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Gold Crest v. Globe Elec. - Complaint
Gold Crest v. Globe Elec. - Complaint
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COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AGAINST GLOBE ELECTRIC
Case 2:19-cv-06986 Document 1 Filed 08/12/19 Page 2 of 12 Page ID #:2
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COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AGAINST GLOBE ELECTRIC
Case 2:19-cv-06986 Document 1 Filed 08/12/19 Page 3 of 12 Page ID #:3
1 employment.
2 8. Plaintiff is informed and believes and based thereon alleges, that at all
3 relevant times herein, Defendant and DOES 1 through 10, inclusive, knew or
4 reasonably should have known of the acts and behavior alleged herein and the damages
5 caused thereby, and by their inaction ratified and encouraged such acts and behavior.
6 Plaintiff further alleges that Defendant and DOES 1 through 10, inclusive, have a non-
7 delegable duty to prevent or cause such acts and the behavior described herein, which
8 duty Defendant and DOES 1 through 10, inclusive, failed and/or refused to perform.
9 ALLEGATIONS COMMON TO ALL CAUSES OF ACTION
10 A. Background
11 9. Gold Crest is a well-known and respected company in the lighting and
12 home goods field. Gold Crest is well known for its high quality products, and is
13 sought out as the supplier for a number of high-end hospitality chains and
14 corporations.
15 10. Gold Crest filed the D769,512 design patent on September 8, 2015, and
16 was legally registered by the USPTO on October 16, 2016. Additionally, Gold Crest
17 filed the D787,735 design patent on October 14, 2016, and was legally registered by
18 the USPTO on May 23, 2017. The patent has been in force since that time and
19 continues to be in force.
20 11. As a result of Gold Crest’s substantial advertising and promotional
21 efforts, as well as the high quality of the products associated with the ‘512 Design
22 Patent ’735 Design Patent, this distinctive design has earned valuable and residual
23 goodwill and reputation for Gold Crest being the sole source of said goods in the
24 United States.
25 B. Defendant’s Infringing Conduct
26 12. Defendant has infringed and continues to infringe on the ‘512 Design
27 Patent, and the ’735 Design Patent, or a colorable imitation thereof by using, selling
28 and/or offering to sell in the United States, and/or importing into the United States,
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COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AGAINST GLOBE ELECTRIC
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COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AGAINST GLOBE ELECTRIC
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COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AGAINST GLOBE ELECTRIC
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1 18. An ordinary observer familiar with the prior art would be deceived into
2 thinking that the design of the infringing products was the same as the ‘512 Design
3 Patent, and the ‘735 Design Patent.
4 19. Defendant’s actions have been without license or authority of Gold Crest.
5 20. Defendant’s actions have been taken knowingly and willingly.
6 21. Defendant has been made aware of their infringing conduct since April
7 22, 2019, and after having initially responded, have continued their infringing conduct
8 all the way up and until the present. As such this conduct was knowing and willful.
9 FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF
10 [Infringement of ‘512 Design Patent Under 35 U.S.C. § 271
11 Against All Defendants]
12 22. Plaintiff realleges, adopts and incorporates by reference, each and every
13 allegation contained in Paragraphs 1 through 21, inclusive, of this Complaint as though
14 fully set forth herein
15 23. Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges that Defendant has
16 infringed and continues to infringe the ‘512 Design Patent by manufacturing,
17 distributing, promoting, using, selling and/or offering to sell in the United States,
18 and/or importing into the United States infringing products as identified in this
19 Complaint, which embody the design covered by the ‘512 Design Patent. Defendant’s
20 actions constitute infringement of the ‘512 Design Patent under 35 U.S.C. § 271 and
21 35 U.S.C. § 289.
22 24. Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges that Defendant’s
23 acts of infringement were and are willful and deliberate.
