Comcast 2013 Annual Report Download - page 121

Table of Contents
Comcast Corporation
practices acts in California, Illinois and Alabama. The plaintiffs also allege a claim for unjust enrichment and seek relief on behalf of
a nationwide class of our premium cable customers and on behalf of subclasses consisting of premium cable customers from
California, Alabama, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Washington. In January 2010, we moved to compel arbitration of the plaintiffs’
claims for unjust enrichment and violations of the unfair/deceptive trade practices acts of Illinois and Alabama. In September 2010,
the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint alleging violations of additional state antitrust laws and unfair/deceptive trade practices
acts on behalf of new subclasses in Connecticut, Florida, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico and West Virginia. In the
amended complaint, plaintiffs omitted their unjust enrichment claim, as well as their state law claims on behalf of the Alabama,
Illinois and Pennsylvania subclasses. In June 2011, the plaintiffs filed another amended complaint alleging only violations of
Section 1 of the Sherman Antitrust Act, antitrust law in Washington and unfair/deceptive trade practices acts in California and
Washington. The plaintiffs seek relief on behalf of a nationwide class of our premium cable customers and on behalf of subclasses
consisting of premium cable customers from California and Washington. In July 2011, we moved to compel arbitration of most of
the plaintiffs’
claims and to stay the remaining claims pending arbitration. The West Virginia Attorney General also filed a complaint
in West Virginia state court in July 2009 alleging that we improperly “tie” the rental of set-
top boxes to the provision of digital cable
services in violation of the West Virginia Antitrust Act and the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act. The Attorney
General also alleges a claim for unjust enrichment/restitution. We removed the case to the United States District Court for West
Virginia, and it was subsequently transferred to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and
consolidated with the multidistrict litigation described above. In June 2013, a comprehensive settlement agreement for all 23 cases
was submitted to the District Court for preliminary approval. Regardless of whether this settlement agreement is approved, we do
not expect these cases to have a material effect on our results of operations, cash flows or financial position.
We believe the claims in each of the pending actions described above in this item are without merit, except as otherwise set forth
above, and intend to defend the actions vigorously. We cannot predict the outcome of any of the actions described above, including
a range of possible loss, or how the final resolution of any such actions would impact our results of operations or cash flows for any
one period or our financial position. In addition, as any action nears a trial, there is an increased possibility that the action may be
settled by the parties. Nevertheless, the final disposition of any of the above actions is not expected to have a material adverse
effect on our consolidated financial position, but could possibly be material to our consolidated results of operations or cash flows
for any one period.
Other
We are a defendant in several unrelated lawsuits claiming infringement of various patents relating to various aspects of our
businesses. In certain of these cases other industry participants are also defendants, and also in certain of these cases we expect
that any potential liability would be in part or in whole the responsibility of our equipment and technology vendors under applicable
contractual indemnification provisions. We are also subject to other legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of
our business. While the amount of ultimate liability with respect to such actions is not expected to materially affect our results of
operations, cash flows or financial position, any litigation resulting from any such legal proceedings or claims could be time
consuming, costly and injure our reputation.
Comcast 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K
116