Vintage Wine Estates v. Dan Cohn - trademark complaint.pdf

8/20/2019 Vintage Wine Estates v. Dan Cohn - trademark complaint.pdf

1/18

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1 1

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

2l

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

J .

SCOTTGERIEN

t a t e

Bar

No.

184728

CHRISTOPHER

.

PASSARELLI

t a t e

Bar

No.

241174

CORINNA

M.W.

CHARLTON

t a t e

Bar

No.

279305

DICKENSON

EATMAN

OGARTY

1455

i r s t

S t r e e t ,

S t e . 301

Napa, a l i f o r n i a

94559

Telephone: 707) 52-7122

F a c s i m i l e : 707)

55-6876

A t t o r n e y s f o r P l a i n t i f f

VINTAGEWINE

ESTATES

NC.

UNITED

STATES

ISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN

ISTRICT

OF

CALIFORNIA

V i n t a g e

Wine

E s t a t e s ,

I n c . ,

P l a i n t i f f ,

v s .

Dan Coh n

Win e C e l l a r s

LLC

aniel A.

Cohn, n n d i v i d u a l ,

and

DOES t h r o u g h

1 0 .

Defendants.

CASE

NO.

COMPLAINT

1 .

Federal

T r a demark Infringement

2. Federal

Unfair

Competition

3.

C a l i f o r n i a

Unfair

Competition

4 .

C a l i f o r n i a

False or Misleading

Statements

5.

Common

Law rademark

Infringement

6. CommonLaw

nf air Compet ition

7.

C a l i f o r n i a

Misappropriation of T ra

S e c r e t s

8.

Common

Law

isappropriation

of

T r a d e S e c r e t s

DEMAND OR

JURY

TRIAL

P l a i n t i f f , Vintage

Win e

E s t a t e s ,

I n c . ,

f o r

t s

complaint a g a i n s t

D e f e n d a n t s ,

Dan Cohn

Wi n e

C e l l a r s LLC

aniel A. Coh n and DOES through 1 0 ,

a l l e g e s

a s

f o l l o w s :

NATURE

OF

ACTION

1 . This

i s

an

a c t i o n

t o

r e d r e s s v i o l a t i o n s

of h e f e d e r a l Lanham

Act

o r

i n f r i n g e m e n t of a

f e d e r a l l y

r e g i s t e r e d

trademark

15 U.S.C.

§1114),

e d e r a l

u n f a i r

c o m p e t i t i o n

15 U.S.C.

§

1 2 5 a ) ) ,

C a l i f o r n i a

u n f a i r

c o m p e t i t i o n

Cal.

Bus. r o f .

Code §

7200),

t h e

COMPLAINT 1

Case 3:16-cv-00988 Document 1 Filed 02/29/16 Page 1 of 18


2/18

1

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1 1

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

d i s s e m i n a t i o n

of

a l s e

and

m i s l e a d i n g

s t a t e m e n t s

( C a l .

Bus.

&Prof.

Code § 7 5 0 0 ) ,

m i s a p p r o p r i a t i o n

of r a d e

s e c r e t s ( C a l . C i v . Code

§

426),

and

common aw

t r a d e m a r k

i n f r i n g e m e n t , u n f a i r

c o m p e t i t i o n , and

m i s a p p r o p r i a t i o n of

r a d e

s e c r e t s

a s

t h e

r e s u l t

of

w i l l f u l

and

u n a u t h o r i z e d

use

by Defendants of

c o l o r a b l e

i m i t a t i o n s

of

P l a i n t i f f s

t r a d e m a r k , a s

more

f u l l y s e t f o r th

h e r e i n a f t e r .

P l a i n t i f f s e e k s

p r e l i m i n a r y

and

permanent

i n j u n c t i v e r e l i e f r e s t r a i n i n g

Defendants'

i n f r i n g e m e n t of

P l a i n t i f f s

t r a d e m a r k ,

monetary

damages, t t o r n e y s f e e s and

e l a t e d r e l i e f .

THE

PARTIES

2 .

P l a i n t i f f ,

Vintage W ine

s t a t e s , I n c . , i s a a l i f o r n i a c o r p o r a t i o n

w i t h

i t s p r i n c i p a l

p l a c e

of

u s i n e s s

l o c a t e d a t

205

Concourse

Blvd, anta

Rosa, a l i f o r n i a

95403.

3 . Upon

n f o r m a t i o n

and b e l i e f ,

Defendant,

D a n

Cohn

Wine

e l l a r s

LLC D C W C ) , s a

Delaware i m i t e d

l i a b i l i t y company w i t h

i t s

p r i n c i p a l

p l a c e

of

u s i n e s s

l o c a t e d

a t 3678

R u t h e r f o r d

W a y ,

anta Rosa, a l i f o r n i a 95404.

4 .

Upon

i n f o r m a t i o n and

b e l i e f ,

Defendant,

Daniel A.

Cohn,

i s

an

i n d i v i d u a l

doing

b u s i n e s s

i n

t h e

s t a t e

of

a l i f o r n i a

and e s i d i n g

a t

804 E.

Windward

Way

607,

a n t a n a ,

F l o r i d a

33462.

5 .

P l a i n t i f f

i s unaware

of

t h e

t r u e

names o r

c a p a c i t i e s , be

t h e y i n d i v i d u a l ,

member,

i n v e s t o r ,

p a r t n e r ,

o i n t- v e n t u r e r , c o - c o n s p i r a t o r ,

o r

o t h e r w i s e ,

of

h e Defendants

named

h e r e i n

a s DOES

through 1 0 ,

and

each of hem,

nd h e r e f o r e

s u e s s a i d

Defendants by

such

f i c t i t i o u s names and w i l l

amend t h i s Complaint t o show t h e i r

t r u e

names and

c a p a c i t i e s when

h e

same

have been

s c e r t a i n e d .

6 . Upon

n f o r m a t i o n

and b e l i e f , a t

a l l

t i m e s

h e r e i n mentioned,

each

of

h e

Defendants

was

t h e a g e n t of

each

of h e o t h e r D e f e n d a n t s , and i n

doing

t h e t h i n g s

h e r e i n a f t e r

a l l e g e d ,

was a c t i n g

w i t h i n

t h e

c o u r s e

and

scope

of

such

agency and

w i t h

t h e p e r m i s s i o n

and

c o n s e n t

of i s ,

h e r o r i t s

Co

- D e f e n d a n t s .

COMPLAINT



3/18

2

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

2

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

JURISDICTION NDVENUE

7.

This

Court

has s u b j e c t matter j u r i s d i c t i o n over

P l a i n t i f f ' s claim

under and

pursuant

t o

15

U.S.C.

§1121 and 28 U.S.C. §1338(a),

as

t h e

claims

a r i s e under

t h e f e d e r a l La nh a m

Act, 15 U.S. C. §§1116-1127. This

Court

a l s o

has

pendent

j u r i s d i c t i o n

over a l l of

P l a i n t i f f ' s

r e l a t e d

claims i n

accordance

with 28

U.S.C.

§1338(b).

8.

Upon information

and

b e l i e f ,

Defendants

e i t h e r

d i r e c t l y or

through

t h e i r

a g e n t s ,

t r a n s a c t e d

business

i n

the

S t a t e

of

C a l i f o r n i a

and

within

t h i s j u d i c i a l

d i s t r i c t ,

as

m o r e

s p e c i f i c a l l y

s e t

f o r t h

belo w ,

and

expected

or should

reasonably have

expected

t h e i r

a c t s

t o have

consequence i n the

S t a t e

of

a l i f o r n i a and

within

t h i s

j u d i c i a l

d i s t r i c t .

9.

V e n u e

i s

proper in

t h i s

d i s t r i c t

pursuant

t o

28

U.S.C.

§1391(b), as

Defendants

a r e

doing

b u s i n e s s i n

t h i s j u d i c i a l d i s t r i c t

and

t h e r e f o r e

may

e found

i n

t h i s

d i s t r i c t ,

and/or

as

a

s u b s t a n t i a l

p a r t

of

the events giving r i s e

t o

the claims

a l l e g e d he r e i n

occurred i n

t h i s

j u d i c i a l

d i s t r i c t ,

and/or the infringement occurred i n

t h i s j u d i c i a l

d i s t r i c t .

INTRADISTRICT

ASSIGNMENT

10.

Pursuant

to

C i v i l Local

Ru l e

3-2(c)

h i s

i s

an i n t e l l e c t u a l

property

m a t t e r

which i s

t o

b e

assigned

on

a d i s t r i c t

-wide

b a s i s .

ALLEGATIONSCOMMONTOALL

CLAIMS

11. l a i n t i f f i s

a w i n e c o m p a n y w h i c h owns um e rous w i n e

brands

and

s e v e r a l

w i n e r i e s

l o c a t e d i n

the

re nowne d Napa ounty and Sonoma ounty

w i n e

regions of

a l i f o r n i a .

12.

On

u l y 24,

2015,

P l a i n t i f f

e x pand ed i t s

winery

p o r t f o l i o

b y

purchasing

t h e famous

B.R. CORN

i n e brand and

the

B.R. C o h n

Winery

l o c a t e d j u s t

o u t s i d e

t h e

t o w n of

S o n o m a ,

a l i f o r n i a .

13. l a i n t i f f ' s

purchase of the B.R.

Cohn

Winery involved

nu m er ou s

a s s e t s ,

i n c l u d i n g

v i n e y a r d s ,

b u i l d i n g s , equipment,

inventory

and i n t e l l e c t u a l

p r o p e r t y

( c o l l e c t i v e l y ,

t h e

Purchased A s s e t s ) .

COMPLAINT



4/18

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1 1

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

2

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

14.

Among

h e

most v a l u a b l e i n t e l l e c t u a l p r o p e r t y

a s s e t s

purchased

by

P l a i n t i f f

were t h e

t r a d e name and trademark

B.R.

CORN

o r

wine and

p r o p r i e t a r y

customer

d a t a

of

d i s t r i b u t o r s

and

r e t a i l e r s who

urchase

B.R.CORN ine

throughout

h e

United

S t a t e s .

15.

The

Purchased

Assets wer e

own ed by

s e v e r a l a f f i l i a t e d

e n t i t i e s

( t h e Cohn

E n t i t i e s ) ,

which

e n t i t i e s a r e

owne d by

a t h e r and

son Bruce

Cohn

and

Daniel

Cohn.

1 6 .

B ruce

Cohn

founded t h e B.R. Cohn Winery

over

f o r t y y e a r s

ago. U p o n

n f o r m a t i o n

and

b e l i e f , a f t e r

i t s founding,

wine

p r o d u c t i o n

by t h e B.R.

Cohn

Winery

s t e a d i l y

i n c r e a s e d

u n t i l p r o d u c t i o n

ex ceeded

100,000

a s e s a n n u a l l y .

17.

Bruce

Cohn

a l s o

s t a r t e d

s e v e r a l

o t h e r v e n t u r e s which

we r e

complimentary t o t h e

B.R.

Cohn

Winery

b u s i n e s s and t h e s e v e n t u r e s

a l l

f e a t u r e d and/or

encompassed

t h e B.R.

CORN rand

and wer e

conducted

from t h e

B.R.

Cohn

Winery.

1 8 .

U p o n

i n f o r m a t i o n

and

b e l i e f , over

t h e y e a r s , t h e Cohn

E n t i t i e s took

on

a

s t e a d i l y

i n c r e a s i n g

amount

of

debt t o

fund

t h e

o p e r a t i o n s

of

h e

B.R.

Cohn Winery

and

r e l a t e d

b u s i n e s s e s .

1 9 .

In

January 2014,

Bru c e

Cohn

stepped

down

as t h e manager

of

h e B.R. Cohn

Winery

b u s i n e s s

and

appointed h i s

son, Da niel Cohn,

o

a c t i v e l y

mana g e t h e B.R. Cohn

Winery

a f f i l i a t e d

b u s i n e s s e s

conducted

through

t h e

Cohn

E n t i t i e s .

20. U p o n i n f o r m a t i o n

and

b e l i e f , Daniel

Cohn

took

s e v e r a l

s i g n i f i c a n t a c t i o n s

i n

an

a t t e m p t

t o

s t r e n g t h e n

t h e Cohn

E n t i t i e s '

balance s h e e t s . Most n o t a b l y ,

h e

cut

wine p r o d u c t i o n

s i g n i f i c a n t l y .

21.

Daniel Cohn's

e f f o r t s

t o

reduce debt

and

s t r e n g t h e n

t h e

f i n a n c i a l

p o s i t i o n of

h e Cohn

E n t i t i e s f a i l e d .

Upon

n f o r m a t i o n

and

b e l i e f , B an k of

t h e

West, who h a d

p r o v i d e d a


o p e r a t i n g

l i n e

of

r e d i t

t o

t h e

Cohn

E n t i t i e s , r e f u s e d

t o

renew

o r

extend t h i s

l i n e of

r e d i t

w h en

t c a m e

t o

term

i n

e a r l y

2015.

22.

As e p o r te d i n t h e

Kenwood

Press,

t h e Cohn

E n t i t i e s '

o u t s t a n d i n g

l o a n

b a l a n c e

w i t h

Bank

of

h e

West

ex ceeded

$25,000,000

t h e

Debt ).

/ /

2g

/ /

COMPLAINT



5/18

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

23.

Upon

nformation

a nd

b e l i e f ,

d e s p i t e

t h e i r

e f f o r t s ,

n e i t h e r

Bruce n o r

Daniel Coh n

could

f i n d

another

ba nk t h a t

was

w i l l i n g

t o r e f i n a n c e

the

Debt

a nd

extend

a

loan

t o

t h e

Cohn

E n t i t i e s .

24.

Upon nformation

a nd b e l i e f , B a n k

o f he

West

r e s s u r e d Bruce Cohn

n d

Daniel Cohn

t o f i n d a buyer f o r

the B.R.

Cohn

Winery

b u s i n e s s

i n

order

to

prevent t h e

ba nk f r o m

c o m m e n c i n g

proceedings

t o take over

the

B.R. Cohn

Wine ry

b u s i n e s s

andlor

f r o m

l i q u i d a t i n g

t h e Purchased

Assets

t o

recoup t h e

Debt.

25. Upon

information a nd

b e l i e f , n e i t h e r

Bruce Cohn

nor Daniel

Cohn

had a n y

d e s i r e

t o

s e l l t h e

Purchased Assets

t o

P l a i n t i f f .

To

the c o n t r a r y ,

both

Bruce Cohn

a nd

Daniel

Cohn

begrudgingly

agreed t o market t h e

B.R. Cohn

Wine ry

f o r

s a l e a nd t o

accept

t h e

purchase

o f f e r

f o r

the

Purchased

Assets

m a d e

by

l a i n t i f f .

26.

Upon information

a nd b e l i e f , both

Bruce and

Daniel

Cohn

had p e r s o n a l l y

guaranteed

the

Debt, n d thus

faced

personal

l i a b i l i t y i f

t h e Debt

was

not

e p a i d .

27. The p r i c e paid

by P l a i n t i f f f o r

the Purchased Assets was

accepted by B a n k o f

h e West

as s u f f i c i e n t

t o

s a t i s f y and/or

f o r g i v e

the

Debt, a nd as a e s u l t , a n y

personal

l i a b i l i t y

o f

Daniel

Cohn

t o

B a n k

o f

the

West

i n

connection

with

the

Debt was

e l i m i n a t e d

by

P l a i n t i f f s

a c q u i s i t i o n o f

he

Purchased

A s s e t s .

28.

Daniel

Cohn was engaged

by P l a i n t i f f

t o a s s i s t

with t h e

t r a n s i t i o n

o f

he

ownership o f

the

B.R.

Cohn

Wine ry

business

a f t e r

the

completion o f the

a c q u i s i t i o n by P l a i n t i f f .

This

engagement was

f o r a

t h r e e

m o n t h p e r i o d

which

l a s t e d f r o m

l a t e

J u l y

through

October

o f

2015.

