Judge scolds local satellite operator seeking dismissal. (Law).DIRECTV DirecTV (trademarked as "DIRECTV") is a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service based in El Segundo, California, USA, that transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America except for Mexico. has taken another step in its effort to have a $300 million lawsuit lawsuit: see procedure; tort. filed last fall by several of its independent dealers dismissed. In a March 8 preliminary injunction A temporary order made by a court at the request of one party that prevents the other party from pursuing a particular course of conduct until the conclusion of a trial on the merits. A preliminary injunction is regarded as extraordinary relief. hearing, L.A. Superior Court Judge Victoria Chaney declined to order the company to halt mailing letters to 12,000 independent satellite dealers asking them to sign amended a·mend v. a·mend·ed, a·mend·ing, a·mends v.tr. 1. To change for the better; improve: amended the earlier proposal so as to make it more comprehensive. 2. contracts as part of a change in accounting practices in DirecTV's sales relationships. In October, a dealer filed suit on behalf of 30,000 DirecTV dealers, claiming DirecTV was slowly weeding weed 1 n. 1. a. A plant considered undesirable, unattractive, or troublesome, especially one growing where it is not wanted, as in a garden. b. Rank growth of such plants. 2. them out by changing its accounting methods. Specifically, the dealers have had to pay charges to DirecTV if a customer temporarily or permanently stops satellite services. Meanwhile, DirecTV is behind in its monthly residual payments to the dealers, the suit said. Chaney took the opportunity to offer DirecTV several suggestions on improving its business practices. She recommended that DirecTV extend the deadline to return the amended contract letters and criticized DirecTV's poor communications with its dealers. "The problems that you have encountered in this preliminary injunction hearing could have been avoided, and a lot of money and time could have been avoided, had a clear mission statement been placed into the letter," Chaney said. The company plans to ask Chaney to dismiss the lawsuit at a planned March 26 hearing. |
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