Smith
A California company that gained exclusive nationwide rights to distribute a 2009 and a 2010 Ultimate Fighting Championship claims a Cahokia establishment and a Jerseyville bar failed to pay it for authorization to publicly display the match.
Joe Hand Promotions filed two lawsuits Aug. 11 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois against Jamie Reeder and Outsiderz Sports Bar and against Jennifer O. Brown and Molly's Sports Bar and Grill.
In its complaints, Joe Hand alleges it gained exclusive nationwide television distributing rights to air the Ultimate Fighting Championship 106: Tito Ortiz c. Forrest Griffin II on Nov. 21, 2009.
It also gained exclusive rights to air the Ultimate Fighting Championship 108: Rashad Evans v. Thiago Silva on Jan. 2, 2010. In turn, Joe Hand engaged in agreements with commercial entities in which businesses agreed to pay Joe Hand to publicly exhibit the program, according to the complaints.
However, Outsiderz and its employee, Reeder, aired the Griffin program without authorization or remitting proper payment, the suit states.
Molly's Sports Bar and Grill and its employee, Brown, also failed to pay Joe Hand for rights to air the fight.
In its complaint, Joe Hand claims the defendants violated the United States Constitution by gaining access to the fights without authorization.
In Joe Hand's complaint against Outsiderz, it seeks statutory damages of more than $170,000 and compensatory damages, plus costs, attorney's fees and other relief the court deems just.
In its lawsuit against Molly's Sports Bar and Grill, Joe Hand seeks statutory damages of more than $170,000 and compensatory damages, plus costs, attorney's fees and other relief the court deems just.
Andre Ordeanu of Zane D. Smith and Associates in Chicago will be representing it.
U.S. District Court case numbers: 3:11-cv-685, 3:11-cv-686.