Case 1:12-cv-22768-PAS Document 58 Entered on FLSD Docket 03/28/2014 Page 1 of 6

UNI TED STA TES D I STR I C T C O URT SOU THER N DI STRI C T OF FLO R I DA

CASE NO.1 22276 8CI VSEl TZ/ Sl M ONTON

M ALI BU M EDI A ,LLC,

Pl a i nt i

LEO PELI ZZO

Def en da nt .
/

ORDER OVERRULI NG DEFENDANT' S OBJECTI ONS. ADOPTI NG M AGI STM TE' S

REPO RT AN D REC OM M ENDA TI O [Link] D CLO SI N G CA SE

THI S MATTER i sb e f o r et h eCo u r tu p o n De f e n d a n t ' sOb j e c t i o n s( DE 5 4 1t ot h eRe p o r ta n d

Re c omme n da t i on ( R & R) i s s u e d by t h e Hon or ab l e An dr e a Si mont on ( DE 53 4 .I nt he R & R,
Ma g i s t r a t eJ u dge Si mo nt on r e c om m e ndsgr a n t i ng i n pa r t a nd de nyi ng i n par tDef en da nt ' sM o t i on f o r

At t or ne y' sFe e san dCos t s( DE41 1 .Ast ot heDe f en da nt ' sc l ai m ofr i g htt oa t t or n e y' sf e esa ndc os t s
unde rt h eCop yr i gh tAc t , t heR & R c onc l ude st ha tt h eDe f e nda nti sno te nt i t l e dt or e c ove r .( DE 53 1 .
Howe ve r ,w i t hr e ga r dt ot he De f e nda nt ' s cl a i m ofr i ghtt oa t t or n e y' sf ee sa nd cos t s pu r s u a nt t o 28

U. S. C.j1 927, t heR & R r e c omme ndst ha tDe f en da n ti se nt i t l edt or e c ove rapa r t i ala wa r d.1 d.

De f e nd a nt ' sob j e c t i onss ugg es tt ha tt heR & R e r r e di nf a i l i n gt oc ons i de rc er t a i nf a c t swhi c h

Pe r t a i nt ot he M a gi s t r at e' sr es ol u t i on oft wo o ft he f ourFo ge r t y'f a c t or sus e di n de t e r mi ni ng whe t he r De f e n da nt i se nt i t l e dt oa t t or ne y' sf e es a nd c os t s pur s u a nt t ot h e Copy r i g ht A c t . Four of t he s i x

o b j e c t i o nsc on c er nS mo t i v at i on' 'whi l et wo oft hes i x co nc e r ni s f r i vol ous nes s . ' ' 1 d. Af t e rha vi ng r e vi e wed,deno v o,Magi s t r a t eJ udg e Si mont on' sR & R,t her e c or d,a ndt heOb j e c t i ons ,t heCo ur t
t l nds t hatt he M agi s t r at e Judge' sf i ndi ngs of f act ar e not cl ear l y er r oneous and t hat t he M agi s t r a t e

1Fo r @v . Fa ge nt as y,I nc . ,51 0U. S.51 7,53 4n.l 9( 1 994) .

Case 1:12-cv-22768-PAS Document 58 Entered on FLSD Docket 03/28/2014 Page 2 of 6

J udg e ha sc or r e c t l ya ppl i e dt he l a w t ot he f a c t s . Th e r e f o r e ,t h e Ob j e c t i o n sa r eo v e r r u l e da n dt h e

Ma gi s t r a t eJ udg e' sR & R i sa f f i r me da nd a d opt e d.

1 .Fact ualBackground

Th e und er l yi ng ac t i on i nt hi s ca s ec onc e r ns Pl ai n t i f f M al i bu M e di a , LLC' Sc op yr i gh t

i nf r i n ge me nt c o m pl ai n ta l l egi n g De f en da nt Le o Pel i z z oi nf r i nge d Pl a i nt i m sc opyr i gh t ed wor ks by

us e oft he pe e r t ope e r Gl es ha r i ng s of t wa r e Bi t Tor r e n t . Pl a i nt i f fi de nt i f i ed t he De f e n da nta st he

