Category Archives: Trademark

Atlas Van Lines sues Atlas Mover Group for Trademark Infringement, Unfair Competition

18 Thursday Jul 2024

Posted by in Indiana, Intellectual Property, Litigation, Southern District of Indiana, Trademark

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Atlas Van Lines of Evansville, Indiana, has been transporting goods under the name “Atlas” since 1948. The Atlas family of companies includes more than 430 independent Atlas agencies across the U.S. and Canada, plus authorized partners in 140 countries.

A pair of Georgia companies have apparently begun offering moving services under the fictitious business name “Atlas Mover Group,” allegedly constituting trademark infringement and unfair competition.

A cease-and-desist letter was sent to the Georgia companies in February and Atlas Van Lines now seeks court intervention in the Southern District of Indiana.

Stay tuned for updates.

AWGI, LLC et al. v. Atlas Mover Group LLC et al.

Court Case Number: 3:24-cv-00116-MPB-CSW
File Date: July 15, 2024
Plaintiff: AWGI, LLC, Atlas Van Lines, Inc.
Plaintiff Counsel: Mark F. Warzecha, Esq. of Widerman Malek, PL
Defendant: Atlas Mover Group LLC, United Best Moving LLC
Cause: Federal Trademark Infringement, Common Law Unfair Competition, Violation of the Federal Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Matthew P. Brookman
Referred To: Crystal S. Wildeman

Complaint:

Hot Girl Walk v. Hot Walk Indy…are you confused?

17 Wednesday Jul 2024

Posted by in Indiana, Indianapolis, Intellectual Property, Litigation, Patent, Southern District of Indiana, Trademark

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An Indianapolis-based inclusive walking group is being sued for trademark infringement by the national walking group which had inspired its original name. The plaintiff operates a national women’s walking group called Hot Girl Walk, a name inspired by Megan Thee Stallion’s song “Hot Girl Summer.” The group promotes walking events for women across the country and has some significant sponsorships. In 2019, the defendant started a walking group called Hot Girl Walk Indy, which was later shortened to Hot Walk Indy. If this was the extent of the conflict, I suspect a federal lawsuit might never have been filed. However, while the trademark infringement claims in the Complaint (below) are the focus of this IP blog, the plaintiff was likely more concerned about an alleged series of defamatory statements, doxing, and aggressive bullying, all detailed in the Complaint. Standing alone, Hot Walk Indy might not cause a conflict with Hot Girl Walk, but when it’s combined with a group campaign of actively seeking to undermine the Hot Girl Walk brand, it puts a plaintiff in a position where they have to file a lawsuit.

It’s difficult to see how keeping the name of a relatively new local walking group would be worth the cost of defending a federal lawsuit, but perhaps the defense funds can be crowdfunded among the group. Considering the other activities detailed in the Complaint, the defendant may already be in too deep despite what name they use and the other group members may stay away for fear of being named as additional defendants.

Stay tuned for updates.

Hot Girl Walk LLC v. Springer d/b/a Hot Walk Indy

Court Case Number: 1:24-cv-01187-JMS-TAB
File Date: July 15, 2024
Plaintiff: Hot Girl Walk LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: Joseph R. Delehanty of Dickinson Wright PLLC
Defendant: Casey Springer d/b/a Hot Walk Indy
Cause: Tortious Interference with Business Relationship, Defamation, Business Disparagement, Federal Trademark Infringement, Federal Unfair Competition, Federal False Designation of Origin, Common Law Trademark Infringement, Common Law Unfair Competition
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Jane E. Magnus-Stinson
Referred To: Tim A. Baker

Complaint:

Forest River sues RV Branding Company Sharpline for Contributory Trademark Infringement

08 Monday Jul 2024

Posted by in Indiana, Intellectual Property, Litigation, Northern District of Indiana, Trademark

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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:

Indianapolis Company sued for sale of Unauthorized Animal Health Supplements on Amazon

25 Tuesday Jun 2024

Posted by in Indiana, Indianapolis, Intellectual Property, Litigation, Southern District of Indiana, Trademark

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Nutramax Laboratories (“Nutramax”) produces health supplements for companion animals. In February 2024, Nutramax filed a trademark lawsuit against a Fort Wayne company for the sale of unauthorized animal health supplements on Amazon. Nutramax is now back in the Southern District in Indiana pursuing an Indianapolis company for similar violations.

It must feel like whack-a-mole for the plaintiff’s counsel, as unauthorized resellers can disappear just as fast as they appear. Nutramax has no option but to go through this legal process in order to get Amazon to take action and remove the unauthorized sales. In the context of health supplements for animals, potentially leading to illness or death if unsafe, this plaintiff simply can’t sit back and take no action when it sees counterfeit or unauthorized sales.

Stay tuned for updates on this case and look out for the June Indiana Intellectual Property Litigation Update in the next few days for the latest on the February lawsuit (and all other pending Indiana IP cases).

