produce *765 evidence in support of its claims; if it did not produce any, summary judgment was required.

This Court has demonstrated its willingness to allow non-moving parties their day in court in borderline cases where under governing law or reasonable extensions of existing law, the hearing of some testimony would be helpful to understand the proper application of the law. Such is not the case in the suit sub judice, however. The Court finds there are no fact issues warranting submission of the case to a jury. Accordingly, the Court shall grant the Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment.

BACKGROUND

This suit comes to this Court by way of Federal Question jurisdiction, namely whether the Defendants violated Federal copyright laws by intentionally playing copyrighted music in their restaurants without licensing. Defendants own and operate three “K-Bob’s Steakhouse” restaurants in El Paso, Texas, including the K-Bob’s on Viscount Street. Plaintiffs contend the Defendants played music for the public over large loudspeaker systems in violation of the copyrights asserted by Plaintiffs. Plaintiffs are members of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (“ASCAP”), an association formed by music composers. ASCAP operates as a ‘clearing-house’ for copyright owners and users to ameliorate common problems associated with the licensing of music. Broadcast Music, Inc. v. CBS, 441 U.S. 1, 99 S.Ct. 1551, 60 L.Ed.2d 1 (1978). ASCAP retains the nonexclusive right to license nondramatic performances of its members’ works and distributes royalties to members. Typically, licensing is effected via a blanket system, i.e. ASCAP grants the licensee a license to play any piece of music in its repertoire for a set fee. AS-CAP also takes responsibility for policing public establishments known to offer public performances of ASCAP members’ copyrights.

Such is the backdrop for this action. AS-CAP contacted K-Bob’s El Paso on numerous occasions between 1983 and July 27, 1985 1 seeking to license K-Bob’s for the use of its members’ music. Each time the offer was denied or ignored. Employees of ASCAP then visited the premises of K-Bob’s on Viscount and recorded performances played over the loudspeaker system without a license. Plaintiffs now contend damages are due them for the unlicensed performance of copyrighted material.

Defendants deny the loudspeaker system was used as a means of playing music, although the manager of the three El Paso restaurants, Willi Holst, testified in deposition the radio could have been played over the loudspeakers where customers could hear it. Defendants also deny the system, even if so utilized, was of a scale large enough to come within the purview of the statute. 17 U.S.C. §§ 101, et seq.

DISCUSSION

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Bluebook (online)
744 F. Supp. 763, 1990 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16324, 1990 WL 121392, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/crabshaw-music-v-k-bobs-of-el-paso-inc-txwd-1990.