J & J Sports Productions, Inc. v. Argueta

Filing 57

OPINION AND ORDER terminating 12 Motion for Partial Summary Judgment; granting in part 15 18 Motions for Partial Summary Judgment; denying as moot 43 Motion to Strike; granting 46 Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim. Argueta's third party complaint is Dismissed Without Prejudice. Signed by Honorable P. K. Holmes, III on November 30, 2016. (src)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
FAYETTEVILLE DIVISION
J & J SPORTS PRODUCTIONS, INC.
v.

PLAINTIFF

Case No. 5:15-CV-05200

SILVIA ARGUETA, individually and d/b/a
La Sirenita Restaurant a/k/a La Sirena

DEFENDANT/
THIRD-PARTY PLAINTIFF

v.
DISH NETWORK, L.L.C.

THIRD-PARTY DEFENDANT

OPINION AND ORDER
Currently before the Court are Defendant / Third-Party Plaintiff Silvia Argueta’s first
motion for partial summary judgment (Doc. 12), second motion for partial summary judgment
(Doc. 15), and third motion for partial summary judgment (Doc. 18); Plaintiff J & J Sports
Productions, Inc.’s (“J & J”) motion to strike paragraph 27 of Argueta’s third-party complaint
(Doc. 43); Third-Party Defendant Dish Network, L.L.C.’s (“Dish”) motion to dismiss (Doc. 46);
and the parties’ responses and supporting documents. The Court will address each motion in turn.
I.

Background
This is one of a number of recent lawsuits filed in this district by J & J, a rights holder for

major boxing matches.

J & J alleges that on September 14, 2013, Argueta personally or

specifically directed employees of her restaurant to unlawfully intercept and broadcast “‘The One’
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. v. Saul Alvarez WBC Light Middleweight Championship Fight Program.”
J & J was the exclusive commercial domestic distributor of the televised fight. J & J filed suit
against Argueta for the alleged unlawful dissemination of the fight under (1) the Federal
Communications Act of 1934, 47 U.S.C. § 605, et seq.; (2) the Cable Communications Policy Act

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of 1984, 47 U.S.C. § 553 et seq.; and (3) conversion under Arkansas law. Because Argueta
purchased its television services from Dish, based on the same nucleus of facts, Argueta filed a
third-party complaint against Dish for negligence, deceit, and violations of the Arkansas Deceptive
Trade Practices Act.
II.

Analysis
A.

Argueta’s First Motion for Partial Summary Judgment

Argueta’s reply states that this motion “was filed in error and [Argueta] move[s] to
withdraw it.” (Doc. 32, p. 2). Thus, the Court will terminate this motion.
B.

Argueta’s Second Motion for Partial Summary Judgment

In her second motion for partial summary judgment, Argueta argues that 47 U.S.C. §§ 553
and 605—the statutes J & J alleges Argueta violated in Counts One and Two of J & J’s complaint—
are mutually exclusive, and because Argueta acknowledges that § 605 is applicable, Count Two
alleging the violation of § 553 should be stricken from J & J’s complaint. (Doc. 15). The Court
will not strike the claim, but can grant Argueta summary judgment on the claim and dismiss it.
J & J acknowledges that while the Eighth Circuit has not ruled on the matter, “the prevailing trend,
including among the district courts in the Eighth Circuit, is to apply 47 U.S.C. § 605 to satellite
violations” and find the statutes to be mutually exclusive. 1 (Doc. 33, p. 3).
Section 553 provides that “[n]o person shall intercept or receive or assist in intercepting
or receiving any communications service offered over a cable system, unless specifically
authorized to do so by a cable operator or as may otherwise be specifically authorized by law.” 47

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Case law indicates this assertion is correct. See Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. v. Ridgway,
2014 WL 7005239, at *2 (W.D. Mo. Dec. 10, 2014) (“A majority of the circuit courts of appeals,
as well as district courts within the Eighth Circuit, interpret sections 605 and 553 to be mutually
exclusive.”) (citations omitted).
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U.S.C. § 553 (emphasis added). Section 605 states that “[n]o 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.” 47
U.S.C. § 605 (emphasis added). The Court agrees that the language of these two statutes makes it
clear that they are mutually exclusive, with § 553 applying only to cable systems,
and § 605 applying only to satellite or radio transmission, and not to cable transmission.
J & J is permitted to plead two alternative theories of liability, as it has done here. See Fed.
R. Civ. P. 8(a)(3) (“A pleading that states a claim for relief must contain… a demand for the relief
sought, which may include relief in the alternative or different types of relief.”); Fed. R. Civ. P.
8(d)(2) (“A party may set out 2 or more statements of a claim or defense alternatively or
hypothetically, either in a single count or defense or in separate ones.”); Fed. R. Civ. P. 18 (“A
party asserting a claim… may join, as independent or alternative claims, as many claims as it has
against an opposing party.”).
However, J & J is only allowed to recover under one of these mutually exclusive statutes.
J & J requested in its response that the Court defer judgment on its claim alleging a violation of
§ 553 until after discovery. (Doc. 33, p. 3). 2 The time for discovery has since passed, 3 and J & J
has not filed a supplement to its response identifying which statute it believes applies in the present
case. “If a party fails… to properly address another party’s assertion of facts as required by Rule
56(c), the court may: (1) give an opportunity to properly support or address the fact; (2) consider
the fact undisputed for purposes of the motion; (3) grant summary judgment if the motion and

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J & J argues that “[t]he specific facts related to the broadcast are directly material to
whether 47 U.S.C. § 605 or 47 U.S.C. § 553 will apply herein.”
3
The final scheduling order states that “ALL discovery must be completed no later than
November 8, 2016.” (Doc. 56, p. 1) (emphasis in original).
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supporting materials—including the facts considered undisputed—show that the movant is entitled
to it; or (4) issue any other appropriate order.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e). J & J filed its response on
January 20, 2016, and the discovery deadline was November 8, 2016. Its opportunity to properly
address Argueta’s motion has spanned more than 10 months. The Court thus deems Argueta’s
assertion that § 605 is applicable to be undisputed, and will grant Argueta’s motion for partial
summary judgment such that J & J’s claim alleging a violation of § 553 will be dismissed without
prejudice.
C.

Argueta’s Third Motion for Partial Summary Judgment

In her third motion for partial summary judgment, Argueta contends that as a matter of law
if a “violation of the Telecommunications Act of 1934 is alleged, that is the exclusive remedy of
the party and state law claims must be dismissed.” (Doc. 18, ¶ 4). The Court will not dismiss J &
J’s conversion claim simply because violations of § 553 and § 605 are alleged. However, as a
matter of law, the Court finds that J & J cannot recover damages under both the
Telecommunications Act of 1934 and a state law conversion claim. See Joe Hand Promotions,
Inc. v. Peterson, 2014 WL 824119, at *5 (D. Neb. Mar. 3, 2014) (“If Joe Hand recovers under one
of those theories, its state law conversion claim is not viable.”) (citations omitted); J & J Sports
Prods., Inc. v. Brewster "2" Cafe, LLC, 2014 WL 4956501, at *7 (E.D. Ark. Oct. 2, 2014)
(“Although there is some authority to the contrary, the Court agrees with those courts holding that
recovery under both § 553 and a state law conversion claim would result in an impermissible
double recovery for the same loss.”) (citations omitted). As a result, the Court determines as a

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matter of law that if liability is established for both a violation of § 605 and the conversion claim,
J & J must elect its remedy because the Court will not allow recovery for both claims. 4
D.

