Free Amended Complaint - District Court of California - California

Case 3:07-cv-02226-DMS-AJB

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Chad Austin. Esq.SBN235457 3129 IndiaStreef SanDiego,California 92109 (6 Telephone:19) 297-8888 ( 619]1 5-l 401 Facsimile: 29 Attomey Plaintiff, for JAMESM. KINDER

UNITEDSTATESDISTRICTCOURT SOUTHERN DISTRICTOF CALIFORNIA
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JAMES M. KINDER. Plaintiff.
VS.

C a s e o . : 0 7 C V 2 2 2 6 D M S( A J B ) N FIRSTAMENDED COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES, INCLUDING PUNITIVE DAMAGBS, INTEREST ANI) ATTORNEY'S FEES, AND FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Violationsof TelcphoncConsumer Protection Act of 1991 Violationsof California Civil Code S 1770 (a) (22) (A) Trespass Chattel to Practices Unfair Business

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HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT,Inc.; HARRAH'S OPIIRA'I'ING COMPANY, Inc.; HARRAH'S MARKETING SERVICES CORPORATION; HARRAI I,S LICENSE C O M P A N Y .L L C : H A R R A I I . SL A U G H L I N . Inc.;HBR REALTY COMPANY, Inc.and DOES I through100,inclusivc, Def'endants.

COMITS NOW PlaintilTJAMESM. KINDER (hereinafter referred as "Plainlilf') who alleges to
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as follows:
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JURISDICTION AND VENUE
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1.
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AlthoughPlaintiffcommenced actionin the SanDiego Superior this Court on

October 2^2007.Defendant IIARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT.Inc.removcd this courton to November21,2007,pursuant 28 U.S.C.S S 1332 and 1441(b). Plaintiff reserves right to the to file a Motion for Remandat a later date. Each of the Defendants namedherein is a residentof a stateother than California and was responsible disseminating for unlawful prerecorded
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telemarketingcalls to Plaintiff, a residentof the Stateof California. The amountin controversy in this actionexceeds $75,000.SanDiego is the propervenuefor this actionin that the torts complained hereinoccurred the City of SanDiego,Countyof SanDiego, Stateof of in Califomiaand Plaintiff is a resident the City of SanDiego,Countyof SanDiego,Stateof of California.

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PARTIES 2. Plaintiff is, and at all timeshereinmentioned was,a resident the Countyof San of

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Dieso. Stateof Califbrnia.

3.

Def'endants, eachof them,are,and at all timeshereinmentioned and werc,

business organizations doing business the form of unlawfultelemarketing the Countyo1' in in SanDiego,Stateof Californiato SanDiego residents, includingPlaintill.

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4.

Onc of thc 7 unlawfulprerecordcd tclcmarkcting callsmadeto I'}laintill--s number

assigned a pagingservice, to whichwasmadeon l)ecember 2003at l0:19 a.m..statcd 9. thatit wasmadeon behalfof "llarrah'sRinconCasino." Thatcasino located ValleyCcntcr.San is in DiegoCounty,California. On information and belief,Plaintill'alleges the Ilarrah's Rincon that Casinois ownedby the Rinconbandof Mission Indiansand operated one or more of several by l]arrah'sentities, includingbut not necessarily limited to Defendant HARRAI I'S ENTERTAINMENT, Inc. (a Delaware corporation), Defendant IIARRAH'S OPERATING COMPANY, Inc. (a Delaware corporation), Defendant HARRAH'S MARKETING SERVICES CORPORATION(a Nevadacorporation) Defendant HARRAH'S LICENSE COMPANY, and LLC (aNevadalimited liability company).

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5.

Defendant HARRAH'S LAUGHLIN, lnc. (a Nevadacorporation) owns

"Harrah's Laughlin Casino." Two (2) of the unlawful prerecorded telemarketingcalls complained in this actionwerecallsto Plaintiff s numberassigned a pagingservice of to promotingthe Harrah'sLaughlinCasinoin Laughlin,Nevada.

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6.

Defendant HARRAH'S OPERATING COMPANY. lnc. owns "Harrah'sLas

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VegasCasino." Two (2) of the unlawfulprerecorded telemarketing callscomplained in this of actionwere callsto Plaintiff s numberassigned a pagingservice to promotingthe Harrah'sLas VegasCasinoin Las Vegas,Nevada.

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7.

Defendant HBR REALTY COMPANY, Inc. (a Nevadacorporation) owns

"Harrah'sCouncilBluff-s Casino." One (1) of the unlawfulprerecorded telemarketing calls complained in this actionwas a callto Plaintiff s numberassigned a pagingservice of to promotingthe Harrah'sCouncilBluffs Casinoin CouncilBluffs, Iowa.

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One ( 1) of the unlawf prerecorded ul telemarkeling callscomplained in this ol-

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actionwasa call promoting Harrah's the Metropolis in Casino Melropolis, Illinois. Plainlillalleges informationand beliefthat Defendant on HBR REALTY COMPANY, Inc. owns the Harrah'sMetropolisCasino.

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9.

On information and belief.Plaintiff alleqes that Defendant HARRAH'S

LICENSE COMPANY. LLC is responsible somemannerfor all or at leastsomeof the in unlawfulprerecorded telemarketing callscomplained in this action. of

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10.

Plaintiff is unawareof the true namesand capacities defendants of suedherein as

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DOES I through 100,inclusive,and thereforesuesthesedef'endants such fictitious names. by when ascertained. Plaintiff will amendthis complaintto allegetheir true namesand capacities Plaintiffis informed and believesand thereonallesesthat eachof the fictitiouslv named

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defendants responsible somemannerfor the occurrences is in hereinallegedand that Plaintiffs damages hereinallegedwere proximatelycaused their conduct. as by

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At all times hereinmentionedeachdefendant was the partner,agentand

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employeeof eachco-defendant hereinand was at all times actingwithin the scopeof such partnership, agencyand employmentand eachdefendant ratif-red conductof eachcothe defendant herein.

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FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION of Telephone Consumer Protection of 19911 Act fViolation

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Plaintiffrealleges paragraphs through11 abovcand incorporatcs I thcm hcrcinby

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Plaintiffis bringing this actionpursuant thc provisions tlic Tclcphone to of

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Consumer Protection of 1991(47 ll.S.C. $227 and47 C.F.R.$64.1 - "'I-CPA"). Act 200

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(b) Subdivision (1) (A) (iii) of Scction 227 of Title 47 of thc UnitcdStatcs

Codemakesit unlawfulfor any person "Make any call (otherthana call madefor emergency to purposes madewith the prior express or consent the calledparty)usingany automatic of telephone dialing systemor an artificialor prerecorded voice...to numberassigned any telephone to a pagingservice, specialized mobileradio service, otherradiocommoncarrierservice, or or any servicefor which the calledparty is chargedfor the call."

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15.

Defendants havebeencalling Plaintiff s numberassigned a pagingservice. to

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using an automatictelephone voice, without dialing systemor an artificial or prerecorded permission, at least7 occasions Plaintiff s express on during the statutoryperiod of the last 4 years, pursuant 28 U.S.C.$ 1658. Thesecallsare only the callsknown to Plaintiff at this time to on and Plaintiff states informationand belief. without vet having the aid of full discovery.that it

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is quite likely that Defendants havemademany more violative calls to Plaintifl's number assigned a paging service. Thesecalls were not madefor any emergency to purpose,nor were thesecallsexemptundersubdivision of section (c) 64.1200of title 47 of theCodeof Federal Resulations.

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Subdivision (bX3) of section 227 of title 47 of the UnitedStates Codepermitsa

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privateright of actionin statecourtfor violationsof 47 U.S.C.$227(b) (l) (A) (iii). Plaintiff may obtainrelief in the form of injunctiverelief,or Plaintiff may recover$500.00lbr each violation,or both. lf the courtfindsthat defendants'violations werewillful or knowing,it may, in its discretion. awardup to threetimesthat amount.

