Tag Archives: Christopher A. Nuechterlein

Trademark lawsuit filed over HYDRAPURE (pipe fittings) vs. HYPERPURE (plumbing pipes)

09 Monday May 2016

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

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This lawsuit arises out of Defendant’s allegedly infringing use of the HYPERPURE mark in violation of Plaintiff’s registered trademark HYDRAPURE®.

Plaintiff uses its trademark in connection with pipe fittings and related parts. Defendant uses its trademark in connection with plumbing pipes.
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NIBCO Inc. v. Legend Valve & Fitting, Inc.

Court Case Number: 3:16-cv-00275-JVB-CAN
File Date: Friday, May 6, 2016
Plaintiff: NIBCO Inc.
Plaintiff Counsel: Matthew J. Gipson of Price Heneveld LLP
Defendant: Legend Valve & Fitting, Inc.
Cause: Federal Trademark Infringement, Federal Unfair Competition, False Designation of Origin, Common Law Trademark Infringement, Common Law Unfair Competition, Federal Trademark Dilution
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Joseph S. Van Bokkelen
Referred To: Christopher A. Nuechterlein

Complaint:

Race Car Trailer Manufacturer battles RV Maker over EDGE Trademark

04 Wednesday May 2016

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

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Universal Trailer Cargo Group (“UTC”) manufactures and sells race car trailers using the trademarks EDGE PRO and EDGE CLASSIC. They own a registration for THE EDGE in connection with “towage storage trailers.”

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Since 2010, Heartland Recreational Vehicles (“Heartland”) has sold recreational vehicles, namely, fifth wheel toy haulers using the trademark EDGE. (Here’s a video for those who aren’t familiar with toy haulers.)

Heartland has filed a federal application for EDGE in connection with “recreational vehicles, namely fifth wheels; recreational vehicles, namely toy haulers; recreational vehicles, namely travel trailers.”

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UTC subsequently opposed Heartland’s trademark application and threatened trademark litigation against Heartland.

In order to litigate on their home turf and increase the chance of finding a judge who understands the difference between a car trailer and a recreational vehicle, Heartland filed this lawsuit in the Northern District of Indiana (which includes Elkhart, the RV Capital of the World) seeking a declaratory judgment of non-infringement of UTC’s trademarks. Stay tuned for updates.

 

Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLC v. Universal Trailer Cargo Group, Inc.

Court Case Number: 3:16-cv-00255-TLS-CAN
File Date: Tuesday, May 2, 2016
Plaintiff: Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: Ryan M. Fountain
Defendant: Universal Trailer Cargo Group, Inc.
Cause: Declaratory Judgment of Non-Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Theresa L. Springmann
Referred To: Christopher A. Nuechterlein

Complaint:

Hoverboard Maker Swagway Sued by UL for Trademark Counterfeiting

19 Friday Feb 2016

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

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If you live anywhere near an electrical outlet (meaning all of you except those few remaining readers of the Indiana IP Zine), you’ve likely seen the Plaintiff’s trademark.

Plaintiff’s UL Certification Marks appear on “billions of household, consumer, commercial, and industrial products including refrigeration equipment, lighting products, cable, wiring, building materials, life safety vests, electric signs, batteries and power packs for computers and consumer electronics, traffic signals, sprinklers, and cash registers.”

The “UL” mark certifies that the product has been tested, inspected and satisfies applicable safety standards. Turn over whatever electrical device is closest and the “UL” probably is on there somewhere. (If not, back away slowly…) 

Defendant makes and sells the explosively popular Swagway hoverboard. Despite having never been tested nor inspected by UL, the Swagway product “allegedly used a mark that is identical to or substantially indistinguishable from the UL Certification Marks to falsely suggest that their Swagway hoverboard products have been tested, inspected, and certified by Plaintiff.”

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Further claims by Defendant’s CEO that the product was UL-certified along with significant safety concerns about the product, detailed in the Complaint below, led to this lawsuit.

