Seaberg Company Complaint
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Transcript of Seaberg Company Complaint
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PAGE 2COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT AND UNFAIR COMPETITION
NATURE OF THIS ACTION
1. This is an action for trademark infringement and unfair competition under the
laws of the United States (The Lanham Act, codified at 15 U.S.C. 1051, et seq.), and the
common law of trademarks.
PARTIES
2. Plaintiff is a corporation organized under the laws of Oregon having its principal
place of business at 27350 S.W. 95th Avenue, Suite 3038, Wilsonville, OR 97070 and is
engaged in the business of manufacturing and selling medical products.
3. Dynarex is a New York corporation, having its principal place of business at 10
Glenshaw Street, Orangeburg, New York 10962.
4 SOS is a California corporation, having its principal place of business at 15705
Strathern #11, Van Nuys, California 91406.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
5. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1121 and
28 U.S.C. 1331 and 1338(a).
6. This Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendants at least because Defendants
have substantial contacts in the State of Oregon related to the claims in this action and
Defendants engaged in the wrongful acts alleged herein in the State of Oregon.
7. Venue in this judicial district is proper under 28 U.S.C. 1391(b) and (c).
STATEMENT OF FACTS COMMON TO ALL CLAIMS
8. Plaintiff has been in the business of manufacturing and selling innovative medical
products for over 25 years.
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PAGE 3COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT AND UNFAIR COMPETITION
9. Plaintiff manufactures and sells a line of orthopedic splints having distinctive
orange and blue sides, which are referred to herein as the SAM Splint line.
10. Plaintiff owns United States Trademark Registration No. 3,720,814 (the
Registration). A copy of the Registration Certificate is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
11. Plaintiff first used the trademark denoted in the Registration in commerce in
connection with the goods identified in the Registration at least as early as December 31, 1985.
12. The trademark consists of:
the colors orange and blue as applied to the goods. The color blue
is applied as the color of the material on the entire surface of one
of the opposite sides of the goods, and the color orange is applied
as the color of the material on the entire surface of the other side of
the goods. The colors are thus separately visible on the opposite
sides and both colors are visible along the edges of the goods.
13. This trademark is Registered for use on orthopedic splints.
14. Plaintiff learned that Dynarex is importing into and selling in the United States a
line of splints having a blue side and an orange side, which line is identified as the ActiSplint
line of splints. Photos of two examples of the ActiSplint splint are attached hereto as Exhibit B.
15. Dynarex offers the ActiSplint line of splints throughout the United States,
including in Oregon. Dynarex also advertises the ActiSplint line of splints through its website,
http://dynarexassets.com/. A page from Dynarexs website showing the ActiSplint is attached
hereto as Exhibit C.
16. SOS sells the ActiSplint line of splints throughout the United States, including in
Oregon. SOS also advertises and sells the ActiSplint line of splints directly through its
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PAGE 4COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT AND UNFAIR COMPETITION
http://www.myproship.com/ and http://www.sosproducts.com/ websites. A page from
SOSs website showing the ActiSplint is attached hereto as Exhibit D.
17. Defendants use the color blue for the material of one entire side of the splints and
the color orange for the material of the other entire side.
18. The ActiSplint line of splints has substantially the same commercial impression as
Plaintiffs SAM Splints bearing the Plaintiffs trademark.
19. Defendants use of blue and orange colors for the opposite sides of its ActiSplint
splints is intended to cause consumers to mistakenly believe that the ActiSplint splints are
produced by or originate from Plaintiff.
PLAINTIFFS FIRST CLAIM(Violation of Lanham Act 32Registration)
20. Plaintiff repeats and realleges each of the allegations contained in paragraphs 1
through 19 of this Complaint as if fully set forth herein.
21. The acts of Defendants described above constitute an infringement of Plaintiffs
rights in and under the registration, with consequent damages to Plaintiff and the business and
goodwill associated with and symbolized by the registration and, specifically, give rise to this
claim under 15 U.S.C. 1114.
22. Defendants acts of trademark infringement have caused and are causing great
and irreparable harm to Plaintiff, Plaintiffs goodwill, and Plaintiffs rights in and under the
Registration, in an amount which cannot be adequately determined at this time and, unless
restrained, will cause further irreparable injury and damage, leaving Plaintiffs with no adequate
remedy at law.
