OJ Simpson Fined For Pirating Direct TV Signals

A federal judge has ordered former American football star OJ Simpson pay USD.33,000 in damages for pirating satellite television signals from Direct TV. US District Judge Joan Lenard awarded the damages, plus lawyers' fees and other costs, after granting a motion for summary judgment in a civil suit against Simpson. In a raid on Simpson's Miami home in 2001, federal agents
 
seized illegal devices known as "bootloaders" that authorities said were used to steal television programming.

Simpson's attorney, Yale Galanter, said the judge "basically denied us our right to a jury trial".

"This was a decision made by a judge in chambers. They say he did it; we say he didn't. A jury should be able to make that decision."

Simpson was aware of Friday's ruling, Galanter said.

Asked whether Simpson would pay the damages and other costs, the lawyer said: "We are examining our legal options. ... We want our day in court."

Galanter has 10 days to respond, or the summary judgment stands. Direct TV executives were pleased with the ruling.

"The evidence was overwhelming since the devices seized in Simpson's home were connected to his TV and in operation and receiving unauthorised signals at the time of the raid," said Dan Fawcett, an executive vice president with El Segundo, California-based Direct TV Inc.

Simpson moved to Florida from California after he was acquitted of murder charges in the 1994 stabbing deaths of his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman.

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