Dish’s Motion to Dismiss

Argueta’s third-party complaint contains claims against Dish for deceit, violations of the
Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practice Act, Ark. Code Ann. § 4-88-101, et seq., and negligence. (Doc.
40, ¶¶ 28-30). However, Dish contends that “these claims are actually a single claim, derivative
of the complaint filed by plaintiff against defendant, whereby defendant seeks indemnification
from Dish.” (Doc. 47, p. 2). In response to Dish’s motion, Argueta argues that she “has claimed
a cause of action for, among other things, ‘attorney fees and lost revenue from said lawsuit.’”
(Doc. 53, p. 1). Yet, “the recovery of attorneys’ fees is not technically a cause of action upon
which relief can be granted.” Se. Stud & Components, Inc. v. Am. Eagle Design Build Studios,
L.L.C., 2007 WL 3256869, at *1 (E.D. Ark. Nov. 2, 2007). Likewise, lost revenue is an element
of damages and not an independent cause of action. See generally Howard Brill, Arkansas Law
of Damages § 5:3 (2016). 5 Argueta’s response could also be interpreted as meaning that she is not
seeking from Dish the money that she might be required to pay to J & J, but is instead asking for
attorney fees and lost revenue related solely to her lawsuit against Dish. However, seeking these
damages “from said lawsuit” does not in and of itself distinguish Argueta’s claims against Dish

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The Court is mindful of its prior decision in Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. v. Gamero, No.
2:15-CV-02135, in which the Court “awarded $1,100 in compensatory damages for conversion as
well as $1,000 in minimum statutory damages.” 2016 WL 4523589, at *1 (W.D. Ark. Aug. 29,
2016). However, the issue of duplicative recovery was not addressed in that case. Additionally,
the Court notes that district court rulings are not treated as binding precedents in other cases and
believes its current holding on this issue to be proper.
5
For purposes of this analysis, lost profit and lost revenue are similar damage claims. See
25 C.J.S. Damages § 166 (“In general, in calculating lost profits damages, lost revenue is
estimated, and overhead expenses tied to the production of that income are deducted from the
estimated lost revenue.”).
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from being derivative of seeking indemnification. In a lawsuit seeking indemnification, attorney
fees could be recovered, see U.S. Fid. & Guar. Co. v. Love, 538 S.W.2d 558, 559 (Ark. 1976), and
lost profits have been sought, as well. See St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Amsoil, Inc., 51 F.
App'x 602, 604 (8th Cir. 2002).
Argueta’s prayer for relief clarifies the true nature of her claims against Dish. In it, Argueta
asks the Court for “future damages includ[ing] any judgment of the Plaintiff against Defendants /
Third-Party-Plaintiffs in the present cause of action.” (Doc. 40, ¶ 33). In the next paragraph,
Argueta refers to this request for damages as “contribution for any award against the Defendants /
Third-Party-Plaintiffs for the Complaint filed by Plaintiff herein.” (Id., ¶ 34). This is clearly a
claim for indemnification.
“[A] claim for indemnity is a derivative or conditional action in that it is an action by one
who is compelled to pay money which ought to be paid by another to recover the sums so paid.”
Martin Farm Enterprises, Inc. v. Hayes, 895 S.W.2d 535, 537 (Ark. 1995) (citing Carpetland of
N.W. Ark., Inc. v. Howard, 803 S.W.2d 512 (1991)). “A defendant held liable under a federal
statute has a right to contribution or indemnification from another who has also violated the statute
only if such right arises (1) through the affirmative creation of a right of action by Congress, either
expressly or implicitly, or (2) via the power of the courts to formulate federal common
law.” Mortgages, Inc. v. United States Dist. Court, 934 F.2d 209, 212 (9th Cir. 1991) (citing Texas
Industries, Inc. v. Radcliff Materials, Inc., 451 U.S. 630, 638–40 (1981)). “Factors relevant to this
inquiry are the language of the statute itself, its legislative history, the underlying purpose and
structure of the statutory scheme, and the likelihood that Congress intended to supersede or to
supplement existing state remedies.” Nw. Airlines, Inc. v. Transp. Workers Union of Am., AFLCIO, 451 U.S. 77, 91 (1981). This Court agrees with the holding of the Ninth Circuit:

