DirecTV Seeks Dismissal of Small Business RICO Claims

Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act allegations against DirecTV by a California businesswoman don't include claims the direct broadcast satellite operator schemed with piracy auditing firm Signal Auditing to deceive business owners, or that Signal intended to deceive, said the DBS provider's motion to dismiss the second amended complaint posted Friday in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, California (in Pacer, docket 16-cv-01440). DirecTV said threatening to initiate legal proceedings isn't mail or wire fraud and the complaint doesn't allege a RICO enterprise. Named plaintiff Doneyda Perez is alleging DirecTV sells its DBS service to small businesses under residential accounts, then accuses them of pirating signals (see 1611210019). Plaintiff's counsel didn't comment Monday.