{"id":368887,"date":"2022-02-08T15:35:27","date_gmt":"2022-02-08T20:35:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/litigation\/filing-a-lawsuit\/can-i-sue-a-satellite-or-streaming-company.html"},"modified":"2024-01-05T09:39:15","modified_gmt":"2024-01-05T14:39:15","slug":"can-i-sue-a-satellite-or-streaming-company","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/filing-a-lawsuit\/can-i-sue-a-satellite-or-streaming-company.html","title":{"rendered":"Can I Sue a Satellite or Streaming Company?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n<div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\"><h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">Can I Sue a Satellite or Streaming Company?<\/h1>\n\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/steven-ellison-esq\/\">Steven Ellison, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n                | Last reviewed\n        <time>\n                            January 05, 2024\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n    <div class=\"fl-callout-text article-blockquote\">\n        <p>You may be able to sue a satellite TV provider or a streaming service like Netflix. Yet, you&#8217;re probably limited to bringing a claim in small claims court. You must agree to a TV or streaming service contract, which usually restricts customers&#8217; options, when signing up.<\/p>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n<div><p>You can also arbitrate your claims for larger amounts, which is a process we describe below. If you decide to arbitrate, note that you are probably limited in the amount you can recover.<\/p>\n<p>Some streaming services limit the time you have to bring a claim. If you have an issue with a satellite TV business or a streaming service, <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/consumer-protection\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">consult an attorney<\/a> as soon after the issue arises as you can.<\/p>\n<h2>Disputes With TV and Streaming Services<\/h2>\n<p>Many subscription-based TV services are available to consumers, such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cable TV through Comcast (Xfinity) with its set-top boxes<\/li>\n<li>Satellite dishes through DirecTV or Dish Network<\/li>\n<li>Internet streaming services like Netflix, Apple TV, HBO, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+<\/li>\n<li>Live TV service on apps, such as with T-Mobile on your cell phone, computer, or tablet<\/li>\n<li>Major broadcast networks (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC), sports networks, movie packages, and hundreds of other channels<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>But these TV options can come with problems, such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Billing errors\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Poor video quality<\/li>\n<li>Connection issues and lack of service<\/li>\n<li>Problems with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/accessibility-disability-rights-law.html\">accessibility<\/a> of the platform or app<\/li>\n<li>Difficulties with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/consumer\/consumer-transactions\/customer-returns-and-refund-laws-by-state.html\">cancelling services<\/a>\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Changes in subscription models\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Fee increases<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/business-operations\/business-data-breach-customer-id-theft.html\">Data leaks<\/a> of customers&#8217; personal or financial details<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/false-advertising.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">False advertising<\/a> of the services or pricing<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/business-contracts-forms\/breach-of-contract-and-lawsuits.html\">Breach of service contract<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These issues are frustrating and potentially expensive. But which situations are worth legal action?\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>What Options Do You Have to Resolve Disputes?<\/h2>\n<p>When you first signed up for a satellite or streaming service as a new customer, you agreed to the provider&#8217;s terms of service. This agreement formed a binding contract. That contract sets out the conditions under which you will receive programming and the process for resolving any disputes.<\/p>\n<p>You will want to make sure you look at the precise language of your provider&#8217;s terms of service if you get into a dispute. FindLaw looked at several of these contracts to see if there were similarities in the dispute resolution processes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Satellite companies (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.directv.com\/legal\/directv-residential-customer-agreement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DirecTV<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dish.com\/terms-conditions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dish Network<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li>Streaming services (<a href=\"https:\/\/help.netflix.com\/legal\/termsofuse\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Netflix<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/help\/customer\/display.html?nodeId=202140280\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Amazon<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/legal\/internet-services\/itunes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple TV+<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hulu.com\/terms#section13\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hulu<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sling.com\/offer-details\/disclaimers\/terms-of-use\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sling TV<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.directv.com\/legal\/directv-stream-tos-eula-policy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DirecTV Stream<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hbomax.com\/terms-of-use\/en-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HBO Max<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gstatic.com\/policies\/terms\/pdf\/20220105\/it7r24p9\/google_terms_of_service_en_us.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">YouTube TV<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.disneyplus.com\/legal\/subscriber-agreement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Disney+<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>With at least four notable exceptions \u2014 Amazon, YouTube TV, Apple TV+, and Disney+ \u2014 they allow similar dispute resolution processes.