Nutramax Laboratories, Inc. et al v. Abumyyaleh Bros LLC et al

Court Case Number: 1:24-cv-01047-SEB-MKK
File Date: June 20, 2024
Plaintiff: Nutramax Laboratories, Inc., Nutramax Laboratories Veterinary Sciences Inc.
Plaintiff Counsel: Blake P. Holler of Krieg Default LLP
Defendant: Abumayyaleh Bros LLC, Mohammad Abumayyaleh
Cause: Federal Trademark Infringement, Federal False Designation of Origin, Federal False Description, Indiana Common Law Tortious Interference with a Contract
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Sarah Evans Barker
Referred To: M. Kendra Klump

Complaint:

May 2024 Indiana Intellectual Property Litigation Update

15 Wednesday May 2024

Posted by in Copyright, Indiana, Intellectual Property, Litigation, Northern District of Indiana, Southern District of Indiana, Trademark

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May in Indy! While most people are spending their time at the racetrack, Indiana IP litigators are still hard at work. There were numerous settlements in the last month, perhaps because the parties realized they would rather be at the track than in court. Read on below for updates on all pending Indiana trademark and copyright litigation.

Forest River, Inc. v. inTech Trailers, Inc. (ND, filed 8/31/2021) – Now post-judgment, the parties are busy figuring out how much the attorneys should be paid.

Gabet et al. v. Amazon.com. Inc. et al. (ND, filed 1/20/2022) – There were over 2 dozen filings since last month, so if you’re following this case closely, you’ll want to go check out PACER.

The Evolutionary Level Above Human, Inc. v. Havel et al (ND, filed 5/18/2022) – No update this month.

Oakley, Inc. v. Batter’s Box Training, LLC et al (SD, filed 8/11/2022) –  No update this month. The lawsuit is still awaiting the Court’s action on the plaintiff’s Stipulation of Dismissal filed on January 18, 2024.

Honest Abe Roofing franchise, Inc. v. DCH & Associates, LLC et al. (SD, filed 9/7/2022) –  No update this month.

The Center for Gestalt Development, Inc. v. Bowman (SD (11/09/2022) – No update this month. 

1.4G Holdings, LLC v. North Central Industries, Inc. et al. (SD 1/05/2023) –  The lawsuit was dismissed on May 7, 2024.

Sak Group, Inc. v. Blue Hill Hospitality, Inc. (ND 4/25/2023) – No update this month.

National College Resources Foundation v. The Strong Friends LLC et al. (ND 5/4/2023) –  No update this month.

Sadowski v. Restoration 1 by J&D, LLC (SD 7/12/2023) –  On April 17, 2024, the parties filed a Joint Notice of Settlement. Dismissal papers must be filed by May 30, 2024.

Nickel and Dimes Incorporated v. Noah’s Arcade LLC et al (ND 7/25/2023) – On May 14, 2024, the Plaintiff filed a Motion to Compel Discovery and accompanying Brief in Support.

Banjo Corporation v. Green Leaf, Inc. (SD 9/29/2023) – A Telephonic Discovery Conference is scheduled on May 22, 2024. Position statements are due by May 16, 2024.

Perma-Green Supreme, Inc. v. Dr. Permagreen, LLC et al. (ND 10/06/2023) – No update this month.

Radic v. AllCity Adjusting LLC et al (ND 11/03/2023) –  The lawsuit was voluntarily dismissed on May 9, 2024.

Tempur Sealy International, Inc. et al. v. Luxury Mattress & Furniture, LLC (ND 11/09/2023) – No update this month.

Stross v. Homestead Properties, Inc. (SD 11/09/2023) – The Defendant’s deadline to file a Reply to its Motion to Dismiss has been extended to May 16, 2024.

Nutramax Laboratories, Inc. et al v. CNB Retailers, LLC et al. (ND 2/08/2024) – A Tentative Notice of Settlement was filed by the Plaintiff on May 9, 2024.

Baskin-Robbins Franchising LLC et al v. Blu Moo Ice Cream Inc. et al. (SD 2/14/2024) – On April 23, 2024, the Plaintiff filed Notice of Defendant’s Failure to Show Cause. On May 7, 2024, the Magistrate Judge recommended that the Plaintiff’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction be granted and entry of a default judgment.

Sadowski v. Circle City Broadcasting I, LLC d/b/a WISH-TV (SD 2/21/2024) – The Defendant filed its Answer on April 19, 2024, including the following affirmative defenses:

  1. Plaintiff has failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.
  2. Plaintiff has not been damaged as a result of Defendant’s alleged conduct.
  3. Defendant’s alleged conduct was fair use under 17 U.S.C. § 107.
  4. Defendant’s alleged conduct was authorized by or through Plaintiff or its
    licensees or agents, such as the New York Post, through distribution of the accused image on websites, news services, and/or social media accounts subject to terms permitting reuse and/or redistribution.
  5. Defendant’s alleged conduct was de minimis and therefore not actionable.

Valcrum, LLC v. Dexter Axle Company, LLC (SD 3/1/2024) – The Defendant filed its Answer on April 22, 2024.

Rigsby v. All Seasons Roofing (ND 3/14/2024) – An Amended Complaint was filed on May 3, 2024.

Optical Tactics, LLC d/b/a Fort Wayne Printing Company v. Allen & Goes Marketing Company (ND 3/29/2024) – The lawsuit was dismissed on May 9, 2024 via a Notice of Voluntary Dismissal.

Guangzhou Shima Decoration Materials Co., Ltd v. Shenzhen Ruimingxiang Technology Co., Ltd. et al. (SD 4/11/2024) –

Peugh et al. v. Nadler et al. (SD 5/3/2024) – No update yet.

April 2024 Updates – March 2024 Updates – February 2024 Updates – January 2024 Updates

December 2023 Updates – December 2022 Updates –  December 2021 Updates