Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-04912/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-04912-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 820
Nature of Suit: Copyright
Cause of Action: 28:1338 Copyright Infringement

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2033 North Main Street, Suite 800

Walnut Creek, CA 94596-3759

925.930.6600

925.930.6620 (Fax)

www.archernorris.com

JESSICA S. PLINER

jpliner@archernorris.com

925-930-6600

May 2, 2016

Hon. Laurel Beeler

San Francisco Courthouse

Courtroom C - 15th Floor

450 Golden Gate Ave.

San Francisco, CA 94102

Re: Yates v. Adams, et al., Case No. 3:15-cv-04912-JD

Mandatory Settlement Conference: June 28, 2016

Dear Judge Beeler:

Defendants Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc., Seal Rock Broadcasters, LLC, 

Sarkes Tarzian, Inc., Gray Television, Inc., Intermountain West Communications 

Company, LLC, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. and Comcast Corporation, hereinafter, 

“Requesting Defendants,” request permission for their personal attendance at the June 

28, 2016 settlement conference be excused because their appearance would an 

unjustifiable hardship.

This suit arises from the alleged copyright infringement of computer software 

“Subject Software” related to the digital delivery of commercial television 

advertisements. The Requesting Defendants, operators of television stations across 

the country, accessed the Subject Software at the request of Defendant David Adams 

and his company Transmedia, Inc. in order to enable Transmedia to deliver

advertisements for insertion into programming in an efficient manner.

Transmedia has agreed to indemnify the Requesting Defendants with respect to 

damages arising out of their access to or use of the Subject Software in this suit and Mr. 

Adams has full authority to resolve this matter on behalf of Requesting Defendants. Mr. 

Adams will be present at the settlement conference and will have full authority to settle 

this matter on behalf of himself, Transmedia and on behalf of the Requesting 

Defendants. Counsel for Requesting Defendants, including separate counsel for 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORN

I

A

IT IS SO ORDERED

Judge Laurel Beeler

The Court asks the 

platintiff's counsel to 

weigh in on the request. 

The ruling is deferred. 

DATED: May 4, 2016

Case 3:15-cv-04912-JD Document 58 Filed 05/04/16 Page 1 of 3
Hon. Laurel Beeler

May 2, 2016

Page 2

Comcast Corporation will be present and Requesting Defendants propose being 

available via telephone if required.

Mr. Adams possesses the information about the development of the Subject 

Software, Plaintiff’s role in the development of the Subject Software and all Defendants’ 

access to and use of that software. Mr. Adams also possesses the information and 

documentation supporting all Defendants’ affirmative defenses. Requesting Defendants 

do not have any additional information on these items. Mr. Adams also possesses the 

documents and information necessary to undertake a calculation of actual damages 

relating to each Defendant’s access to the Subject Software, if liability were established. 

Prior to the conference, said calculations will be confirmed with Requesting Defendants. 

Therefore the value in the personal appearances of Requesting Defendants is 

outweighed by the hardship of the extensive time commitment and long distance travel.

Requesting Defendants’ personnel who would satisfy the Court’s attendance 

requirements (as stated in the Court’s April 5, 2016 Order) are located:

a) Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc.: Irving, Texas;

b) Seal Rock Broadcasters, LLC: Monterey, California

c) Sarkes Tarzian, Inc.: Reno, Nevada;

d) Gray Television, Inc.: Atlanta, Georgia;

e) Intermountain West Communications Company, LLC: Las Vegas, Nevada;

f) Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.: Hunt Valley, Maryland;

g) Comcast Corporation: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Defendants Gray Television, Inc., Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., Sarkes Tarzian, 

Inc. and Intermountain West Communications Company, LLC have liability policies 

which may satisfy a judgment, however Transmedia is providing a defense and 

indemnity to these Defendants and, accordingly, these carriers are not participating in 

the litigation. The other Requesting Defendants do not have liability policies which 

might satisfy a judgment.

Assuming liability could be established, which is unlikely for a number of reasons, 

including conclusively established matters resulting from Plaintiff’s failure to respond to 

requests for admissions, Defendants estimate the net actual damages to be less than 

$10,000. (Statutory damages and attorney’s fees are not available in this matter). 

Plaintiff’s counsel was unable to provide Plaintiff’s position on this matter as he 

was unable to reach Plaintiff, who is apparently out of the country for at least another 

week. 

Because Mr. Adams will be present with full settlement authority to resolve this 

matter as well as full knowledge of the relevant information and based on the amount in 

controversy and the distances to be traveled, the personal appearance of the 

Case 3:15-cv-04912-JD Document 58 Filed 05/04/16 Page 2 of 3
Hon. Laurel Beeler

May 2, 2016

Page 3

Requesting Defendants at the settlement conference would represent an unjustifiable 

hardship.

Respectfully Submitted,

s/ Jessica Stuart Pliner

Counsel for Defendants DAVID B. ADAMS, 

erroneously sued Individually, and d/b/a 

TRANSMEDIA, INC., TRANSMEDIA POST 

PRODUCTION, TRANSMEDIA RADIO 

NETWORKS, MEDIAFAX, INC. and 

SPOTTRAFFIC, INC., NEXSTAR 

BROADCASTING GROUP, INC., SEAL 

ROCK BROADCASTERS, LLC, SARKES 

TARZIAN, INC., GRAY TELEVISION, INC., 

INTERMOUNTAIN WEST 

COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY, LLC 

erroneously sued as INTERMOUNTAIN 

WEST COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY, 

INC. and SINCLAIR BROADCAST 

GROUP, INC.

and Jill Battilega Rowe

 Counsel for Defendant Comcast

 Corporation

cc: Craig Lusiani (Counsel for Plaintiff)

Charles R. Kozak (Counsel for Plaintiff)

Owen Seitel (Co-Counsel for Requesting Defendants)

T0230001/4817-5496-1200-1

Case 3:15-cv-04912-JD Document 58 Filed 05/04/16 Page 3 of 3