Forest River recently settled a trademark lawsuit for $2 million against inTech Trailers, a competing RV manufacturer. Apparently not all guilty parties have faced justice, as Forest River has filed a new lawsuit against the company that provided branding services to inTech, Sharpline Converting from Wichita, Kansas (“Sharpline”). Sharpline assists with the production, design and manufacturing of RVs, as well as providing branding services. Unsurprisingly, Sharpline has an office and does significant business in Elkart, Indiana, the RV Capital of the World.

As detailed in the Complaint (below), the same Sharpline employee was secretly providing design services to both Forest River and inTech at the time of the alleged infringement. The Complaint includes a single claim of Contributory Trademark Infringement, asserting that Sharpline should be jointly and severally liable with inTech for the infringement.

Stay tuned to this blog for monthly IP updates with the latest on this lawsuit and all other pending Indiana copyright and trademark lawsuits.

Forest River, Inc. v. Sharpline Converting, Inc.

Court Case Number: 3:24-cv-00541-DRL-MGG
File Date: July 2, 2024
Plaintiff: Forest River, Inc.
Plaintiff Counsel: Philip R. Bautista, JoZeff W. Gebolys, Michael C. Terrell, Tracy N. Betz of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
Defendant: Sharpline Converting, Inc.
Cause: Contributory Trademark Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Damon R. Leichty
Referred To: Michael G. Gotsch Sr.

Complaint: