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Directv is sending letters generally to each person who appears on a list of purchases of what they call "pirate access devices", on the presumption that these devices are being used to intercept signals. It appears that not all of the recipients of the letters have been sued, although my experience is that all of the clients with whom I have come in contact have in fact been sued after receiving two of these letters.

Generally you have the option of settling your case for the sum of $3,500, after receipt of these letters. Once lawsuits have been initiated, it appears that Directv will not accept less than $4,500 in settlement. You have 20 days after service of a complaint against you before the entry of default against you becomes possible.

If you intend to get out of this situation as quickly as possible, and do not intend to defend against it, you should indeed settle upon receipt of the letters; once a lawsuit has been initiated, you will be charged considerable amounts of fees by any attorney, and the lawsuit is likely to go on for some time, although it may not get all the way to trial. On the other hand, if you do not believe you are liable to Directv, you must defend the action to avoid the entry of a judgment.

This is your decision. If you settle your case before the filing of suit, Directv will send you a release, which is a good deal more complicated than the typical release, and does not release some actions, past and future. Once lawsuits have been initiated you would be most wise to retain an attorney. We practice in the Western and Middle Districts of North Carolina.

Our retainer in these actions, once lawsuits have been started, is the sum of $1,500. This is an advance retainer against an hourly billing of $150.00 per hour. If the case is protracted, the retainer is likely to be exceeded and we will then bill as we perform services.