i n f r i ng e rofi t sc opy r i g ht e d ma t er i a lb yo bt a i ni ng a s ub poe na or d e r i ng Def e n dan t ' sl n t e r ne tSe r vi c e Pr ovi der ,Hot wi r e Co mmuni c a t i ons ,t o pr ovi de t he i d en t i t y of t he i ndi vi dua la s s oc i a t ed wi t ht he

i nf r i ngi ngI n t e r n etPr o t oc ola ddr es s( DE 4791 .Pl a i n t i T sc ompl ai n t( DE 6)wasme tb yDe f e nda nt ' s
mot i o nt odi s mi s s( DE 71whi c hwa sul t i ma t el yde ni e d( DE 1 6 1 .
On M a r c h 1 3, 20l 3, Pl a i nt i f f de pos e d t he A s s i s t a nt Gen e r al Couns el of H o t wi r e Com m u ni c a t i o ns w h oi nf or me d Pl a i n t i f ft ha tt h e r e was a v er yr e alpos s i bi l i t yt ha tt he l nt e r ne t Pr o t oc olad dr e s s us ed t oi nf r i ng e Pl a i nt i f rsco pyr i gh t e dwo r ks wasus e d by a ni ndi vi du alot he rt ha n

t h e De f e nd a nt( DE 38 1 1 . The r e a he r ,Pl a i nt i f fof f er e dt o di s mi s st hec as e( DE 476) . De f e nd an t ,

howe ve r ,woul do nl ya gr e et o do s oi f ,a mon g ot he rt hi ngs ,t he Pl a i nt i f fa gr e ed t o pa y $1 7, 50 0i n

a t t or ne y' sf e e s( DE 4 71 4 1 .Pl a i nt i f rsCouns e lr e s pond e dt oDef e n da nt ' sco unt e r of f e rbyi nf o r mi n g

De f e nda n tt ha t he i i wi l ll os ee ve r yt hi ng he owns a nd owe m y cl i e nt s hund r e ds of t hous a nds of

dol l a r s . ' '( DE 41 21 . Thepa r t i e sa t t e nde dme di a t i onon Apr i l4,201 3,a twhi c h Pl a i n t i f f ' sc ou ns e l i ndi c a t e dhi si nt e ntt odi s mi s st h eca s e( DE 491 .
Af t e r pr opou ndi ng an of f e rt o pa y a por t i on ofPl a i nt i f rs f e e st ot ha tpoi n ti nt h el i t i ga t i o n,

wh i c h De f e n d a n te l e c t e dt or e j e c t ,P l a i n t i f ff i l e d amo t i o nt od i s mi s si t sc o mp l a i n twi t hp r e j u d i c e
( DE 3 71 . Th e Cou r tgr a n t e dt he mot i on a n dr e s e r v e df orl a t e ra ny de t e r mi na t i on o fa ppr op r i a t e a t t or n e y' sf e e s( DE401 .

Case 1:12-cv-22768-PAS Document 58 Entered on FLSD Docket 03/28/2014 Page 3 of 6

I l . Def e ndant ' sObj e c t i o ns

De f e n d a n tf i l e ds i xo b j e c t i o n st ot h e Ma g i s t r a t e ' sr e s o l u t i o no fh i sM o t i o nf o rAt t o r n e y ' s

F e e sa n d Co s t s . Mo s ti mp o r t a n t l y ,i tmu s tb en o t e dt h a tma n yo ft h eo b j e c t i o n su p o n wh i c h
De f e nda n tno wh an gshi sha twe r enotr ai s e di n hi so r i gi n almo t i on. W hi l et he s e ne wa r g ume nt sf ai l
t o un de r mi ne t he M a gi s t r a t eJ udge' sR & R,t he Cou r ti sb y no m e a ns un dera n obl i ga t i on t oa ddr e s s

t hene wa r g ume nt s . Wi l l i amsv .Mc Ne i l ,557F. 3 d1 287 ,1 29 2( 11 t h Ci r .2009 )( k $ r A)di s t r i c tco ur t

ha s di s c r e t i on t od ec l i ne t oc ons i de ra p a r t y' sa r gum e n t whe nt he a r g um en ti s no tf i r s tpr e s en t e dt o

t h ema g i s t r a t e j u d g e . ' ' ) .F o r t h er e a s o n sd i s c u s s e db e l o we a c ho b j e c t i o ni so v e r r ul e d .

