The complaint

Jonathan Lee Riches v. Helen Brennan, a/k/a "Hella," owner of the YouTube channel "Hella Excited Utterance" (@Excitedutterance); Matthew Filipczuk, a/k/a "Dali", No. 2:26-cv-10093-MBM (D. Ariz.), is a 39-page complaint, with exhibits, filed October 30, 2026, ECF No. 1, with a jury demand. Riches appears without a lawyer. The complaint describes Riches as a Port Richey, Florida resident who publishes video content as JLR Investigates on YouTube and X, Brennan as a resident of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia who operates the Hella Excited Utterance channel, and Filipczuk as a Scottsdale, Arizona resident who co-hosts it. It alleges, on information and belief, that the two operate the channel jointly and share its revenue. The docket entry for the filing fee states that the case is assigned to the Honorable M Bridget Minder.

The works

Riches alleges he is the sole author and owner of two motion pictures: JLR INVESTIGATES TRAVEL, recorded at a true-crime convention in Las Vegas and registered as PA 2-610-953, and JLR SANTA MONICA CORNDOG, first published on X and registered as PA 2-610-962. The Copyright Office public catalog lists both registrations under those titles with Jonathan Riches as claimant, dated October 23 and October 26, 2026.

What it alleges

The complaint alleges that three videos on the channel (two posted in October 2026 and a third posted on or before October 29, 2026) copied short segments of footage from the Travel Work or used a frame from the Corndog Work as a thumbnail, and that Filipczuk uses a still frame from the Travel Work as the profile image of his X account. It alleges Riches sent YouTube removal requests, YouTube removed the videos, and counter-notifications were submitted on October 28, 2026 for two of them asking that they be reinstated. It alleges the infringement was willful and was not fair use.

Counts and relief

Counts I, II, and IV plead copyright infringement under 17 U.S.C. § 501 against both defendants, one count for each video. Count III pleads infringement against Filipczuk alone for the X profile image. Riches asks for an order under 17 U.S.C. § 502 restraining the defendants from reproducing the videos or causing them to be reinstated, an order requiring removal of the profile image, actual damages and profits on Counts I, III, and IV, statutory damages on Count II, costs under 17 U.S.C. § 505, and post-judgment interest.

On the docket

Riches also filed a motion to allow electronic filing by a party appearing without an attorney. On October 30, 2026 the court entered a minute order with the copyright report forms, and on November 2 it sent Riches its notice to self-represented litigants.