Daniel

Cohn

was f i n a n c i a l l y

compensated a c o n s i d e r a b l e

a m o u n t

o f

m o n e y

as

well

as c o s t s f o r

h i s

h a b i t a t i o n

a nd

r e l o c a t i o n

a f t e r the

c o n s u l t i n g

engagement

was

complete.

29.

As

r e s u l t

o f

t s

purchase

o f the Purchased Assets,

l a i n t i f f

owns

h e

trademark B.R.

ORN o r

wine,

as well as

i n c o n t e s t a b l e f e d e r a l trademark

r e g i s t r a t i o n f o r

B.R.

CORN

f o r wine

i n I n t e r n a t i o n a l

Class 33 U.S.

Trademark

R e g i s t r a t i o n

No

, 8 3 5 , 6 1 9 ) ,

which

i s s u e d

o n

May 0, 1994

a nd

has a

c o n s t r u c t i v e

f i r s t

use d a t e o f

Dece m b e r

10,

1992.

COMPLAINT

5



6/18

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

30. l a i n t i f f

and

P l a i n t i f f s

predecessor

- i n

- i n t e r e s t

have

used the

B.R.

ORN

ark i n U.S.

c o m m e r c e

o n or n

a s s o c i a t i o n

with

win e

over

4 e a r s ,

s i n c e

June

1 , 1985.

31.

Th e B.R.

ORN

ark

s

i n h e r e n t l y d i s t i n c t i v e as used

i n


with

wine.

32. l a i n t i f f produces s e v e r a l v a r i e t a l s o f win e from

C a l i f o r n i a grapes under t h e B.R.

ORN

mark

and

P l a i n t i f f

o f f e r s t h i s win e

f o r

s a l e t o

c o n s ume r s i n a l l f i f t y

s t a t e s

throughout

t h e

United

S t a t e s .

Since

1985

well

over a m i l l i o n

b o t t l e s

o f

B.R.

CORN

brand win e

have

b e en

sold

nationwide.

33.

B.R.

CORN

wines

have been

lauded

with

high

c r i t i c

s c o r e s and numerous f a v o r a b l e

reviews

over t h e

y e a r s .

M o s t

e c e n t l y ,

t h e s e

awards and

reviews have

included

s i l v e r

medals a t

the

San

Francisco

I n t e r n a t i o n a l Win e Competition the S.F.

Chronicle

Wine

Competition and

the

S ommeli er Challenge I n t e r n a t i o n a l

Win e Competition and

an

88

point

r a t i n g

b y

Wine

Spectator

f o r

the

B.R. ORN

infandel; a Doubl e Gol d medal

a t

the

Sonoma

C oun ty

Harvest

F a i r

f o r the B.R.

ORN

abernet

Franc;

and

a

92

o i n t

r a t i n g b y The

Wine

Advocate

f o r the B.R.

ORN

hardonnay.

34.

A m o n g s t h e v a r i o u s v a r i e t a l s o f w in e

produced under the B.R.

ORN

ark Cabernet

Sauvignon

has c o n s i s t e n t l y

b e en the

m o s t widely

acclaimed v a r i e t a l amon g st t h e s e

wines. B.R. ORN abernet Sauvignon wines

have

received award s

such

as a Reserve

Grand

Cham pion

Bes t

o f

Show and

Double Gold medal

a t

the

H o u s t o n

R o d e o

Un corked

I n t e r n a t i o n a l

W i n e

Competition

i l v e r

medal

a t

the San

Francisco Chronicle

W i n e Competition

and

r a t i n g s o f

9 o i n t s

b y Wine

Spectator

9 nd 91

p o i n t s

by

Th e

Wine Advocate

90 92

nd

94 o i n t s by Wine

Enthusiast

and

92

o i n t s b y Wine C r i t i c .

35. r e s e n t l y , P l a i n t i f f o f f e r s f o r s a l e over 10

unique Cabernet Sauvignon

wines

b y

v i n t a g e

under

h e

B.R.

ORN

rand.

36.

In

a d d i t i o n

t o

wine

the

B.R.

ORN

rand

has b e c o m e a s s o c i a t e d

with

s e v e r a l o t h e r

g ood s and

s e r v i c e s

including

o l i v e

o i l ,

v i n e g a r , o t h e r food

r e l a t e d

goods

weddings and

a

music

e s t i v a l .

37.

Since

1990

an u l t r a-premium

o l i v e

o i l

has

been o f f e r e d

b y

l a i n t i f f

and t s p r e d e c e s s o r s

f e a t u r i n g

the B.R. ORN

ark and t h i s B.R.

ORN

l i v e o i l i s

now

a well recognized

COMPLAINT

G ~



7/18

1

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

23

24

25

26

7

28

brand of

gourmet

o l i v e

o i l . P l a i n t i f f

a l s o o f f e r s

a

l i n e

of

vinegar

products,

mustards,

spreads and

sauces under

the B.R.

CORN

ark.

38.

The

grounds

of

the B.R.

Cohn

Winery

a r e

r e g u l a r l y

sought

a f t e r t o

host

wedding

ceremonies.

As

videnced by

wedding

announcements

found

i n

p e r i o d i c a l s such

as

Th e

Palm

Beac h

Post and The

Milwaukee Journal S e n t i n e l ,

f i a n c e e s

and

t h e i r

g u e s t s

from

a c r o s s

the

country t r a v e l t o

B.R.

Cohn

Winery f o r

n u p t i a l s

hosted on

the

winery

grounds.

39.

B.R.

Cohn

Winery

has been

the

host of

the

v i b r a n t B.R.

Cohn

Charity

Sonoma Mus ic

F e s t i v a l ,

w h i c h w a s

hosted

a t

the

B.R.

C o h n

Winery

f o r

9

y e a r s .

This c o n c e r t

r o u t i n e l y

draws

crowds

of

more

than

10,000

a t t e n d e e s .

40. This

pervasiveness

of

the

B.R.

CORN rand i s

i l l u s t r a t e d

b y

the

more

than t h r e e

hundred

a r t i c l e s r e f e r e n c i n g or d i s c u s s i n g t h e B.R. CORN

rand

w h i c h

have

been

published

i n

j u s t t h e

l a s t

t h r e e y e a r s . mall sampling

of

h e s e

p u b l i c a t i o n s

i n c l u d e

The

Wine E n t h u s i a s t , Wine

Spectator, The S a n

Francisco

C h r o n i c l e , The Press

Democrat,

New York

Times, Forbes,

Wines V i n e s ,

North

Bay

Business

Journal,

Market Watch,

Beverage

Dynamic s , and Wine Business

Monthly.

41.

As

evidenced

by

the

s a l e s

and

r e c o g n i t i o n f o r t s B.R.

CORN ine,

P l a i n t i f f

owns

extremely

v a l u a b l e

goodwill

i n

i t s

B.R.

CORN mark

f o r

wine, and

the mark h as

e x t r a o r d i n a r y f i n a n c i a l

v a l u e .

42.

As

r e s u l t

of

the

nationwide, continuous

d i s t r i b u t i o n ,

promotion and

s a l e of l a i n t i f f s

B.R.

CORN

rand wine,

the

B.R.

CORN

a rk has

a l s o

acquired

d i s t i n c t i v e n e s s a mo n g

wine consumers.

43.

l a i n t i f f

possesses


customer

data f o r the

B.R.

CORN

i ne

brand,

n c l u d i n g

the

i d e n t i t y

of

B.R.CORN

ine

customers nationwide,

the

types

and v a r i e t a l s of

wine

purchased

b y B.R.

CORN

ine customers,

and

the

amounts

and

purchase

p r i c e of

B.R.

CORN ine s o l d

to

those

customers. The

development of

h i s

customer data

w a s t h e

r e s u l t

of a


investment

of

time, energy,

and money

on

the

p a r t

of

l a i n t i f f l s

predecessor

- i n

- i n t e r e s t .

COMPLAINT

7



8/18

2

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1 1

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

~;

24

25

26

27

28

44.

l a i n t i f f s

customer

data was

among

the Purchased

Assets an d P l a i n t i f f

a c q u i r e d the

customer

data

a t c o n s i d e r a b l e c o s t . P l a i n t i f f s customer data h as

s i g n i f i c a n t economic

value i n t h a t i t

r e p r e s e n t s

information

not

g e n e r a l l y

known

within

the

t r a d e

an d i s a

compilation

of many e a r s of

e s e a r c h an d

customer communications.

45.

l a i n t i f f an d P l a i n t i f f s predecessor

- i n

- i n t e r e s t m a d e reasonable

e f f o r t s t o

i n s u r e t h a t

the

customer data

remained a e c r e t b y

d i s c l o s i n g

the data

only

to

those

employees who

needed

the information o

perform

t h e i r

jobs.

46.

Upon

information

an d b e l i e f ,

Daniel Cohn misappropriated

the

a b o v e- d e s c r i b e d

customer

data

owne d

b y

P l a i n t i f f b y

copying

or removing the

customer

d a t a b e f o r e

a s s i g n i n g

i t

as

p a r t

o f

he Purchased

Assets.

47. Upon

information

an d

b e l i e f , once

i t

b e c a m e

c l e a r

t h a t

Daniel

Cohn

an d

h i s

f a t h e r

wou l d

h a v e

o

s e l l

t h e i r i n t e r e s t

i n

the

B.R.

ORN ine

brand,

Daniel

Cohn

ecided t o

develop a wine brand

e a t u r i n g

h i s

d i s t i n c t i v e

surname,

Cohn.

48.

This i n t e n t

i s

i l l u s t r a t e d

b y

Daniel Cohn's

purchase

o f the domain

n a m e

dancohnwine.com

on

June

15,

2015,

while h e was

i n

n e g o t i a t i o n s with P l a i n t i f f f o r

P l a i n t i f f

s purchase o f

he Purchased

Assets

an d

the

B.R. ORN

rand.

49.

l a i n t i f f

h as

f u r t h e r l e a r n e d t h a t once i t

b e c a m e

c l e a r t o

Daniel Cohn h a t

t h e

a s s e t

purchase b y P l a i n t i f f would b e completed,

Daniel C ohn

s t a t e d h e wou l d take h i s

new

brand, o l i c i t B.R. ORN

e t a i l

accounts,

e l l

those

r e t a i l

accounts h a t

t h e r e h a d

been

a

h o s t i l e

takeover

an d

t h a t

h i s

family

no

longer own e d B.R. CORN

nd suggest

t h a t

those

r e t a i l

accounts

r e p l a c e

the

B.R.

ORN

ine

with

h e

new

DANIEL ORN

ine.

50. u s t

a

f ew days a f t e r

the

a c q u i s i t i o n

o f

he

B.R.

ORN rand

b y

P l a i n t i f f , on

J u l y

30,

2015,

Daniel

Cohn

aused

Defenda nt, Daniel

Cohn

Wine

C e l l a r s

LLC

o

b e

f orme d

i n

the S t a t e of elaware.

51.One

d ay

l a t e r ,

D W

a s r e g i s t e r e d as a

o r e i g n

e n t i t y

with

the

S e c r e t a r y of t a t e of

the

S t a t e

o f a l i f o r n i a , a p r e r e q u i s i t e

for

D W

o d o business n

C a l i f o r n i a .

52.

T h e

formation of

D W

ccurred while

Daniel

C ohn

w as

engag e d an d being

compensated

b y l a i n t i f f

t o perform s e r v i c e s

r e l a t e d

t o

t h e B.R.

ORN

ine

brand.

COMPLAINT 8



9/18

2

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1 1

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

2 l

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

53.

Upon i n f o r m a t i o n

and b e l i e f ,

Daniel

Cohn took many

a d d i t i o n a l

s t e p s

t o

c r e a t e

a

competing

wine

brand

with

B.R.

CORN while he

was c o n s u l t i n g f o r

and

b e i n g

compensated b y l a i n t i f f .