Ob j ec t i on1

Thi so b j e c t i ona r g uest h a tt heR & R e r r edi nf a i l i ngt oc ons i de rt hef a c tt ha tPl ai nt i f fs er v e d
Hot wi r e Com m u ni c a t i ons w i t h as ub poe na r e que s t i ng t he na m e, a dd r e s s ,t e l ep hone nu mb e r ,a nd e ma i ladd r e s s of t h e pe r s on a s s i g ned t h ei nf r i ngi ng l n t e nw t Pr ot oc ol a dd r e s s 24. 238. 22. 20 7, bu t f a i l e dt or e qu es tc onf i r ma t i on t ha tM r .Pe l i zz o' sa c c oun tw as a s s i gne dt ha tadd r es sa te xa c t l y 5: 37 pm .o n Fe br ua r y6 ,201 2. Thoug h De f e n da ntdoesn oti ndi c a t eh ow t hi sf ac tunde r mi ne st h e R & R,
i t woul d pr es um abl y go t ot he M agi s t r a t e' sr es ol ut i o n of t he s e c ond of t he f ou r Foge r t yf ac t or s , nam el yi i m ot i vat i on. ' '

De f e n da ntma ke sgen e r a lcl a i mst hr ou ghouthi sob j e c t i onst hatPl a i n t i f fi smot i v a t e dby t h e
d es i r et oe x t or ts e t t l e me n t so utofa nd f unds f r om i nnoc e n ti n t e r n e tus e r s who,i n or de rt oa voi dt h e e mb a r r a s s me n ta s s oc i a t e d wi t h be i ng a c c us e d of i n f r i ngi ng a dul tvi d eo con t e nt ,ar e wi l l i ng t o pa y Pl ai n t i f ft o go a wa ywi t h outr e g ar dt ot he m e r i t s of i t sc as e. A s s t a t e di nt h e R & R an dr e i t er a t e d

h e r e ,i i De f en da nth as ( s t i l l )no tdi r ec t e dt h e Co ur tt oa ny e vi de nc et h atwoul ds u ppor te ve na n

i nf e r e nc et ha tPl a i nt i f ff i l ed t hi ss ui tt os ha me De f e nd a nti nt o a pr e s ui ts e t t l e me n t . ' '( DE 53 1 .

Ac co r di ngl y, t heob j e c t i oni sove r r ul e d.

Case 1:12-cv-22768-PAS Document 58 Entered on FLSD Docket 03/28/2014 Page 4 of 6

Ob j ec t i on1 1

De f end a nt ' sn ex tob j e c t i on a r gue st h a tPl a i n t i f f ' sf a i l ur et oa t t e mptapr e s ui tr e s ol ut i o n of

t h i sd i s p u t ec a l l si n t oq u e s t i o n Pl a i n t i f rss u b j e c t i v e mo t i v a t i o ni nf i l i n gs u i t . Th eu n d e r s i g n e d ,
h owe ve r ,a gr e es t ha ts i x phone c a l l st ot he nu mbe r pr o vi de db yt he Def e nda nt ' sI nt e r n e t Se r vi c e
Pr o vi de ri nr e s p ons et o as ub poe na a r es um c i e ntt o de mo ns t r a t e a goo df a i t ha t t e mp tt or es ol ve t h e

di s pu t e wi t hou t ne e df o rI i t i ga t i o n. Thoug h Def e n da nt i ns i nua t es Pl a i nt i f f ' sa t t emp t s we r e ha l f h ea r t e da tb es t ,Pl a i n t i f fhasonl ya dm i t t ed t ha ti twa s up on i t ss i x t ha t t e m ptt oc on t a c tDe f e nd a ntt h a t

i tI e a r ne dt hel i n eha d be endi s c onne c t e d. ( DE 57a t7) . ThePl ai nt i f fne e dn ota vai li t s el fofe ve r y
f o r m of c om m u ni c a t i on, t el ep hone , el e c t r on i c ma i l ,c e r t i f i e d ma i la n do t he r s ,t o be r eg a r de da s ha v i ng a t t e m pt e d ap r es ui tr e s ol ut i o n oft h e di s pu t e . Ac c or di ngl y ,t hi so b j e c t i oni so venul e d.

