J & J Sports Productions, Inc. v. Morales

226 F. Supp. 3d 730, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 183298, 2016 WL 8138802
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Texas
DecidedNovember 7, 2016
DocketEP-15-CV-367-PRM
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 226 F. Supp. 3d 730 (J & J Sports Productions, Inc. v. Morales) 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.

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J & J Sports Productions, Inc. v. Morales, 226 F. Supp. 3d 730, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 183298, 2016 WL 8138802 (W.D. Tex. 2016).

Opinion

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

PHILIP R. MARTINEZ, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

On this day, the Court considered Plaintiff J & J Sports Productions, Inc.’s “Motion for Summary Judgment and Brief in Support” (ECF No. 18) [hereinafter “Motion”], filed on October 10, 2016, and Defendant Sylvia Esther Morales’s “Response to Motion for Summary Judgment and Brief in Support” (ECF No. 19) [hereinafter “Response”], filed on October 20, 2016, in the above-captioned cause. After due consideration, the Court is of the opinion that the Motion should be denied for the reasons that follow.

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Plaintiff asserts that it was exclusively authorized to sub-license “the closed-circuit telecast” of the December 8, 2012 Manny Pacquiao v. Juan Manuel Marquez, IV Welterweight Championship Fight Program, including undercard or preliminary bouts [hereinafter the “Event”] ... “at closed circuit locations such as ... bars, clubs, lounges and the like throughout the State of Texas.” Mot. Ex. A., at 2. This sub-license does not include any rights in Mexico. Mot. Ex. A-l (providing a copy of the license agreement). Plaintiff attests that commercial establishments could contract with Plaintiff to show the Event for a sublicense fee. Mot. Ex. A-3, at 1.

On the night of the Event, Plaintiffs Auditor entered Defendant’s establishment Joseph’s Lounge. See Mot. Ex. A-2, at 1. Once inside, Plaintiffs Auditor witnessed the telecast of the Event. Id. Defendant acknowledges she did not pay the licensing fee for the Event, which was shown at Joseph’s Lounge. See Mot. Ex. C.

Although Defendant concedes that she broadcasted the Event at Joseph’s Lounge, she contends that it was broad-casted via TV Azteca—an over-the-air television channel disseminating from the neighboring city of Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico—on a ■ delayed basis. See Resp. Ex. A, at 2. Defendant denies that she ever unlawfully intercepted the closed-circuit broadcast of the Event. Resp. 2.

Presently, Plaintiff seeks summary judgment against Defendant for violations of either 47 U.S.C. §§ 553 or 605. Mot. 1.

II.LEGAL STANDARD

Pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a court should grant summary , judgment “if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact' and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). A genuine dispute of material fact exists only if there are “any genuine factual issues that properly can be resolved only by a finder of fact because [732]*732they may reasonably be resolved in favor of either party.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 250, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986).

In a motion for summary judgment, “[t]he moving party bears the initial burden of showing that there is no genuine issue for trial; it may do so by ‘pointing] out the absence of evidence supporting the nonmoving party’s case.’ ” Nat’l Ass’n of Gov’t Emps. v. City Pub. Serv. Bd., 40 F.3d 698, 712 (5th Cir. 1994) (quoting Latimer v. Smithkline French Labs., 919 F.2d 301, 303 (5th Cir. 1990)). If the moving party has satisfied its initial burden, the non-movant must then come forward with “specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). When a party requests that a court grant its motion for summary judgment, a court “will review the facts drawing all inferences most favorable to the party opposing the motion.” Reid v. State Farm Mut. Auto Ins. Co., 784 F.2d 577, 578 (5th Cir. 1986). While a court will resolve factual controversies or disputes in the non-movant’s favor, it must do so “only when there is an actual controversy, that is, when both parties have submitted evidence of contradictory facts.” Little v. Liquid Air Corp., 37 F.3d 1069, 1075 (5th Cir. 1994) (en banc). A court should not, “in the absence of any proof, assume that the nonmoving party could or would prove the necessary facts.” Id. (citing Lujan v. Nat’l Wildlife Fed’n, 497 U.S. 871, 888, 110 S.Ct. 3177, 111 L.Ed.2d 695 (1990)).

III. ANALYSIS

A. Violation of 47 U.S.C. § 605

Plaintiff alleges that the Event “originated via satellite.” Mot. Ex. A., at 2. The relevant portion of § 605(a), however, addresses only the unauthorized interception or receipt of radio communications:

No person not being authorized by the sender shall intercept any radio communication and divulge or publish the existence, contents, substance, purport, effect, or meaning of such intercepted communication to any person. No person not being entitled thereto shall receive or assist in receiving any interstate or foreign communication by radio and use such communication (or any information therein contained) for his own benefit or for the benefit of another not entitled thereto.

47 U.S.C. § 605(a).1

The Fifth Circuit addressed similar arguments regarding the same Plaintiff in J & J Sports Productions, Inc. v. Mandell Family Ventures, LLC, 751 F.3d 346 (5th Cir. 2014). Plaintiff sought relief based upon the same § 605 violations arising under similar circumstances. Mandell, 751 F.3d at 347. The Fifth Circuit stated that “§ 605 address[es] only the unauthorized interception or receipt of radio communications.” Id. at 351 (emphasis added). The Mandell court concluded that “receipt or interception of communications by wire from a cable system” was outside the scope of § 605. Id.

Here, Defendant contends that she used an over-the-air television channel from Mexico. See Resp. Ex. A, at 2. The Wire or Radio Communication Act provides dis[733]*733tinct definitions for “television service” and “radio communication.” Compare

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226 F. Supp. 3d 730, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 183298, 2016 WL 8138802, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/j-j-sports-productions-inc-v-morales-txwd-2016.