24 25. Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges that Defendants,
25 through their agents, employees and servants, have, knowingly, intentionally and
26 willfully directly infringed, engaged in acts of contributory infringement, and/or
27 induced the infringement of the ‘512 Design Patent by directly and/or indirectly
28 making, using, selling, offering for sale and/or importing products into the United
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COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AGAINST GLOBE ELECTRIC
Case 2:19-cv-06986 Document 1 Filed 08/12/19 Page 7 of 12 Page ID #:7
1 States that were covered by the claims of the ‘512 Design Patent.
2 26. Defendants’ acts of infringement of the ‘512 Design Patent were
3 undertaken without permission or license from Plaintiff Gold Crest. Defendants had
4 actual and/or constructive knowledge of the ‘512 Design Patent, and their actions
5 constitute willful and intentional infringement of the ‘512 Design Patent.
6 27. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants’ infringement of the ‘512
7 Design Patent, Defendants have derived and received gains, profits, and advantages in
8 an amount not presently known to Plaintiff Gold Crest.
9 28. Accordingly, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 289, Plaintiff Gold Crest is entitled
10 to Defendants’ total profits from Defendants’ infringement of the ‘512 Design Patent.
11 29. In addition, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 284, Plaintiff Gold Crest is entitled to
12 damages for Defendant’s infringing acts and treble damages together with interest and
13 costs as fixed by this Court.
14 30. Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 285, Plaintiff Gold Crest is entitled to reasonable
15 attorneys’ fees and costs for the necessity of bring this action.
16 31. Defendants, and each of them, in performing the conduct complained of
17 herein, acted willfully and with intent to cause injury to Plaintiff Gold Crest.
18 Defendants, and each of them, are therefore guilty of malice and oppression in
19 conscious disregard of Plaintiff Gold Crest’s rights thereby warranting an assessment
20 of punitive damages or exemplary damages or enhanced damages to the extent allowed
21 by law in an amount appropriate to punish Defendants and deter others from engaging
22 in such conduct.
23 32. Defendants have engaged in, continue to engage in, and unless restrained,
24 will continue to engage in the wrongful acts described herein. As a result, Plaintiff
25 will suffer great and irreparable injury, for which damages would not afford adequate
26 relief, in that said damages would not adequately compensate for the injury to Gold
27 Crest’s business operations, reputation, good will, and customer base. Consequently,
28 Defendants’ conduct, if allowed to continue, would inevitably result in the destruction
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COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AGAINST GLOBE ELECTRIC
Case 2:19-cv-06986 Document 1 Filed 08/12/19 Page 8 of 12 Page ID #:8
1 of Plaintiff Gold Crest. Accordingly, Plaintiff Gold Crest is entitled to preliminary and
2 permanent injunctive relief against all Defendants for their misconduct.
3 SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF
4 [Infringement of ‘735 Design Patent Under 35 U.S.C. § 271
5 Against All Defendants]
6 33. Plaintiff realleges, adopts and incorporates by reference, each and every
7 allegation contained in Paragraphs 1 through 32, inclusive, of this Complaint as though
8 fully set forth herein
9 34. Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges that Defendant has
10 infringed and continues to infringe the ‘735 Design Patent by manufacturing,
11 distributing, promoting, using, selling and/or offering to sell in the United States,
12 and/or importing into the United States infringing products as identified in this
13 Complaint, which embody the design covered by the ‘735 Design Patent. Defendant’s
14 actions constitute infringement of the ‘735 Design Patent under 35 U.S.C. § 271 and
15 35 U.S.C. § 289.
16 35. Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges that Defendants,
17 through their agents, employees and servants, have, knowingly, intentionally and
18 willfully directly infringed, engaged in acts of contributory infringement, and/or
19 induced the infringement of the ‘512 Design Patent by directly and/or indirectly
20 making, using, selling, offering for sale and/or importing products into the United
21 States that were covered by the claims of the ‘512 Design Patent.
22 36. Defendants’ acts of infringement of the ‘512 Design Patent were
23 undertaken without permission or license from Plaintiff Gold Crest. Defendants had
24 actual and/or constructive knowledge of the ‘512 Design Patent, and their actions
25 constitute willful and intentional infringement of the ‘512 Design Patent.
26 37. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants’ infringement of the ‘512
27 Design Patent, Defendants have derived and received gains, profits, and advantages in
28 an amount not presently known to Plaintiff Gold Crest.
