LAFAYETTE – A Lafayette business is accused of pirating a broadcast of a sporting event.
Joe Hand Promotions Inc. filed a complaint on Dec. 4 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Lafayette Division against the FAIZ Inc., doing business as Club Z, and Zubair Baloch alleging that they violated the Communications Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on Sept. 27, 2014, plaintiff was the holder of the exclusive commercial distribution rights to broadcast the Ultimate Fighting Championship 178: Johnson v. Cariaso. The plaintiff holds Faiz Inc. and Baloch responsible because the defendants allegedly failed to contract plaintiff and pay a fee to obtain the proper license or authorization to broadcast the event, willfully intercepted and unlawfully transmitted and published the interstate communication of the said program. As a result of defendants' alleged actions and inactions, the plaintiff claims it suffered monetary damages.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment in its favor and against each defendant for statutory damages of up to $110,000 and an additional $60,000 for willful violation, plus interest, costs and attorneys’ fees and such other relief to which it may be entitled. It is represented by Dorothy L. Tarver of Taggart Morton LLC in New Orleans.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana Lafayette Division Case number 6:16-cv-01673