Austin man suing woman who texted during movie offered Alamo Drafthouse gift certificate

AUSTIN, Texas (KEYE) - Tim League, the founder and CEO of the Austin-based Alamo Drafthouse movie theater chain, has spoken out on a lawsuit filed by an Austin man against a woman who he says was texting during a movie dateto see "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" earlier this month.

Brandon Clarke Vezmar is asking for damages in the amount of $17.31.

In the lawsuit, Vezmar says he purchased two tickets for the movie on May 6, and that after the movie began, the woman activated her phone 10 to 20 times in the first 15 minutes to read and send text messages. When he asked her to stop, she left the theater and never returned.

"While damages sought are modest," the lawsuit reads, "the principle is important as Defendant's behavior is a threat to civilized society."

In a post on theAlamo Drafthouse's Facebook page, League empathizes with Vezmar's point of view and offers to put the matter to bed outside the courts:

"I am conflicted. On one hand, I am concerned about our courts being clogged with superfluous lawsuits, but as Vezmar states, 'this is a threat to civilized society.'

"In order to save the time of the courts, the Alamo is willing to help put this to bed and hereby offers Vezmar a gift certificate in the amount of $17.31 for his next cinema outing."

The Alamo Drafthouse has a strict policy against talking and texting during a show, which ithighlights before each screening with humorous videos, including versions featuring Kyle Chandler loosely reprising his Coach Taylor role from "Friday Night Lights" and actual audio from angry customers kicked out for violating the rules.