UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
IN RE: :
MULTIPLE, UNRELATED
DEFENDANTS IN MATTERS :
INVOLVING THE UNAUTHORIZED STANDING ORDER
RECEPTION OF SATELLITE AND : SO: 05-02
BROADCAST TRANSMISSIONS
:
_________________________________________
This General Order of the District of New Jersey is intended to ensure compliance with
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 20(a) for permissive joinder of defendants. Rule 20(a) allows
the permissive joinder of defendants where the claims “aris[e] out of the same transaction,
occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences.” In this District, in actions where defendants
are accused of receiving unauthorized broadcast and satellite transmissions, plaintiffs have
typically been joining numerous defendants in a single case where there is no transactional
relatedness. This is not permissible under Fed. R. Civ P. 20(a) or any other rule, and shall not be
done.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT:
An attorney filing an action for the unauthorized reception of satellite and broadcast
transmissions is obligated to meet the requirements of Rule 20(a) before joining numerous
defendants in a single action and shall attest to his or her compliance in a certification
accompanying the initial pleading, if more than one defendant is named.
s/ John W. Bissell
JOHN W. BISSELL
Chief Judge
Dated: May 6, 2005