<\/p>\n<h2>Informal Dispute Resolution<\/h2>\n<p>You should first try to work out the dispute with your provider informally. Call the customer service number and explain your circumstances. The company may have made a mistake. Give them a chance to fix it.<\/p>\n<p>If that doesn&#8217;t work, pull up the terms of service on the internet and look at the language under the section on dispute resolution. You may see an outline of the steps you can follow before taking any legal action. Those steps may include notifying the company in an email describing the problem&#8217;s nature and then waiting to hear back from them. They will look into your claim and may be able to propose a solution that satisfies you.<\/p>\n<p>If you are unsuccessful with the informal process, the next step is to explore potential legal action. Most of these streaming\/television contracts give you two options.<\/p>\n<h3>Small Claims Court<\/h3>\n<p>The first option is filing a claim in your local\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/going-to-court\/small-claims-court.html\">small claims court<\/a>. Small claims courts handle disputes of up to a limited amount of money under state law. They provide a relatively inexpensive and quick way to resolve many legal matters, including contract disputes, consumer issues, and landlord-tenant arguments. You can handle many small claims matters without a lawyer (some states won&#8217;t let you have one).<\/p>\n<p>Small claims court may be the right place for you if your dispute is about an amount that falls under this limit. The limit varies, depending on where you are, but the range is between $2,500 (Rhode Island and Kentucky) and $25,000 (Delaware and Tennessee). You can\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/going-to-court\/small-claims-court.html\">learn more about small claims court<\/a>\u00a0and get more resources from FindLaw.<\/p>\n<p>Be aware that you can&#8217;t recover the rest if your claim exceeds the amount a small claims court can award.<\/p>\n<h3>Arbitration<\/h3>\n<p>Your other option is to pursue\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/adr\/arbitration.html\">arbitration<\/a>. Arbitration is a dispute resolution process that involves having a neutral, experienced third party hired by the parties (an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/arbitrator.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">arbitrator<\/a>) review submissions, hear arguments from both sides, and decide the outcome. You can&#8217;t appeal the arbitrator&#8217;s decision. Their decision is final.<\/p>\n<p>Many view arbitration as faster and cheaper than going to court. It can be, but some arbitrations are as expensive and take just as long as a formal court case. They can also be very complicated.<\/p>\n<p>If you are considering pursuing arbitration, it would help to speak with an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/alternative-dispute-resolution\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">attorney with experience handling arbitrations<\/a>. They can give you their thoughts about the pros and cons of arbitration and tell you whether it makes sense in your case, especially if your claim is large enough to justify it.<\/p>\n<h2>Exceptions: Streaming Policies<\/h2>\n<p>As we pointed out above, at least four companies provide their own specific procedures. Once again, check the terms and conditions of the particular satellite company or streaming service. These companies may change their policies, and customers don&#8217;t always pay attention to the updates.<\/p>\n<h3>Amazon Policies<\/h3>\n<p>Amazon does not force you to go through arbitration. But you can only bring a lawsuit against them in King County, Washington, the location of their headquarters. It doesn&#8217;t have to be in small claims court, but you must file your case there.<\/p>\n<h3>YouTube TV Policies<\/h3>\n<p>Google owns YouTube TV. According to its terms of service, you don&#8217;t have to arbitrate claims against them. But like Amazon, there is only one place in the country where you can bring legal action against them: Santa Clara County, California (its headquarters location).<\/p>\n<h3>Apple TV+ Policies<\/h3>\n<p>The terms of service of Apple TV+ (and other Apple media) also do not force you to arbitrate any claims. But if you want to sue them, you can only do so in Santa Clara County, California.<\/p>\n<h3>Disney+ Policies<\/h3>\n<p>AT&amp;T owns Disney+. The terms of service for Disney+ (and ESPN+) do not allow you to bring your claim in court. Arbitration is your only option.<\/p>\n<h2>Waivers, Disclaimers, Time Limitations, and Limitations on Liability<\/h2>\n<p>Figuring out where to bring your claim is just the first step. You still need to win, and winning these cases isn&#8217;t easy.<\/p>\n<p>Most contracts with satellite companies and streaming services contain further restrictions and limitations. For example, they may:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Contain a disclaimer that says they are not liable if the service goes out unexpectedly or under other conditions<\/li>\n<li>Include language that says you waive your right to relief in certain circumstances (such as if you do not go through the informal dispute resolution process before going to court or pursuing arbitration)<\/li>\n<li>Limit the time in which you can bring a claim (such as one year)<\/li>\n<li>Limit the amount of any recovery (such as one month&#8217;s bill)<\/li>\n<li>Bar you from filing a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/legal-system\/class-action-cases.html\">class action<\/a>\u00a0(a procedural mechanism through which many people join their claims into a single case)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These are just a few examples. This one-sided language should come as no surprise. The provider wrote the contract. You only had two choices \u2014 accept their terms as written or don&#8217;t subscribe to the service.<\/p>\n<p>In any case, this shows how important the language of the terms of service is. So make sure you review them carefully, and if you have any questions, consider running them by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/contracts\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">an attorney with experience in contracts<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Questions? Consult a Lawyer<\/h2>\n<p>So what&#8217;s the bottom line? If you have a dispute with a satellite company or streaming service, try to work it out. If you can&#8217;t, your next steps are in the terms of the service contract. Follow those steps carefully. Although most give you the choice between small claims court and arbitration, there are exceptions. And they all contain further restrictions and limitations on any right to recover.