J & J Sports Productions, Inc. v. Franco
1:11-cv-01563
E.D. Cal.Feb 28, 2013Background
- Plaintiff filed this action on Sept. 15, 2011, alleging violations of 47 U.S.C. §605 and §553, plus conversion and CA Bus. & Prof. Code §17200.
- Defendant was served Jan. 24, 2012; he did not respond to the complaint or motion.
- Clerk entered default against Defendant on Mar. 1, 2012.
- Plaintiff moved for default judgment on Apr. 24, 2012; Defendant sought to set aside default (May 22, 2012).
- Court recommended default judgment after finding no prejudice to Plaintiff, meritorious claims, and no excusable neglect; amount at issue includes statutory damages, enhanced damages, and conversion damages.
- Plaintiff seeks $10,000 statutory damages, $3,000 enhanced damages, and $1,600 for conversion; court approves these amounts.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether default judgment should be entered | Plaintiff (J&J Sports) | Franco | Default judgment warranted |
| Damages under 605 and enhancement | Max statutory and enhanced damages warranted | Not contesting; court determines damages | Statutory damages $10,000; enhanced damages $3,000 approved |
| Damages for conversion | Conversion damages of $1,600 justified | Dispute none raised | Conversion damages awarded $1,600 |
Key Cases Cited
- Danning v. Lavine, 572 F.2d 1386 (9th Cir. 1978) (default admits liability for well-pleaded facts; factors for default judgment)
- Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1471 (9th Cir. 1986) (factors for granting default judgment)
- TeleVideo Sys., Inc. v. Heidenthal, 826 F.2d 915 (9th Cir. 1987) (enumerates reasons for default judgment)
- DIRECTV, Inc. v. Pahnke, 405 F. Supp. 2d 1182 (E.D. Cal. 2005) (rights in programming constitute property for conversion)
- Don King Prods./Kingvision v. Lovato, 911 F. Supp. 419 (N.D. Cal. 1995) (illustrates conversion/television rights context)