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COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AGAINST GLOBE ELECTRIC
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COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AGAINST GLOBE ELECTRIC
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COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AGAINST GLOBE ELECTRIC
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1 directors, agents, servants, employees, affiliates, attorneys, and all others acting in
2 privity or in concert with them, and their parents, subsidiaries, divisions, predecessors,
3 successors and assigns, from further acts of infringement of the asserted design patent;
4 3. A judgment awarding Plaintiff all damages adequate to compensate for
5 Defendant's infringement of the asserted patents, and particularly Defendant's total
6 profits pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 289;
7 4. A judgment awarding Plaintiff all damages, costs, and interest, including
8 treble damages, based on any infringement found to be willful, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §
9 284, together with prejudgment interest;
10 5. An accounting of Defendant's profits;
11 6. A judgment declaring this case to be exceptional and awarding Plaintiff
12 their reasonable attorneys’ fees pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 285; and
13 7. For injunctive relief until trial is completed.
14 On the Second Claim for Relief:
15 1. For general and special damages to be proven at the time of trial to the
16 extent allowed by law;
17 2. For attorneys’ fees and costs to the extent allowed by law;
18 3. For punitive damages or exemplary damages or enhanced damages or
19 treble damages to the extent allowed by law; and
20 4. For injunctive relief until trial is completed.
21 Awarding Plaintiff such other and further relief as this Court deems just and
22 proper.
23 On the Third Claim for Relief:
24 1. For general and special damages to be proven at the time of trial to the
25 extent allowed by law;
26 2. For attorneys’ fees and costs to the extent allowed by law;
27 3. For punitive damages or exemplary damages or enhanced damages or
28 treble damages to the extent allowed by law; and
11
COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AGAINST GLOBE ELECTRIC
Case 2:19-cv-06986 Document 1 Filed 08/12/19 Page 12 of 12 Page ID #:12
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10 _______________________________________
Kyriacos S. Tsircou
11 Konrad L. Trope
12 Counsel for Plaintiff Gold Crest, LLC
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COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AGAINST GLOBE ELECTRIC
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EXHIBIT "1"
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EXHIBIT "2"
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USOOD787735S
(71) Applicant: Gold Crest LLC, Santa Barbara, CA U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
(US) D328,361 S * 7/1992 Paproski ...................... D26, 106
D556,363 S * 11/2007 Komar ... ... D26, 106
(72) Inventors: Roger Edgar, Santa Barbara, CA (US); D618,378 S * 6/2010 Huang ... ... D26/93
Leonardus Josephus van Oord, D639,490 S * 6/2011 Huang ........ D26/93
Voorschoten (NL) D673.321 S * 12/2012 Karkkainen D26/93
D681,865 S * 5/2013 Lee ................. ... D26/93
(73) Assignee: Gold Crest LLC, Santa Barbara, CA D759,290 S * 6/2016 Hsu ... D26/107
D769,512 S * 10/2016 Edgar .......................... D26/107
(US)
* cited by examiner
(**) Term: 15 Years
Primary Examiner — Brian N Vinson
(21) Appl. No.: 29/581,046 (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Tsircou Law, P.C.
(57) CLAM
(22) Filed: Oct. 14, 2016
We claim the ornamental design for a light assembly, as
shown and described.
Related U.S. Application Data DESCRIPTION
(62) Division of application No. 29/538,822, filed on Sep. FIG. 1 a front, left perspective view of of a light assembly
8, 2015, now Pat. No. Des. 769,512.
of the new design.
(51) LOC (10) Cl. ............................................... 26-03 FIG. 2 is a back left perspective of the light assembly of FIG.
(52) U.S. C. 1.
USPC ......................................................... D26/107 FIG. 3 is a left elevational view of the light assembly of FIG.
(58) Field of Classification Search 1; and,
USPC ...... D26/1, 24, 93, 104, 106, 107, 109, 110, FIG. 4 is right elevational view of the light assembly of FIG.
D26/62 1.
CPC ..... F21S 6/00; F21S 6/043; F21S 8/08; F21V The dashed lines depict environmental aspects and form no
21/00; F21V 21/02; F21W 2121/00; part of the claimed design.
F21W 213 1/30
See application file for complete search history. 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Sheets
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FIG. 1
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F.G. 3
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FIG. 4