Ob je c t i on1 1 1

Ob j ec t i on1 I Is e e mst os ug ge s tt ha t ,a gai n, be c aus ePl a i nt i f fdi dnot ,i na ddi t i o nt oa t t e mp t i ng

t oc a l lDe f e nda n ts i xt i me s ,s end hi m el e c t r oni co rc e r t i f l e d mai l ,t h e co mpl a i n twasf s l e df ora n
i mpr ope rpu r pos e. A s a d dr e s s e ds u pr a,Pl a i nt i f rs num e r ous a t t e mp t st oc on t a c tDef e n da ntc ou pl e d wi t ho t he re vi d e nc ec ons i de r e di nt he R & R, a r es uf Gc i e ntt oi ndi c a t et ha tt h ei m pe t us f orf i l i ng s ui t

i nt h i sc a s ewa st op r o t e c t av a l i dc o p y r i g h t , a l b e i t o fd e b a t a b l es o c i a l v a l u e .Ass u c h , Ob j e c t i o nl l 1
i so ve nul ed.

Ob j ec t i on1V

Th ef o u r t ho b j e c t i o na p p e a r st oa d d r e s st h ef i r s to ft h eFo g e r t yf a c t o r s ,n a me l yl f r i v o l i t y . ' '

Fo ge r t y 51 0 U. S.a t 534 n. 1 9. De f en da nt s e e m st o al l e ge t ha tonc e Pl a i n t i f fw a sp r ovi de d wi t h pas s por ta n d vi s ad oc um e n t a t i on de m ons t r a t i ng t ha tM r . Pe l i z z o ha d no tb ee ni nt he U ni t e dS t a t esf or ar a nge of da t e si n cl udi ng Fe br ua r y 6,201 2,Pl a i n t i f rs cl ai m s be c am e f r i vol o us .A s t h eR & R
m akes cl ear,d s pl ai nt i f f w oul d have been wel lw i t hi ni t sr i ght st ot es tt he ver aci t y of Def endant ' s

as s e r t i ons ( a nd doc u me n t s jt hr oug h di s c ov e r y. ' '( DE 531 . Thi sob j e c t i on doe s no ti na ny wa y

un de r mi net h e R & R, a ndt husi sove r r ul e d.
4

Case 1:12-cv-22768-PAS Document 58 Entered on FLSD Docket 03/28/2014 Page 5 of 6

Ob je c t i o nI Z

De f e n d a n t ' st s f t ho b j e c t i o nt a k e si s s u ewi t ht h eR & R' sc o n c l u s i o nt h a tPl a i n t i f psd e c i s i o n

ast ot het i mi ng o ft heAs s i s t a n tGe ne r a lCouns e l ' sd e pos i t i on i i wasno tt her es ul toff o otdr a ggi ngby

Pl ai n t i f rscou ns el . ' '( DE 541 . Def e nda ntg oe son t o not e ' 't het i mi ng oft h et s l i ngofPl a i nt i f rs
c o m pl ai nta se vi de nc e of i t s co nt e nt i on t ha t4 4 pl ai n t i f fi ss e l f s e r v i n gl y ma ni pul a t i n gt he da t au po n

whi c hi tr el i e s . ' '1 d. Al t hough De f e nd a ntb el i e ve si ti i s af et o as s u me' 't ha tPl ai nt i f fkne w Ho t wi r e

Communi c a t i on' sda t ar e t e nt i on pol i c ya nd wa spumos e l y ma ni pul a t i n gi ti n ba df a i t h,cou r t sofI a w a r e noti nt he bus i n es s ofa s s umi ng. Th e M agi s t r a t eJ udg e' s co nc l u s i on was ba s ed on t e s t i mony c o nt a i ne di n Pl a i nt i f rsCouns e l ' ss wor n de cl a r at i on. No t as s umpt i ons ' 'a bo utwha tPl a i nt i f fkne w,
wi t hou t m or e , ca ni n an y wa yu nde r mi ne t he R & R. Suc h as s u m pt i o ns ar e nei t h er s a f e nor
per s uasi ve.

