EAST ST. LOUIS – Owners of Da Beno at 6830 State Street committed piracy to show five World Boxing Association fights to patrons, according to a complaint that distributor Joe Hands Promotions filed in U.S. district court on Nov. 23.
Joe Hands counsel Yeoeun Yoon sought up to $110,000 for violation of satellite law or up to $60,000 for violation of cable law.
He sued Ebony Jones and James Jones as Da Beno’s officers or shareholders.
He separately sued Teddy’s, an establishment at 7400 Old Missouri Avenue in Cahokia Heights, alleging a single act of piracy.
He sued Khalilah Liddell as Teddy’s officer or shareholder.
The complaints allege that patrons in both establishments watched Manny Pacquiao and Adrien Broner in 2019.
Da Beno allegedly showed Pacquiao and Keith Thurman, Holloway and Edgar, Errol Spence and Shawn Porter, and Deontay Wilder and Luis Ortiz, all in 2019.
Yoon claimed in both complaints that the programs originated by satellite uplink and were transmitted back to cable and satellite television companies.
He claimed Joe Hands was granted an exclusive right to distribute programs to commercial establishments throughout the U.S.
He claimed Joe Hands agreed with establishments that for a fee it would allow them to exhibit the programs.
He claimed Joe Hands invested time and money in building a loyal customer base.
He claimed it marketed, advertised, and promoted the programs.
“Defendants could have contracted with plaintiff and purchased authorization to exhibit the programs in the establishment for a fee,” he wrote.
He claimed plaintiffs didn’t at any time give defendants license, permission or authority to receive and exhibit the programs.
He claimed they did it by unauthorized receipt over satellite or cable.
He claimed they acted willfully with intent to secure a commercial advantage and private financial gain.
The court clerk assigned the complaint against Teddy’s to Chief U. S. District Judge Nancy Rosentengel.
The courthouse closed for a long weekend before the clerk could assign the Da Beno complaint.