UL LLC v. Swagway, LLC et al

Court Case Number: 3:16-cv-00075-RLM-CAN
File Date: Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Plaintiff: UL LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: Thomas F. Waggoner of Straub, Seamen & Allen, P.C.
Defendant: Swagway, LLC, Jianqing “Johnny” Zhu
Cause: Federal Trademark Counterfeiting, Federal Trademark Infringement, Federal Unfair Competition, False Designation of Origin, False Advertising, Violation of the Illinois Deceptive Trade Practices Act, Violation of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Robert L. Miller, Jr.
Referred To: Christopher A. Nuechterlein

Complaint:

Nebraska Home Designer Files Copyright Lawsuits Over Misappropriated Architectural Drawings

05 Friday Feb 2016

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

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Design Basics, LLC, an Omaha, Nebraska-based home plan designer, has filed several copyright lawsuits against Indiana home builders involving misappropriated architectural drawings. All home builders should know that architectural drawings are protected by copyright law.

[Updated 2/16/16 with additional lawsuit]

[Updated 4/1/16 with additional lawsuits]

[Updated 5/18/16 with additional lawsuit]

[Updated 5/20/16 with additional lawsuits]

[Updated 5/23/16 with additional lawsuits]

[Updated 5/31/16 with additional lawsuit]

[Updated 6/15/16 with additional lawsuit]

[Updated 7/14/16 with additional lawsuits]

Design Basics, LLC v. Lancia Homes, Inc.

Court Case Number: 1:2016-cv-00047
File Date: Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn of LaDue | Curran | Kuehn
Defendant: Lancia Homes, Inc.
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Theresa L. Springmann
Referred To: Susan L. Collins

Design Basics, LLC v. Carriage Place Homes, Inc. et al

Court Case Number: 1:2016-cv-00048
File Date: Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn of LaDue | Curran | Kuehn
Defendant: Carriage Place Homes, Inc. et al
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Jon E. DeGuilio
Referred To: Susan L. Collins

Design Basics, LLC v. Culver Construction, Inc. et al

Court Case Number:  1:2016-cv-00049
File Date: Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn of LaDue | Curran | Kuehn
Defendant: Culver Construction, Inc. et al
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Jon E. DeGuilio
Referred To: Susan L. Collins

Design Basics, LLC et al v. Quality Crafted Homes Inc.

Court Case Number: 1:2016-cv-00050
File Date: Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn of LaDue | Curran | Kuehn
Defendant: Quality Crafted Homes Inc.
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Jon E. DeGuilio
Referred To: Susan L. Collins

Design Basics, LLC v. Windsor Homes, Inc. et al

Court Case Number: 1:2016-cv-00051
File Date: Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn of LaDue | Curran | Kuehn
Defendant: Windsor Homes, Inc. et al
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Theresa L. Springmann
Referred To: Susan L. Collins

Design Basics, LLC v. Big C Lumber Co Inc.

Court Case Number: 3:2016-cv-00053
File Date: Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn of LaDue | Curran | Kuehn
Defendant: Big C Lumber Co Inc.
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Philip P. Simon
Referred To: Christopher A. Nuechterlein

 

[Update 2/16/16]

Design Basics, LLC et al v. Shrader

Court Case Number: 1:2016-cv-00364
File Date: Monday, February 15, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC, Plan Pros, Inc., Carmichael & Dame Designs, Inc.
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn of LaDue | Curran | Kuehn
Defendant: Michael Shrader d/b/a Palladian Home Design, Palladian Home Designs, Palladian Blueprints, Palladian Drafting & Design Services, Palladian Architectural Drafting & Design Services, and Palladian Design/Build
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Jane Magnus-Stinson
Referred To: Mark J. Dinsmore

Representative Complaints:

 

[Update 4/1/16]

Design Basics, LLC v. Straight Talk Construction, Inc.

