A t-shirt vendor sells a commemorative t-shirt for $10 outside the funeral of attorney Johnnie Cochran. The t-shirt features one of Cochran's most famous lines "If it doesn't fit you must acquit." Photo: Reuters
Posted on 07/27/2005 1:33:02 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
MIAMI — A federal judge has ordered former football star O.J. Simpson to pay $25,000 in damages for pirating satellite television signals from DirecTV.
U.S. District Judge Joan Lenard awarded the damages, plus attorneys' fees and other costs, after granting a motion for summary judgment in a civil suit against Simpson.
In a raid on Simpson's Miami home in 2001, federal agents seized illegal devices known as "bootloaders" that authorities said were used to steal television programming.
Simpson's attorney, Yale Galanter, said Tuesday that the judge "basically denied us our right to a jury trial. ... This was a decision made by a judge in chambers. They say he did it; we say he didn't. A jury should be able to make that decision."
Simpson was aware of Friday's ruling, Galanter added. Asked whether Simpson would pay the damages and other costs, the attorney said: "We are examining our legal options. ... We want our day in court."
Galanter has 10 days to respond, or the summary judgment stands.
DirecTV executives were pleased with the ruling.
"The evidence was overwhelming since the devices seized in Simpson's home were connected to his TV and in operation and receiving unauthorized signals at the time of the raid," said Dan Fawcett, an executive vice president with El Segundo, Calif.-based DirecTV Inc.
Simpson moved to Florida from California after he was acquitted of murder charges in the 1994 stabbing deaths of his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman.
A civil jury in 1997 held Simpson liable for the killings and ordered him to pay the victims' survivors $33.5 million. Much of that judgment remains unpaid.
If the dish is tilty...
You must vote guilty.
Oh yes! lol
If the card is hacked...
He's an accessory after the fact!
It isnt surprising to find that a killer is also a thief.
As for his daughter , it is hard enough being born of mixed blood, without also knowing your father murdered your mother.
Isn't OJ's house big enough that he could have concealed the whole affair in his attic?
He didn't want to have to pay for Channel 596...
My wife was just a speed bump for my golf cart....
He's using Court TV for research. Hell, he practically founded the channel.
Sydney's attending school in Boston. She'll probably be groomed by some LIBERAL group to take up their cause. She'll see them as caring and play the role.
That's exactly why he (and lots of others "rich" people who fall into huge debt) moved to Florida.
The laws here protect debtors more than anywhere else.
Ha, he sure did...he should get a cut of the profits.
Johnnie Cochran died?! When did this happen?
Oh, about 6 - 8 months ago.
SHEESH! I have been ignoring hollyweird more than I thought possible!
What's the big deal? He cheated the justice system.......why not the cable company? :(
I believe he had a brain tumor
If he don't pay the fees...
It'll cost him 25 Gees!
Sydney has had some pretty horrible things happen to her.
Her mother murdered by her father, then she was taken away from her mothers family and presented to the killer to raiseI am not sure she will come out of it allright.Already she is showing signs of arrogance and disrespect for the lawthat doesnt bode well for her future.
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