• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer

Indiana Intellectual Property Blog

~ Trademark and Copyright Law Updates in Indiana

Indiana Intellectual Property Blog

Category Archives: Trademark

November 2023 Indiana Intellectual Property Litigation Update

15 Wednesday Nov 2023

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Litigation Update

The last month in Indiana Intellectual Property litigation definitely took on a Halloween theme, including new cases involving unauthorized mattresses, plaster falling off the ceiling, bovine collagen and surgical kits. One trademark lawsuit looked set for trial in early November but was continued until February due to the lead counsel contracting COVID. Many lawsuits have a telephonic conference scheduled over the next 30 days, so perhaps we’ll see some significant updates early next year. Read on for updates on all pending Indiana trademark and copyright litigation. Leave a comment below and let us know which cases you are closely following.

Sears Authorized Hometown Stores, LLC v. Lynn Retail, Inc. et al. (SD, filed 6/4/2021) – A Telephonic Status Conference is scheduled on November 15, 2023.

Noble Roman’s, Inc. v. AMI Stores Management, Inc. et al. (SD, filed 6/6/2021) –  A Settlement Conference was held on November 9, 2023, and the Court reports that the case is settled. The parties have 90 days to file a Stipulation of Dismissal.

Forest River, Inc. v. inTech Trailers, Inc. (ND, filed 8/31/2021) – This lawsuit was lurching toward a rare trademark trial on November 6, 2023, with over 20 filings since last month’s update, including motions, responses, proposed voir dire, objections, and more. However, due to an even more rare Emergency Motion to Continue Trial Due to Covid, the trial has been moved to February 27, 2024.

View this document on Scribd

Gabet et al. v. Amazon.com. Inc. et al. (ND, filed 1/20/2022) – A Telephonic Discovery Conference was held on November 2, 2023.

The Evolutionary Level Above Human, Inc. v. Havel et al (ND, filed 5/18/2022) – Several motions and responses were filed in the last month.

Oakley, Inc. v. Batter’s Box Training, LLC et al (SD, filed 8/11/2022) –  No update this month.

Honest Abe Roofing franchise, Inc. v. DCH & Associates, LLC et al. (SD, filed 9/7/2022) –  The plaintiff filed a Motion for Entry of Default on October 20, 2023. The Clerk’s Entry of Default was entered on November 8, 2023.

The Center for Gestalt Development, Inc. v. Bowman (SD (11/09/2022) – On October 27, 2023, the Court denied Defendant Bowman’s Motion for Leave to File Early Summary Judgment Motion.

1.4G Holdings, LLC v. North Central Industries, Inc. et al. (SD 1/05/2023) – The defendants filed their answer on November 2, 2023, including affirmative defenses and counterclaims seeking cancellation of the plaintiff’s trademark registrations. The defendants are represented by Meaghan K. Haller, Alex E. Gude, and Jessica L. Meek of Dentons Bingham Greenebaum LLP and John H. Brooke of Brooke & Struble, P.C.

View this document on Scribd

Albert’s Diamond Jewelers, Inc. v. AaLand Diamond Jewelers LLC (ND 2/01/2023) – The parties filed a Motion to Stay on October 24, 2023. The parties have been ordered to file dismissal papers by January 25, 2024.

Delta Faucet Company v. Watkins et al. (SD 2/01/2023) – On November 1, 2023, the Court ordered Delta to file a Notice by November 15, 2023, which addresses whether the Court has personal jurisdiction over the named defendant.

Taylor Shaye Designs LLC v. Shein Distribution Corp. (SD 4/11/2023) – The plaintiff filed a Stipulation of Dismissal on November 14, 2023.

HealthSmart Foods, Inc. v. Sweet Nothings, Inc. et al. (SD 4/13/2023) – A Status Conference was held on November 6, 2023 and another is scheduled on November 27, 2023. On November 3, 2023, the defendants filed their response to the plaintiff’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction. The response accuses the plaintiff of fraud on the USPTO, unreasonable delay, and unclean hands. It further emphasizes that there has been no evidence of consumer confusion. The plaintiff’s reply to their Motion for PI, due shortly, is now a must-read document.

View this document on Scribd

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) –  A Telephonic Rule 16 Preliminary Pretrial Conference was held on November 14, 2023. Daniel Joseph Layden has entered an appearance on behalf of the defendant.

Nickel and Dimes Incorporated v. Noah’s Arcade LLC et al (ND 7/25/2023) – A Telephonic Rule 16 Preliminary Pretrial Conference is scheduled on November 29, 2023.

Hoffman v. Lauth Investigations International Inc. (SD 9/18/2023) – The time to respond to the Complaint has been extended to November 22, 2023.

Banjo Corporation v. Green Leaf, Inc. (SD 9/29/2023) – A Telephonic Rule 16 Preliminary Pretrial Conference is scheduled on December 19, 2023.

Perma-Green Supreme, Inc. v. Dr. Permagreen, LLC et al. (ND 10/06/2023) – The time to respond to the Complaint has been extended to November 27, 2023. A Telephonic Rule 16 Preliminary Pretrial Conference is scheduled on December 14, 2023.