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PAGE 5COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT AND UNFAIR COMPETITION
23. By virtue of the Registration, Defendants had constructive notice, at least as early
as December 8, 2009, of Plaintiffs exclusive ownership of and nationwide right to use the
registered trademark.
24. Defendants acts of infringement have been and are being committed with actual
knowledge of Plaintiffs rights and are willful and in gross disregard of Plaintiffs rights.
25. By reason of the foregoing, Plaintiff is entitled to injunctive relief against
Defendants, and anyone associated therewith, to restrain further acts of infringement, and to
recover any damages proven to have been caused by reason of Defendants acts of infringement,
and to recover enhanced damages based upon the willful, intentional, and/or grossly negligent
activities of Defendants.
PLAINTIFFS SECOND CLAIM(Violation of Lanham Act 43)
26. Plaintiff repeats and realleges each of the allegations contained in paragraphs 1
through 25 of this Complaint as if fully set forth herein.
27. Plaintiff manufactures, advertises, and sells splints bearing the Registered
trademark throughout the United States, including in Oregon.
28. Prior to Defendants conduct that forms the basis for this Complaint, consumers
had come to associate orthopedic splints with a blue side and an orange side exclusively with
Plaintiffs products.
29. Through Plaintiffs promotional efforts, business conduct, and continuous use,
Plaintiffs splints with a blue side and an orange side have become, through widespread and
favorable public acceptance and recognition, assets of substantial value as symbols of Plaintiff,
its high quality products, and its goodwill.
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PAGE 6COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT AND UNFAIR COMPETITION
30. On account of Plaintiffs long and continuous exclusive marking of its splints
with the trademark of the Registration, and substantial advertising and sales of their products,
Plaintiff has established valid and enforceable rights in Plaintiffs splints with a blue side and an
orange side.
31. Notwithstanding Plaintiffs preexisting valid and enforceable rights, Defendants,
without Plaintiffs permission or approval, advertised and sold (or caused to be sold) splints with
a blue side and an orange side in the United States, including in Oregon.
32. As a result of Defendants unauthorized use of Plaintiffs trademark for its splints
with a blue side and an orange side, Plaintiff and Defendants use (and have used) Plaintiffs
trademark in connection with identical and related products and services.
33. Plaintiff and Defendants offer (and have offered) their respective products and
services to customers and/or the relevant consumer base in the same geographical locations and
through the same trade channels.
34. Defendants are direct competitors of Plaintiff.
35. Defendants use of Plaintiffs trademark is not authorized by Plaintiff and is likely
to cause confusion and mistake, and to deceive consumers as to the source or origin of
Defendants products.
36. Plaintiff has been, and continues to be, injured by Defendants unauthorized and
unlawful use of Plaintiffs trademark.
37. Defendants unauthorized use of Plaintiffs trademark, including on Defendants
websites and catalogs, is causing confusion amongpotential purchasers of Plaintiffs products.
38. The acts by Defendants described above constitute infringement of Plaintiffs
rights in and to Plaintiffs trademark, with consequent damages to Plaintiff and the business and
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PAGE 7COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT AND UNFAIR COMPETITION
goodwill associated with and symbolized by Plaintiffs trademark, specifically give rise to this
claim under 15 U.S.C. 1125.
39. Defendants acts of unfair competition have caused and are causing great and
irreparable harm to Plaintiff, Plaintiffs goodwill, and Plaintiffs rights to Plaintiffs trademark,
in an amount which cannot be adequately determined at this time and, unless restrained, will
cause further irreparable injury and damage, leaving Plaintiffs with no adequate remedy at law.
40. On information and belief, Defendants acts of infringement have been and are
being committed with actual knowledge of Plaintiffs prior rights in Plaintiffs trademark, and are
willful and in gross disregard of Plaintiffs rights.
41. By reason of the foregoing, Plaintiff is entitled to injunctive relief against
Defendants, and anyone associated therewith, to restrain further acts of unfair competition, and
to recover any damages proven to have been caused by reason of Defendants aforesaid acts of
unfair competition, and to recover enhanced damages based upon the willful, intentional, and/or
grossly negligent activities of Defendants.