Ob j ec t i on V 1
ns Pl a i nt i f rs m e t ho ds t o d et e c tp ot en t i a li nf r i ng e r s . De f e n d a n t ' s 5n a lo b j e c t i o n concer
Spe c i sc al l y , De f e n da nt t a ke si s s ue w i t ht he R & R ' sc o ncl us i on t h a tS s t he de t e c t i o n me t ho ds e m pl o ye d by l PP Li mi t e d ...ha ve bee nr e l i e du pon i n hun dr e ds of l a ws ui t sa c r os st he cou nt r ya nd

byl a we nf or c e men tt ol o c a t ec r i mi n al s . ' '( DE 53a t9) . Thi sc onc l us i oni sba s e dupont hea m da vi t
ofa t we n t y t w o ye a r ve t e r a n oft h e Pal m Be a c h Co unt y She r r i f fs D e pa r t me nt . El ev e n of Om c e r , a nd l a t erDe t ec t i ve Pai g e' s ye a r sw i t ht he She r r i f rs D e pa r t me ntwe r es pe nti nt he comput erc r i me s
uni t . Def endant ' s at t empt st o char act er i ze Pl ai nt i t r si nqui r y as one f or a s t at i cl nt er net Pr ot ocol

a dd r e s s ,r a t h e rt ha n a dy nam i cl nt e r ne tPr ot oc ola dd r es sa r eu npe r s u as i ve. Pl ai n t i f ps s ubp oe na a nd

exhi bi t s at t ached t her et oi ns t r uct ed H ot wi r e Com m uni cat i ons t o pr oduce d d docum ent ss uf f i ci ent t o i de nt i f yt het r ue nam e,t el ephone num berand em ai laddr essofeach pers on who w as as si gned one of

t heI Pa dd r e s s e ss e tf or t hi n Ex hi bi tA' ' onFe br ua r y26, 201 2a t5: 37PM. ( DE 492j .Re ga r dl es so f

Case 1:12-cv-22768-PAS Document 58 Entered on FLSD Docket 03/28/2014 Page 6 of 6

ho wo ne c ha r a c t e r i z esPl a i n t i f ps i nqui r y ,Def e nda nt ' sa c c oun twa sa s s i gn ed t ot he i nf r i ngi ng l n t e r n e t

P r o t o c o l a d d r e s so nt h ed a t es p e c i f i e d .Co n s e q u e n t l y , De f e n d a n t ' sGn a l o b j e c t i o ni so v e r r u l e d .

1 1 1 .Pl ai nt i f fCouns el ' sC onduc t

I ta ppe a r st ha tPl a i nt i f rsCouns e lha sa cc e pt e dt hi soppor t uni t yt oi mpr ov e hi sa ppr o a ch t o

c ont l i c t si nt hi sa nd f ut ur ec a s e s . Th e Cour te xpe c t st ha t Couns el ' sf ut ur e co nduc tw i l le xhi bi tt he

hi ghe s tl e v el sofpr o f es s i o nal i s m. l fn ot ,he doess oa thi so wn pe r i l . Le tt hi sc a s eb eaI e a r ni n g

e xpe r i e nc ef o ra l li n vol ve d.
[Link] usi on

Ha vi n gc ar e f ul l yr e vi ewe d, de n ov o,M a gi s t r at eJ u dge Si mont on' sR & R,t h er e cor d, a nd t h e

Ob j e c t i o n s , i t i sh e r e b y
ORDERED t hat

( 1 )Al l o ft h eDe f e n d a n t ' so b j e c t i o n sa r eOVERRULED;

( 2 )Th eRe por ta ndRe c omme nda t i on( DE 53 )i sAFFI RM ED a ndADOPTED, a nd
i nc om or a t ed by r e f e r e nc ei n t ot hi sOr d er ;

( 3 )De f e nda n t ' sMot i o nf orAt t or n ey' sFe e s( DE41 )i sGRANTED I N PART; ( 4 )Sa nc t i o ns ,i nt hef or mo fa t t or ne y' sf e e s , ar ea wa r de dt oDe f e nda n ta nda ga i ns tPl a i nt i f rs
c ou ns e li nt hea mou ntof$ 6, 815. 50pu r s uan tt o28U. S. C.j 1 927; ( 5 )Thi sc as ei sCLOSED.
M .7 yofM a r c h, 201 DONE a nd ORDERED i nM i a mi ,Fl or i da t hi s X & da 4.

PAT Cl A A .SEI T UN I TED STATES DI STRI CT JUDG E cc: A1 lCounselofRecor d Honor abl e A ndr ea Si m ont on

V? *