Secada Medical LLC d/b/a Ventris Medical, LLC v. Nexxt Spine, LLC (SD 11/01/2023) – No update yet.

Radic v. AllCity Adjusting LLC et al (ND 11/03/2023) – No update yet.

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

Stross v. Homestead Properties, Inc. (SD 11/09/2023) – No update yet.

October 2023 Updates – September 2023 Updates

August 2023 Updates – July 2023 Updates – June 2023 Updates – May 2023 Updates

April 2023 Updates – March 2023 Updates – February 2023 Updates – January 2023 Updates

December 2022 Updates –  December 2021 Updates

Tempur Sealy sues Valparaiso Furniture Store for Trademark Infringement

14 Tuesday Nov 2023

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Andrew P. Rodovich, Federal False Advertising, Federal Trademark Dilution, Federal Trademark Infringement, Federal Unfair Competition, Philip P. Simon

A furniture store in Valparaiso, Indiana is accused of the unauthorized use of the Tempur-Pedic® trademark. The store had been an authorized dealer of Tempur-Pedic products until February 2, 2023, when the dealer relationship was terminated by Tempur Sealy. Upon termination of the relationship, the store was to cease all use of Tempur Sealy’s trademarks.

Despite multiple warnings by Tempur Sealy, the Complaint (below) details continued use by the furniture store, at least through August 27, 2023, of the Tempur-Pedic trademark on point-of-sale materials in the store, on exterior windows, and on the store’s website.

The Valparaiso store is alleged to have continued use of the Tempur-Pedic trademark “to attract customers for the purpose of selling non-authorized and competing products in a manner that falsely suggests and implies to consumers that Defendant maintains a relationship with Tempur Sealy as an authorized retailer.”

Stay tuned for updates.

Tempur Sealy International, Inc. et al. v. Luxury Mattress & Furniture, LLC

Court Case Number: 2:23-cv-00383-PPS-APR
File Date: November 9, 2023
Plaintiff: Tempur Sealy International, Inc., Tempur-Pedic Management, Inc., Tempur-Pedic North America, LLC, Tempur World, LCC, Dan-Foam APS, Sealy Technology LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: James N. Martin, Jr. of Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
Defendants: Luxury Mattress & Furniture, LLC d/b/a Luxury Mattress & Furniture
Cause: Federal Trademark Infringement, Federal Unfair Competition, Federal False Advertising, Federal Trademark Dilution
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Philip P. Simon
Referred To: Andrew P. Rodovich

Complaint:

View this document on Scribd

Trademark Infringement Lawsuit filed in Indiana over Surgical Bovine Collagen, Implant Kits

02 Thursday Nov 2023

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Common Law Passing Off, Common Law Trademark Infringement, Common Law Unfair Competition, Federal False Designation of Origin, Federal Trademark Infringement, Federal Unfair Competition, James R. Sweeney II, M. Kendra Klump

The plaintiff in this new Indiana trademark infringement lawsuit, Ventris Medical, offers a bovine collagen product for management of complex wounds called CONNEXT®.

The defendant, Nexxt Spine of Noblesville, Indiana, recently adopted and is using the mark CONNEXX in connection with a surgical implant kit.

Per the Complaint (below), cease-and-desist communications have been unsuccessful to date and the plaintiff now seeks court intervention in the Southern District of Indiana.

In this case, both parties sell products to highly sophisticated consumers, i.e. surgeons. The more sophisticated the purchaser, the less likely that there will be likelihood of confusion. The defendant likely considered that high sophistication level when selecting its similar trademark.

Secada Medical LLC d/b/a Ventris Medical, LLC v. Nexxt Spine, LLC

Court Case Number: 1:23-cv-01960-JRS-MKK
File Date: November 1, 2023
Plaintiff: Secada Medical LLC d/b/a Ventris Medical, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: Samuel B. Gardner of Ice Miller LLP
Defendant: Nexxt Spine, LLC
Cause: Federal Trademark Infringement, Federal Unfair Competition, Federal False Designation of Origin, Common Law Trademark Infringement, Common Law Unfair Competition, Common Law Passing Off
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: James R. Sweeney II
Referred To: M. Kendra Klump

Complaint:

View this document on Scribd

Indiana Lawn Care Manufacturer sues eBay Counterfeiter in Northern District of Indiana

09 Monday Oct 2023

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Common Law Unfair Competition, Deceptive Consumer Sales, Federal False Advertising, Federal False Designation of Origin, Federal Trademark Infringement, John E. Martin, Philip P. Simon

Perma-Green, based in Valparaiso, Indiana, has manufactured and sold commercial lawn care products since 1973. They own an incontestable registration for the trademark PERMAGREEN for “mechanical spreaders and sprayers for the lawn care industry” with a claimed date of first use of February 1, 2005.

“Dr. Permagreen” is an eBay Seller account that lists over 1,400 Perma-Green products, including replacement parts. However, the parts being sold by the eBay account are allegedly low-quality counterfeit copies created in China, not authentic Perma-Green products.