PLAINTIFFS THIRD CLAIM(Common Law Trademark Infringement)
42. Plaintiff repeats and realleges each of the allegations contained in paragraphs 1
through 41 of this Complaint as if fully set forth herein.
43. On account of its long and continuous use ofPlaintiffs trademarkand substantial
advertising and sales of its products, Plaintiff has established common law trademark rights in
Plaintiffs trademark.
44. The acts by Defendants described above constitute an infringement of Plaintiffs
common law rights in and to the use ofPlaintiffs trademark, with consequent damages to
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PAGE 8COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT AND UNFAIR COMPETITION
Plaintiff and the business and goodwill associated with and symbolized by Plaintiffs trademark,
and, specifically, give rise to this action under the common law of trademarks.
45. Defendants acts of trademark infringement have caused and are causing great
and irreparable harm to Plaintiff, Plaintiffs goodwill andPlaintiffs rights in and to Plaintiffs
trademark, in an amount which cannot be adequately determined at this time and, unless
restrained, will cause further irreparable injury and damage, leaving Plaintiff with no adequate
remedy at law.
46. On information and belief, Defendants acts of infringement have been and are
being committed with actual knowledge of Plaintiff prior rights in Plaintiffs trademark, and are
willful and in gross disregard of Plaintiffs rights.
47. By reason of the foregoing, Plaintiff is entitled to injunctive relief against
Defendants, and anyone associated therewith, to restrain further acts of infringement, and to
recover any damages proven to have been caused by reason of Defendants aforesaid acts of
infringement, and to recover enhanced damages based upon the willful, intentional, and/or
grossly negligent activities of Defendants.
PRAYER
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for the following relief:
A. A permanent nationwide injunction enjoining Defendants, their employees,
agents, officers, directors, attorneys, representatives, successors, affiliates, subsidiaries and
assigns, and all those in concert or participation with any of them from:
(1) imitating, copying, using, reproducing, registering, attempting to register
and/or displaying a configuration of splints with a blue side and an orange side or
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PAGE 9COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT AND UNFAIR COMPETITION
any splint configuration which colorably imitates or is confusingly similar to
Plaintiffs trademark;
(2) using any other false description or representation or any other thing
calculated or likely to cause confusion, deception, or mistake in the marketplace
with regard to Plaintiffs trademark; and
(3) importing, selling, or offering for sale any products which colorably
imitate or are confusingly similar to Plaintiffs trademark, including the
ActiSplint line of products;
B. An award of damages to compensate for the infringement by Defendants of
Plaintiffs trademark in an amount to be proven at trial, including Plaintiffs actual damages and
Defendants profits attributable to the infringement;
C. An order directing Defendants to deliver up for destruction all materials and
matter in their possession or custody or under their control that infringes Plaintiffs trademark,
including, without limitation, all advertising and promotional materials;
D. An award of Plaintiffs attorneys fees, treble actual damages, and treble damages
based upon an accounting of Defendants profits, including all statutory enhancements, other
enhancements, and attorneys fees, on account of the willful nature of Defendants acts as
provided in 15 U.S.C. 1117;
E. An order directing Defendants to undertake corrective advertising in a form,
manner, and frequency that is acceptable to Plaintiff and the Court; and
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PAGE 10COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT AND UNFAIR COMPETITION
F. Such other relief, in law or in equity, to which Plaintiff may be entitled, or which
this Court may deem just and proper.
DATED: July 22, 2013 Respectfully submitted,
CHERNOFF VILHAUER LLP
/s/ Susan D. Pitchford
Donald B. Haslett, OSB No. 772158Susan D. Pitchford, OSB No. 980911
Telephone: (503) 227-5631
Attorneys for Plaintiff
JURY DEMAND
Pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 38(b), Plaintiff hereby demands a trial by
jury as to all issues so triable in this action.
CHERNOFF VILHAUER LLP
/s/ Susan D. Pitchford
Donald B. Haslett, OSB No. 772158Susan D. Pitchford, OSB No. 980911
Telephone: (503) 227-5631
Attorneys for Plaintiff
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