Court Case Number: 3:2016-cv-00193
File Date: Thursday, March 31, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn
Defendant: Straight Talk Construction, Inc.
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Theresa L. Springmann
Referred To: Christopher A. Nuechterlein

Design Basics, LLC v. W R Birkey & Associates Inc. et al

Court Case Number: 3:2016-cv-00195
File Date: Thursday, March 31, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn
Defendant: W R Birkey & Associates et al
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Theresa L. Springmann
Referred To: Christopher A. Nuechterlein

Design Basics, LLC et al v. Kerstiens Homes & Designs, Inc. et al

Court Case Number: 1:2016-cv-00726
File Date: Thursday, March 31, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn
Defendant: Kerstiens Homes & Designs, Inc. et al
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Tanya Walton Pratt
Referred To: Denise K. LaRue

Representative Complaint:

 

[Updated 5/18/16]

Design Basics, LLC et al v. Premier Homes of Southern Indiana, Inc.

Court Case Number: 4:16-cv-00073-RLY-DML
File Date: Monday, May 16, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn of LaDue | Curran | Kuehn
Defendant: Premier Homes of Southern Indiana, Inc.
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Richard L. Young
Referred To: Debra McVicker Lynch

Complaint:

 

[Updated 5/20/16]

Design Basics, LLC et al v. Precision Homes, Inc.

Court Case Number: 2:16-cv-00179-PPS-JEM
File Date: Thursday, May 19, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn of LaDue | Curran | Kuehn
Defendant: Precision Homes, Inc.
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Philip P. Simon
Referred To: John E. Martin

Design Basics, LLC v. Westport Homes of Fort Wayne, Inc. et al.

Court Case Number: 1:16-cv-00170-JD-SLC
File Date: Thursday, May 19, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn of LaDue | Curran | Kuehn
Defendant: Westport Homes of Fort Wayne, Inc.; Westport Homes, Inc.
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Jon E. DeGuilio
Referred To: Susan L. Collins

Representative Complaint:

 

[Updated 5/23/16]

Design Basics, LLC v. Slattery Builders LLC

Court Case Number: 1:16-cv-00174
File Date: Friday, May 20, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn of LaDue | Curran | Kuehn
Defendant: Slattery Builders, LLC
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: TBD
Referred To: TBD

Design Basics, LLC et al v. Heller & Sons, Incorporated et al.

Court Case Number: 1:16-cv-00175
File Date: Sunday, May 22, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC; W.L. Martin Home Designs LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn of LaDue | Curran | Kuehn
Defendant: Heller & Sons, Incorporated d/b/a Heller Homes; Heller Development Corporation
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: TBD
Referred To: TBD

Representative Complaint:

 

[Updated 5/31/16]

Design Basics, LLC et al. v. Fireside Homes Inc et al.

Court Case Number: 1:16-cv-00181-JVB-SLC
File Date: Thursday, May 26, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC, Plan Pros, Inc., W.L. Martin Home Designs LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn of LaDue | Curran | Kuehn
Defendant: Fireside Homes Inc., Fireside Development Company, LLC, Hearth Homes, Inc., Willies Development Corporation, Oakbrook Homes, Inc. d/b/a/ Juniper Homes, Oakbrook Homes, Willie’s Oakbrook Homes, Riverview Lumber and Building Supply Co., Inc.
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Joseph S. Van Bokkelen
Referred To: Susan L. Collins

Complaint:

 

[Updated 6/15/16]

Design Basics, LLC  v. KAM Construction, LLC et al

Court Case Number: 1:16-cv-00212
File Date: Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn of LaDue | Curran | Kuehn
Defendant: KAM Construction, LLC et al
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: TBD
Referred To: TBD

 

[Updated 7/14/16]

Design Basics, LLC v. Miller Builders Inc

Court Case Number: 3:16-cv-00390-PPS-CAN
File Date: Thursday, June 23, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn of LaDue | Curran | Kuehn
Defendant: Miller Builders Inc
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Philip P. Simon
Referred To: Christopher A. Nuechterlein

Design Basics, LLC v. Citation Homes Inc. et al

Court Case Number: 1:16-cv-00232-TLS-SLC
File Date: Friday, June 24, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn of LaDue | Curran | Kuehn
Defendant: Citation Homes Inc. et al
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Theresa L. Springmann
Referred To: Susan L. Collins

