Court Case Number:1:15-cv-01957-SEB-DML File Date: Friday, December 11, 2015 Plaintiff: Precision Rings, Inc. Plaintiff Counsel: George A. Gasper, Mark R. Alson of Ice Miller LLP Defendant: Wrightspeed, Inc. Cause: Declaratory Judgment, Injunctive Relief, Breach of Contract Court: Southern District of Indiana Judge: Judge Sarah Evans Barker Referred To: Magistrate Judge Debra McVicker Lynch
Plaintiff, an Indiana company, entered into an agency agreement with Defendant, a Louisiana company, in March 2014. In May 2014, Defendant signed a promissory note for over $32,000, including numerous vans and trailers as collateral. The agency agreement was then terminated in October 2014. Plaintiff sent Defendant multiple letters regarding amounts owed (over $73,000) and cessation of trademark usage. Now, Plaintiff alleges that Defendant continues to advertise services under Plaintiff’s name and operated numerous pieces of equipment in interstate commerce which impermissibly bore the trademark owned by Plaintiff.
Wheaton Van Lines Inc. et al v. Faulk-Collier Moving & Storage LLC et al
Court Case Number: 1:15-cv-00556-TWP-DML File Date: Wednesday, April 08, 2015 Plaintiff: Wheaton Van Lines Inc., Bekins Van Lines Inc. Plaintiff Counsel: S. Andrew Burns of Cox Sargeant & Burns PC Defendant: Faulk-Collier Moving & Storage LLC, David Vaughn Cause: Breach of Contract, Account Stated, Trademark Infringement, Federal and State Unfair Competition/Trademark Dilution Court: Southern District of Indiana Judge: Judge Tanya Walton Pratt Referred To: Magistrate Judge Debra McVicker Lynch
Precision Drone, LLC designs and makes drones and software for use by farmers to monitor crops. According to the Complaint (see below), in September 2014, Precision made a deal with Channel Masters, LLC for Channel to purchase and resell the PaceSetter™ Drone in exchange for a commission on each drone and related parts sold. Precision gave Channel a demonstration drone and training manual and trained Channel’s agents on the use of the PaceSetter drone. As part of the Service Agreement, Channel agreed to not disclose confidential information and signed a non-compete. According to Precision’s complaint, Channel began working for AgriImage, a direct competitor in the agricultural drone market, and began promoting AgriImage drones instead of Precision drones.
At the Nebraska Power Farming Show in December 2014, Precision saw Channel’s agent, Tom Owen, using Precision images, training manual, and sales pitch to resell AgriImage drones. A picture of Mr. Owen using an image and “working the AgriImage booth” is Exhibit C in the court documents embedded below. Then, the very next day after the Nebraska farm show, Channel sent Precision a letter attempting to terminate the Service Agreement without cause. Precision has responded by filing a lawsuit for Breach of Contract and Misappropriation of Trade Secrets.
Precision Drone LLC v. Channel Masters LLC
Court Case Number: 1:15-cv-00476-LJM-TAB File Date: Monday, March 23, 2015 Plaintiff: Precision Drone LLC Plaintiff Counsel: John Stephen Terry, Russell B. Cate, and William Edwin Wendling, Jr., of Campbell Kyle Proffitt, LLP Defendant: Channel Masters LLC Cause: Breach of Contract, Misappropriation of Trade Secrets Court: Southern District of Indiana Judge: Judge Larry J. McKinney Referred To: Magistrate Judge Tim A. Baker
This lawsuit arises from Defendants’ alleged infringement of copyrights and patents, as well as unauthorized use and misappropriation of Plaintiff’s trade secrets.
Lake Lite Inc. v. Universal Forest Products, Inc. et al
Court Case Number: 1:14-cv-00337 File Date: Friday, October 24, 2014 Plaintiff: Lake Lite Inc. Plaintiff Counsel: Michael S. McIntyre Defendant: Universal Forest Products, Inc., Universal Consumer Products, Inc., Maine Ornamental, LLC Cause: Copyright Infringement, Patent Infringement, Breach of Contract, Breach of Implied Duty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing, Violation of Indiana Uniform Trade Secret Act, Unjust Enrichment Court: Northern District of Indiana Judge: Judge Jon E. DeGuilio Referred To: Magistrate Judge Roger B. Cosbey
Defendants have allegedly registered and used domain names confusingly similar to Plaintiff’s BURNS RENT-ALLS trademark. The subject domain names are (i) burnspartyrentall.com; (ii) burnspartyrental.com; and (iii) burnsrentall.com.
Burns Rent-Alls, Inc. v. Michael Sharpe et al
Court Case Number: 3:14-cv-01958 File Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2014 Plaintiff: Burns Rent-Alls, Inc. Plaintiff Counsel: D. Michael Anderson of Barnes & Thornburg LLP Defendant: Michael Sharpe, Aays Rent-All Co., Inc. Cause: Unfair Competition, Cyberpiracy, Breach of Contract Court: Northern District of Indiana Judge: Judge Jon E. DeGuilio Referred To: Magistrate Judge Christopher A. Nuechterlein
