DIRECTV, Inc. v. Barrett

Brief Fact Summary.

DIRECTV sued Barrett and the remainder of the defendants for intercepting and pirating its television signals.

Synopsis of Rule of Law.

The separate acts of several defendants against an individual plaintiff are part of the same transaction or occurrence if the same statute was violated and the plaintiff seeks the same relief from each defendant.

Facts.

DIRECTV found evidence that the defendants purchased devices to intercept and pirate its television signals. DIRECTV sued and sought equivalent relief from each of the defendants.

Issue.

Whether the separate acts of several defendants against an individual plaintiff are part of the same transaction or occurrence if the same statute was violated and the plaintiff seeks the same relief from each defendant?

Held.

Yes. The claims against each defendant will not be severed. There is a logical relationship between the claims against each defendant because the defendants all bought the same pirating devices and DIRECTV has all the same evidence against each defendant.