Design Basics, LLC et al v. Sky Hill Homes, Inc., By Larry Myers et al

Court Case Number: 1:16-cv-00247-TLS-SLC
File Date: Saturday, June 25, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn of LaDue | Curran | Kuehn
Defendant: Sky Hill Homes, Inc., By Larry Myers et al
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Theresa L. Springmann
Referred To: Susan L. Collins

Design Basics, LLC et al v. Milakis Homes, LLC et al

Court Case Number: 4:16-cv-00053-TLS-SLC
File Date: Friday, July 8, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn of LaDue | Curran | Kuehn
Defendant: Milakis Homes, LLC et al
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Theresa L. Springmann
Referred To: Susan L. Collins

Design Basics, LLC v. DeVon Custom Home, Inc. et al

Court Case Number: 3:16-cv-00448-TLS-SLC
File Date: Friday, July 8, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn of LaDue | Curran | Kuehn
Defendant: DeVon Custom Home, Inc. et al
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Theresa L. Springmann
Referred To: Susan L. Collins

Design Basics, LLC v. Dabrowski Construction, Inc.

Court Case Number: 2:16-cv-00322-PPS-JEM
File Date: Friday, July 8, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn of LaDue | Curran | Kuehn
Defendant: Dabrowski Construction, Inc.
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Philip P. Simon
Referred To: John E. Martin

Design Basics, LLC v. Eenigengurg Builders, Inc.

Court Case Number: 2:16-cv-00323-JD-PRC
File Date: Friday, July 8, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn of LaDue | Curran | Kuehn
Defendant: Eenigengurg Builders, Inc.
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Jon E. DeGuilio
Referred To: Paul R. Cherry

Design Basics, LLC v. Regal Homes of Southern Indiana, L.L.C. et al

Court Case Number: 3:16-cv-00135-RLY-MPB
File Date: Friday, July 8, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn of LaDue | Curran | Kuehn
Defendant: Regal Homes of Southern Indiana, L.L.C. et al
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Richard L. Young
Referred To: Matthew P. Brookman

Design Basics, LLC v. Henderlong Homes LLC et al

Court Case Number: 2:16-cv-00324-TLS-SLC
File Date: Saturday, July 9, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn of LaDue | Curran | Kuehn
Defendant: Henderlong Homes LLC et al
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Theresa L. Springmann
Referred To: Susan L. Collins

Design Basics, LLC et al v. Cook Builders.com, Inc.

Court Case Number: 2:16-cv-00325-TLS-SLC
File Date: Saturday, July 9, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn of LaDue | Curran | Kuehn
Defendant: Cook Builders.com, Inc.
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Theresa L. Springmann
Referred To: Susan L. Collins

Design Basics, LLC v. T.K. Constructors Inc.

Court Case Number: 1:16-cv-01841-SEB-DML
File Date: Saturday, July 9, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn of LaDue | Curran | Kuehn
Defendant: T.K. Constructors Inc.
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Sarah Evans Barker
Referred To: Debra McVicker Lynch

Design Basics, LLC v. Rusk Builders Inc.

Court Case Number: 3:2016-cv-00459
File Date: Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Plaintiff: Design Basics, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn of LaDue | Curran | Kuehn
Defendant: Rusk Builders Inc.
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: TBD
Referred To: TBD

Indiana Trademark Litigation Update – Barrington Music Products v. Guitar Center Stores

08 Friday Jan 2016

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

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This trademark dispute involves Plaintiff’s registered VENTO trademark and an allegedly infringing VENTUS mark, both used in connection with wind instruments.

Barrington Music Products Inc v. Guitar Center Stores, Inc. et al

Court Case Number: 1:15-cv-02031-TWP-TAB
File Date: Thursday, January 7, 2016
Plaintiff: Barrington Music Products
Plaintiff Counsel: John D. LaDue, Sean J. Quinn of LaDue | Curran | Kuehn
Defendant: Music & Arts Centers, Guitar Center Stores, Inc., Eastman Music Company
Cause: Federal Trademark Infringement, Federal Unfair Competition, False Designation of Origin, Federal Trademark Dilution, Trade Name Infringement under Indiana Common Law, Passing Off
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr.
Referred To: Magistrate Judge Christopher A. Nuechterlein

Complaint: