FTC Requests 'Overbroad' for DirecTV Consumer Complaint Documentation, Judge Rules

FTC requests for DirecTV consumer complaint documentation are "relevant but overbroad," U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria-Elena James of San Francisco said in a discovery order Tuesday, telling the company and agency to meet again about ways to narrow the request scope. The two had disagreed about documentation (see 1603040021) as part of the FTC's 2015 lawsuit against DirecTV for allegedly not properly communicating early cancellation fee terms to subscribers (see 1503110042). In her order, James also said DirecTV and the FTC should discuss DirecTV's argument about redaction of personal consumer information "unless the FTC can make a compelling showing as to its relevancy."