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The explicit language of Sections 553 and 605 do not provide any right to
indemnification or contribution. There is no indication in the legislative history that
Congress intended to grant violators of Section 553 or Section 605 a right to
indemnification. Finally, we find that the remedies set forth in the Act are
comprehensive. The remedial provisions in both Sections 553 and 605 take into
consideration the degree of the violator's culpability and provide for reduced
damages in those instances where the violator was unaware of the violation. There
is no indication in the structure of the remedial provisions that Congress intended a
violator to have a right to indemnity. We also conclude that this is not an appropriate
case for the federal courts to recognize a federal common law right.
Doherty v. Wireless Broad. Sys. of Sacramento, Inc., 151 F.3d 1129, 1131 (9th Cir. 1998). The
Court finds that there is no right to indemnification here because there is no federal common law
right to indemnification and Congress has not explicitly or implicitly provided such a right to
indemnification under the Federal Communication Act.
Dish cited to several other cases where courts have found there is no indemnity available
under the federal statutes that Argueta has allegedly violated. See PPV Connection, Inc. v.
Rodriguez, 228 F.R.D. 99 (D. P.R. 2005); Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. v. Himmelberg, 2012 WL
1142939 (S.D. Ohio Apr. 5, 2012); Don King Prods./Kingvision v. Ferreira, 950 F. Supp. 286
(E.D. Cal. 1996). Argueta seeks to distinguish all of these authorities on the basis that the thirdparty plaintiffs in those actions admitted liability and then sought indemnification. (Doc. 53, p.
2). This is a misconception of the law. A claim for indemnification is premature unless the
indemnitee has shown that he or she has suffered actual loss by payment or satisfaction of
judgment. See Larson Mach., Inc. v. Wallace, 600 S.W.2d 1, 13 (Ark. 1980) (“There must be loss,
not merely liability, before indemnity is due. No money judgment may be rendered for indemnity
until the party seeking indemnity has suffered an actual loss.”).
What the cases cited by Dish present is directly analogous to the present action—a
defendant arguing that in the event he or she is found liable for violating 47 U.S.C. §§ 553 or 605,
then Dish should indemnify said defendant.

See Himmelberg, 2012 WL 1142939, at *2
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(“[Defendant/Third-Party Plaintiff] claims that if he is found liable to Joe Hand for viewing the
fight in violation of § 605 and § 553, then DISH is obligated to indemnify him for any damages
owed to [Plaintiff].”); Ferreira, 950 F. Supp. at 289 (“The court assumes for purposes of this
analysis that [Defendant] will be liable under all claims asserted against him.”) (emphasis added).
Argueta has not cited any authority in support of her arguments that she is not seeking
indemnification, and that those cases where it has been found there is no right to indemnification
under 47 U.S.C. §§ 553 or 605 are distinguishable or inapplicable. The Court finds that Argueta’s
claims against Dish in the third-party complaint are an attempt to seek indemnification, and that
there is no right to indemnification under federal common law or the Federal Communication Act.
As such, Dish’s motion to dismiss (Doc. 46) will be granted.
E.

J & J’s Motion to Strike

Because the Court will dismiss Argueta’s third-party complaint against Dish (Doc.
40), J & J’s motion to strike paragraph 27 of that complaint will be denied as moot.
III.

Conclusion
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Plaintiff Silvia Argueta’s first motion for partial

summary judgment (Doc. 12) is TERMINATED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Argueta’s second motion for partial summary judgment
(Doc. 15) is GRANTED IN PART. The Court finds § 553 and § 605 are mutually exclusive, and
Argueta’s assertion that § 605 is applicable is deemed undisputed. J & J Sports Productions, Inc.’s
claim alleging a violation of § 553 is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Argueta’s third motion for partial summary judgment
(Doc. 18) is GRANTED IN PART. The Court will not dismiss J & J’s state law conversion claim,

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but determines as a matter of law that J & J cannot recover damages for both conversion and a
violation of § 605.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Dish’s motion to DISMISS (Doc. 46) is GRANTED.
Argueta’s third-party complaint is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that J & J’s motion to strike (Doc. 43) is DENIED AS
MOOT.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 30th day of November, 2016.

/s/P. K. Holmes, III
P. K. HOLMES, III
CHIEF U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE

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