Crockett sports bar sued for illegally showing championship fight

LUFKIN - A sports bar in Crockett has been sued for allegedly showing the 2010 Vazquez and Marquez Championship Fight without authorization.

J&J Sports Productions Inc., as broadcast licensee of the May 22, 2010, “Once and Four All”: Vazquez/ Marquez Program, filed suit against Fowler’s Barbecue and Steakhouse Inc., individually and doing business as Fowler’s Barbecue and Steakhouse and doing business as Wild Bill’s Sports Bar, David Loving, William G. Stanley Jr. and William G. Stanley Sr. on May 20 in the Eastern District of Texas, Lufkin Division. 

According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff is the company authorized to sub-license the closed-circuit telecast of the fight, including the undercard or preliminary bouts.

The closed-circuit broadcast of the event was not intended for the use of the general public. It could only be exhibited in a commercial establishment if it was contractually authorized to do so by the plaintiff.

The defendants are accused of willfully intercepting and/or receiving the interstate communication of the fight and publishing the communications to patrons within its establishment.

“Defendants misappropriated Plaintiff’s licensed exhibition of the Event and infringed upon Plaintiff’s exclusive rights while avoiding proper payment to Plaintiff,” the lawsuit states.

The plaintiff is asking for a permanent injunction enjoining the defendants from any future exhibition of unauthorized or unlicensed programs and an award of statutory damages, court costs, expenses, attorney’s fees and interest.

J&J Sports Productions Inc. is represented by David M. Diaz and Andrew R. Korn of The Korn Diaz Firm in Dallas.

U.S. District Judge Ron Clark is assigned to the case.

Case No. 9:13-cv-00104