Perma-Green alleges consumer confusion has been caused by the eBay account’s use of a similar name and deceptive product titles, with consumers falsely believing that the eBay account is associated with Perma-Green and that the products originate from Perma-Green. Consumer complaints over defective products were incorrectly directed towards Perma-Green, presumably damaging the goodwill in their brand.

Faulty or defective parts can obviously be a big problem when it comes to lawn care equipment by creating an increased risk of serious injury. After unsuccessful cease-and-desist communications, Perma-Green has brought a lawsuit (see Complaint below) seeking court intervention in an attempt to halt the damage currently being done to its brand. The Complaint alleges willful infringement based on email communications from the alleged operator of the eBay account.

Stay tuned for updates.

Perma-Green Supreme, Inc. v. Dr. Permagreen, LLC et al.

Court Case Number: 2:23-cv-00341
File Date: October 6, 2023
Plaintiff: Perma-Green Supreme, Inc.
Plaintiff Counsel: P.Stephen Fardy, William D. Patterson of Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP
Defendant: Dr. Permagreen, LLC, Michael Edward Klott, FTW Investments LLC
Cause: Federal Trademark Infringement, Federal False Designation of Origin, Federal False Advertising, Deceptive Consumer Sales, Common Law Unfair Competition
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Philip P. Simon
Referred To: John E. Martin

Complaint:

View this document on Scribd

Two Indiana Valve Companies involved in Trade Dress Lawsuit over Yellow Valve Handles

02 Monday Oct 2023

Posted by Kenan Farrell in Indiana, Intellectual Property, Litigation, Southern District of Indiana, Trade Dress, Trademark

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Common Law Unfair Competition, Federal False Advertising, Federal False Designations of Origin, Federal Trade Dress Infringement, Federal Trademark Infringement, Federal Unfair Competition, Mario Garcia, Sarah Evans Barker

Banjo Corporation of Crawfordsville, Indiana, designs, manufactures, distributes, and sells control valves for regulating the flow of liquids in hoses and pipes. Since 1994, Banjo’s valves have had distinctive yellow-colored handles. Banjo currently sells approximately 150 types of control valves, all bearing the distinctive yellow handles.

Green Leaf of Fontanet, Indiana, has been selling control valves with green handles since 1983. In 2019, after hiring 2 ex-Banjo employees, Green Leaf launched a line of yellow-handled valves. Green Leaf’s new valve line uses the name TERREMAX.

In a lawsuit filed in the Southern District of Indiana, Banjo accuses Green Leaf of violating its trade dress in the yellow valve handles. The name TERREMAX is also allegedly meant to imitate Banjo’s line of TERRE and TERRE KNIFE products. The Complaint (below) details other alleged deceptive conduct by Green Leaf, but we’ll be most interested in watching the trade dress claim for the yellow handle design.

Stay tuned for updates.

Banjo Corporation v. Green Leaf, Inc.

Court Case Number: 1:23-cv-01770-SEB-MG
File Date: September 29, 2023
Plaintiff: Banjo Corporation
Plaintiff Counsel: Dwight D. Lueck of Barnes & Thornburg, LLP, Jonathan E. Moskin of Foley & Lardner LLP
Defendant: Green Leaf, Inc.
Cause: Federal Trademark Infringement, Federal Trade Dress Infringement, Federal Unfair Competition, Federal False Designations of Origin, Federal False Advertising, Common Law Unfair Competition, Common Law Trademark Infringement
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Sarah Evans Barker
Referred To: Mario Garcia

Complaint:

View this document on Scribd
← Older posts
Newer posts →

Categories

  • Advertising Law (1)
  • Artists (23)
  • Authors (20)
  • Bloggers (37)
  • Branding (29)
  • Business Law (9)
  • Copyright (327)
  • Dear KLF Legal (4)
  • Defamation (5)
  • Entertainment Law (14)
  • Estate Law (2)
  • Family Law (2)
  • Fashion (5)
  • Federal Initiatives (33)
  • Indiana (603)
  • Indianapolis (51)
  • Intellectual Property (662)
  • Just for Fun (25)
  • KLF Legal (19)
  • Legislation (34)
  • Litigation (595)
  • Musicians (13)
  • Nonprofit (6)
  • Northern District of Indiana (215)
  • Patent (44)
  • Privacy (15)
  • Right of Publicity (8)
  • Social Media (56)
  • Southern District of Indiana (369)
  • Stories from the Week that Was (42)
  • Supreme Court (13)
  • Tech Developments (119)
  • Trade Dress (26)
  • Trade Secret (15)
  • Trademark (363)
  • What I'm Reading (8)

Bloggers Copyright Federal Initiatives Indiana Indianapolis Intellectual Property Legislation Litigation Northern District of Indiana Patent Social Media Southern District of Indiana Stories from the Week that Was Tech Developments Trademark

Blog at WordPress.com.

  • Subscribe Subscribed
    • Indiana Intellectual Property Blog
    • Join 81 other subscribers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Indiana Intellectual Property Blog
    • Subscribe Subscribed
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...