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Seeking the guidance of a lawyer<\/a>, especially if you are considering arbitration, is smart. They can guide you, explain your legal rights, and help you decide whether formal dispute resolution makes sense.<\/p>\n<p>Remember that under federal law, you may be able to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/consumercomplaints.fcc.gov\/hc\/en-us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">file a complaint<\/a>\u00a0with the Federal Commerce Commission (FCC). The regulators there may be able to help.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-up\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_604_3418)\">\n                        <path id=\"Vector\"\n                              d=\"M6 21H3C2.46957 21 1.96086 20.7893 1.58579 20.4142C1.21071 20.0391 1 19.5304 1 19V12C1 11.4696 1.21071 10.9609 1.58579 10.5858C1.96086 10.2107 2.46957 10 3 10H6M13 8V4C13 3.20435 12.6839 2.44129 12.1213 1.87868C11.5587 1.31607 10.7956 1 10 1L6 10V21H17.28C17.7623 21.0055 18.2304 20.8364 18.5979 20.524C18.9654 20.2116 19.2077 19.7769 19.28 19.3L20.66 10.3C20.7035 10.0134 20.6842 9.72068 20.6033 9.44225C20.5225 9.16382 20.3821 8.90629 20.1919 8.68751C20.0016 8.46873 19.7661 8.29393 19.5016 8.17522C19.2371 8.0565 18.9499 7.99672 18.66 8H13Z\"\n                              stroke=\"#666666\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\n                              stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path>\n                    <\/g>\n                    <defs>\n                        <clipPath id=\"clip0_604_3418\">\n                            <rect width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect>\n                        <\/clipPath>\n                    <\/defs>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/i>\n        <\/button>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"No\"\n                value=\"no\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">No<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-down\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_604_3423)\">\n                        <path id=\"Vector\"\n                              d=\"M16 0.999995H18.67C19.236 0.989986 19.7859 1.18813 20.2154 1.55681C20.645 1.9255 20.9242 2.43905 21 3V10C20.9242 10.5609 20.645 11.0745 20.2154 11.4432C19.7859 11.8119 19.236 12.01 18.67 12H16M9.00003 14V18C9.00003 18.7956 9.3161 19.5587 9.87871 20.1213C10.4413 20.6839 11.2044 21 12 21L16 12V0.999995H4.72003C4.2377 0.994543 3.76965 1.16359 3.40212 1.47599C3.0346 1.78839 2.79235 2.22309 2.72003 2.7L1.34003 11.7C1.29652 11.9866 1.31586 12.2793 1.39669 12.5577C1.47753 12.8362 1.61793 13.0937 1.80817 13.3125C1.99842 13.5313 2.23395 13.7061 2.49846 13.8248C2.76297 13.9435 3.05012 14.0033 3.34003 14H9.00003Z\"\n                              stroke=\"#666666\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n                    <\/g>\n                    <defs>\n                        <clipPath id=\"clip0_604_3423\">\n                            <rect width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"white\"\/>\n                        <\/clipPath>\n                    <\/defs>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/i>\n        <\/button>\n    <\/div>\n    <span class=\"was-this-helpful__taken-action fl-text-sm-bold\"><\/span>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-container\">\n        <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n            <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n        <form class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form\">\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback was-this-helpful__feedback--positive\">\n                <fieldset>\n                    <legend class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why was this helpful?<\/legend>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--understandable\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Easy to understand\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--understandable\"\n                        >Easy to understand<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--solved-problem\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Solved my problem\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--solved-problem\"\n                        >Solved my problem<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--other\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Other\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--other\"\n                        >Other<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/fieldset>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback was-this-helpful__feedback--negative\">\n                <fieldset>\n                    <legend class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why was this not helpful?<\/legend>\n                    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n                        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Missing Information\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                        >Missing the information I need<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Too complicated\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                        >Too complicated \/ too many steps<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--dated\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Out of date\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--dated\"\n                        >Out of date<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Other\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                        >Other<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/fieldset>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__form-buttons-container\">\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--positive at-feedback-submit fl-button secondary\"\n                    type=\"submit\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Submit<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--cancel fl-button primary disabled\"\n                    type=\"reset\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Cancel<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-times-circle medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message\" role=\"status\">\n        <i class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-icon fa fa-check\"><\/i>\n        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-text\" aria-live=\"polite\"><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"fl-section-sidebar\"><div class=\"fl-editors-summary\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content\">\n                    <h2>Can I Solve This on My Own or Do I Need an Attorney?<\/h2>\n                <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\">\n            \n        <\/div>\n        <ul class=\"fl-list-style-none\">\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    You may want an attorney to represent you in court or arbitration.\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    You can represent yourself in a small claims court.\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    Complex court cases (such as contract disputes) generally need the support of an attorney.\n\n                <\/li>\n                    <\/ul>\n                    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\">\n                <p>The court process for many cases, such as intellectual property or consumer claims, can be complicated and slow. An attorney can offer tailored advice and help prevent common mistakes during litigation.<\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-link fl-flex\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-link\">\n                <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                <p class=\"find-attorney\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/litigation-appeals\/#USER_GEO\/?fli=esum:FL34\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Find a local attorney<\/a><\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"email-subscription fl-mb30\">\n    <div class=\"email-subscription-header\">\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-header-content\">\n            <h3 class=\"fl-callout-sm fl-no-margin\">Stay Up-to-Date With How the Law Affects Your Life<\/h3>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-header-image fl-flex fl-items-end\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\"\n                src=\"https://www.findlaw.com/static/c/images\/images\/w_1200,c_limit,dpr_auto\/f_auto,q_auto:eco\/v1745902396\/ability-law\/wp-prod\/general-components-subscribe-module-Image-subscribeModule_1\/general-components-subscribe-module-Image-subscribeModule_1.png?_i=AA\"\n                alt=\"\"\n                loading=\"lazy\"\n            \/>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"email-subscription-content fl-flex fl-flex-wrap\">\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-content-text fl-mb25\">\n            <h4 class=\"fl-no-margin\">Enter your email address to subscribe<\/h4>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <form class=\"email-subscription-content-form\">\n            <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distributionList\" value=\"latl\" \/>\n            <label for=\"email-subscription-content-form-group-input\" class=\"fl-text-sm-bold\">Email (Required)<\/label>\n            <div class=\"email-subscription-content-form-group\">\n                <input id=\"email-subscription-content-form-group-input\" name=\"email\" autocomplete=\"email\"\/>\n                <button type=\"submit\" aria-label=\"Submit\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n            <p class=\"email-subscription-content-form-success subscribe-success-message fl-text-sm-bold\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"status\">Thank you for subscribing!<\/p>\n            <p class=\"email-subscription-content-form-error subscribe-error-message fl-text-sm-bold\" role=\"alert\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/p>\n\n            <div id=\"email-subscription-content-form-recaptcha\" class=\"email-subscription-content-form-recaptcha subscribe-recaptcha\"\n                data-sitekey=\"0x4AAAAAAABGBEkK9kEeKxO-\"><\/div>\n        <\/form>\n\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-content-footer fl-text-sm\">\n            <p><a href=\"https:\/\/newsletters.findlaw.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn more about FindLaw\u2019s newsletters<\/a>, including our terms of use and privacy policy.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"general-list\">\n    <h3>Helpful Links<\/h3>\n    <ul class=\"fl-list fl-no-margin\">\n                                    <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/going-to-court.html\">\n                        What To Expect When Going to Court\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                                <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/filing-a-lawsuit\/can-i-sue-.html\">\n                        Can I Sue?\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                                <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/legal-system\/civil-court-basics.html\">\n                        Civil Court Basics\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                        <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    <div class=\"popularDirectory\">\n        <div class=\"general-popular-directory \">\n            <div class=\"general-popular-directory-title\">\n                <h3>Attorney Directory<\/h3>\n            <\/div>\n            <ul>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/litigation-appeals\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Litigation and Appeals Attorneys<\/a><\/li>\n                            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FindLaw discusses disputes against satellite providers and streaming services, including small claims court and arbitration.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41135,"featured_media":0,"parent":368853,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"app\/Http\/Controllers\/Templates\/ArticleWithBreadcrumbsController.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","_autodraft_ids":[],"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"_sb_is_suggestion_mode":false,"_sb_show_suggestion_boards":false,"_sb_show_comment_boards":false,"_sb_suggestion_history":"","_sb_update_block_changes":"","_is_real_time_mode":false,"_realtime_collaborators":"","footnotes":"","cf_checklist_status":["SEO Title Length","External Links","Alt Text for All Images","Category Assigned"]},"categories":[2803],"tags":[],"state_laws_tags":[],"flmsa":[],"class_list":["post-368887","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-litigation"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/368887","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=368887"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/368887\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":396830,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/368887\/revisions\/396830"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/368853"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=368887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=368887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=368887"},{"taxonomy":"state_laws_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/state_laws_tags?post=368887"},{"taxonomy":"flmsa","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/flmsa?post=368887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}