February 2024 Trial Seen in DirecTV Case vs. Telemarketing Impersonators

DirecTV and the defendants it alleges are impersonating DirecTV telemarketers and making off with consumers’ money estimate that jury selection and a five-day trial in the case should begin by Feb. 20, they said in a joint preliminary report and proposed scheduling order Thursday (docket 6:22-cv-00423) in U.S. District Court for Eastern Texas in Tyler. The defendants deny all the allegations, said the report. The parties contemplate needing about eight months, through Oct. 20, to do discovery, it said. It’s “likely” DirecTV will need to do discovery with entities outside the U.S. “If discovery is stymied it could take longer to complete,” said the report. DirecTV landed authorization Feb. 15 from a magistrate judge to effect service of process of its fraud complaint on defendant Motasim Billah via Facebook and LinkedIn because he's believed to be living in Lahore, Pakistan, with an exact address unknown (see 2302160055). Based on the number of parties sued and third-parties involved, DirecTV requests that it be permitted 20 depositions during discovery, said the report. The parties “are open to mediation” before a magistrate judge “after limited discovery,” it said. They discussed a settlement, “but have not reached agreement on any material terms,” it said.