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SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION of [Violation(s) CalifomiaCivil Code$ 1770(a) (22) (A)] 17. reference. I']laintiffrealleges paragraphs through16 aboveand incorporates 1 them hereinby

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18.

California Civil Code{ 1770(a) (22) (A) requircs thatall recorded messages

disseminated within the state introduced a live, naturalvoice giving the nameof the entity be by calling,the nameof the entity beingrepresented, address phonenumberfor that entity,and an or askingpermission play the recording.Defendants' to illegalprerecorded callsto telemarketing Plaintiff failedto comply with this requirement.

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As a proximate resultof defendants' violationsof Civil Codesection1110,

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plaintiff has sufferedand continues suffer damages an amountnot yet ascertained, be to in to proven at trial.

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20.

futureconduct Civil Codesection1780(a) (2) providesfor an injunctionagainst

in violationof Civil Codesection1770.

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21.

Civil Codesection1780(a) (4) provides an awardof punitivedamages for for

violations Civil Codesection of 1770.

22.

Civil Codesection1780(d) providesfor an awardof attorneys feesfbr plaintiffs

harmedby CaliforniaCivil Codeg 1770(a) (22) (A) violations.

THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION to [Trespass Chattel]

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PlaintifTrealleges paragraphs through 22 aboveand incorporales I them herein by

reference.

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The conductby defendants complained herein.namelycalling Plaintilf s of

numberassigned a pagingservice, 1o usingan artificialor prerecorded voice,without Plaintiffls permission, express constitutes electronic an trespass chattel. to

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At no time did Plaintiffconsent this trespass. to

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As a proximate resultof theseintrusions, Plaintiff sufl'ered damage an anrount in

according prool. to

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ln makingthe illegal callsdescribed above,defendants were guilty of opprcssion

and malice,in that defendants madesaidcallswith the intentto vex. injure.or annoyPlaintiffor with a willful and conscious disregard Plaintiffs rights.Plaintifftherefore of seeks awardof an punitivedamages.

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FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION in Practices] [Engaging Unfair Business

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Plaintiff realleges paragraphs through27 aboveand incorporates I them hereinby

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29.

Because Defendants' unlawfulprerecorded telemarketing callsviolatedfbderal

and Californiastatutes, they areunlawfulbusiness practices within the meaningof section17200 of the Business and Professions Code.

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Section17203of the Business and Professions Clode cntitlesPlaintiffto an

injunctionenjoiningdefendants from engaging unfairor unlawfulbusiness in practices.

WHEREFOREPlaintiffpraysfor judgmentagainst dclbndants. cachof thcm. as and follows:

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On thc FIRSTCAUSE OF ACTION: 1. 2. For an awardof $500.00 eachviolationof 47 tl.S.C. $227 for , For an awardof $1.500.00 eachsuchviolationfoundto havebeenwillful: for

On the SECONDCAUSE OF ACTION:
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For compensatory damages accordingto proof; For preliminaryand permanent injunctions, enjoiningDefendants, eachof and them,from engaging activity in violationof CaliforniaCivil Code $1770(a) in (22) (A);

4.

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5. 6.

For punitivedamages; For attornevsfees:

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ONthcTHIRD CAUSEOF ACTION: 7. 8.
For compensatory damages accordingto proof; For punitive damages;

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On the FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION: 9. For preliminaryandpermanent injunctions, enjoiningDefendants, eachof and them,from engaging unfair or unlawfulbusiness in practices pursuant section to 17203of the Business Professions and Code:

On ALL CAUSESOF ACTION: 10. I l. 12. For attomey'sfeespursuant CaliforniaCodeof Clivil Procedure I 021.5. to { For costs suitherein of incurred; and I.'orsuchfurtherrelief as the Court deems propsr.

DATED: January 2008 30. /s/ ChadAustin ChadAustin.Attornevlbr Plainrif[.fMFS M. i(INDItR A
Bmail : chadaustin(a)cox.net

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