Opinion ID: 2396996
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Comcast Restitution Award

Text: At the restitution hearing, the State introduced evidence of Redick's sales records showing that Redick had sold 267 unlawful devices (400 sales less 133 returned devices). The records included the names and addresses of Redick's purchasers, as well as the date and quantity of sale and any returns. A Comcast system security specialist, John O'Connor, testified that only thirty-seven of Redick's purchasers could positively be identified as Comcast subscribers. One of the 267 customers was determined to definitely not have been a Comcast subscriber. O'Connor could not say who the cable provider was for the remaining listed purchasers, but noted that Comcast was not the sole digital cable provider in approximately 20% of the locations. Comcast presented evidence that it had the telecommunication devices tested and confirmed that the items sold by Redick blocked the billing signal. Because the unlawful devices interfere with the transmission of billing information to the cable provider, there was no way for Comcast to determine how often the devices were actually used. Comcast provided a letter from the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, however, explaining that the loss to cable companies for each device could be estimated at $275 for a thirty-day period. The Superior Court reduced that $275 per thirty-day period for each device that Comcast submitted to a total of $250 per device regardless of the length of time that the user may have had illegal access to services. The Superior Court further reduced that $250 amount to sixty percent of the starting point, i.e., $150 ($250 × 60% = $150). Based on the testimony that Comcast was not the exclusive cable provider in approximately 20% of the markets, the Superior Court awarded Comcast only 20% ($50 = 20% of $250) of the potential loss for devices in non-exclusive areas. The Superior Court then calculated Comcast's total loss of services at $18,350, based on fifty devices (some of the thirty-seven Comcast purchasers purchased more than one device) at $150 and added 217 devices at $50 each to reflect that Comcast was not the exclusive provider for those purchasers. O'Connor testified that 75 hours was a reasonable estimate of the total time he and his partner spent on the Redick matter during the three-month investigation by Comcast. Comcast sought restitution from Redick in the amount of $75 an hour for each investigator. O'Connor testified that although he had not recorded his or his partner's time during the investigation, he had reasonably estimated their time commitment to this investigation. O'Connor testified that the Comcast investigators: had made several attempts to contact Redick; attempted to purchase devices on more than one occasion; contacted EBay for information; discussed the case with employees in another state; contacted police and prosecutors; had the purchased devices tested at a lab; and prepared loss statements for the Superior Court. The Superior Court accepted O'Connor's testimony regarding the investigative costs and awarded $5,625 for the cost of its investigation (75 hours × $75 = $5,625). Therefore, Comcast was awarded restitution in the total amount of $23,975.