54.On

September 11,

2015,

RB

Win e

A s s o c i a t e s , LLC,

a wine

producer

t h a t

custom

produces wine f o r o t h e r

p a r t i e s

f o r

r e s a l e ,

a p p l i e d f o r

a

C e r t i f i c a t e of

Label Approval

from

t h e

U.S.

Alcohol

and Tobacco Tax

and

Trade

Bureau f o r

t h e DANIEL

CORN

wine

brand ( t h e

DCWC

OLA ).

The

l a b e l

proof

d i s p l a y e d i n

t h e

DCWC

COLA

f e a t u r e s

t h e

mark

DANIELCORN and s t a t e s t h a t

t h e wine i s

produced

and

b o t t l e d

by

DCWC.

Upon

i n f o r m a t i o n and b e l i e f ,

RB

Wi n e

A s s o c i a t e s ,

LLC

a p p l i e d f o r t h e

DCWC

COLA

t

t h e

d i r e c t i o n of Defendant

DCWC

n d / o r

Daniel

Cohn.

55.

The

DCWC

COLA l l u s t r a t e s t h a t

Daniel

Cohn

a n d / o r

DCWC

eveloped,

r i o r

t o

t h e

submission of

h i s

COLA,

l a b e l design

t o f e a t u r e t h e

DANIEL

CORN mark.

DCWC

and/or Daniel Cohn took

t h e s e a c t i o n s while

Daniel Cohn

was

engaged b y l a i n t i f f .

56.

Defendants r e l e a s e d a

2014

Cabernet

Sauvignon

wine i n

D e c em b e r

of

2015 f e a t u r i n g

t h e DANIELCORN mark

the DCWine )

57.

According t o

t h e

l a b e l ,

t h e DC

i n e s

produced from C a l i f o r n i a

g r a p e s . .

58.


and

b e l i e f ,

Defendants

Daniel Cohn

and

DCWC

produced

a

C a l i f o r n i a

Cabernet Sauvignon

wine

f e a t u r i n g

t h e

DANIEL

CORN mark

with

t h e

i n t e n t t o

market

and o f f e r

such

wine

as a d i r e c t s u b s t i t u t e f o r

P l a i n t i f f s

B.R.

CORN

Cabernet

Sauvignon

wine.

59.

Upon n f o r m a t i o n

and b e l i e f , Daniel

Cohn

and DCWC ave

used

P l a i n t i f f l s


and c o n f i d e n t i a l

customer

account

i n f o r m a t i o n

t o

s o l i c i t

t h e

purchase of

DANIEL

CORN

rand

wine b y

l a i n t i f f s

customers.

60. Upon

n f o r m a t i o n

and

b e l i e f ,

Daniel

Cohn

has

d i r e c t l y

proposed

t h e

purchase of

h e

DC

Win e as

a

s u b s t i t u t e

f o r B.R.

CORN Cabernet

Sauvignon wine t o

s e v e r a l

of

P l a i n t i f f l

s

customers.

61.

Upon n f o r m a t i o n and b e l i e f ,

a t l e a s t

t h r e e

of

l a i n t i f f l s

customers who

were

s o l i c i t e d

b y

Daniel

Cohn

have agreed t o

purchase

t h e

DC

i n e a s

a

s u b s t i t u t e

f o r

B.R. CORN

COMPLAINT

E



10/18

1

2

J

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

wine

and

have stopped c a r r y i n g

the B.R.

ORN ine. I t i s u n l i k e l y

t h a t a i n g l e

r e t a i l

account

would c a r r y both B.R. ORN ine and DANIELCORN

ine as h i s

would be

confusing to

customers.

62.

The back

l a b e l

o f t h e D

Wine

s t a t e s ,

Vinted and

B o t t l e d

b y

Daniel Cohn

Wine

Company Healdsburg,

C a l i f o r n i a ,

i n d i c a t i n g

t h e

wine

was

produced i n Healdsburg,

CA.

63.

The f r o n t

l a b e l

o f the D

ine

s t a t e s , Expertly C r a f t e d A r t i s a n

Wines

Daniel Cohn

Wine Co. Sonom a,


(emphasis added) f a l s e l y

suggesting

the

wine

was

produced

i n S o n o m a ,CA n an attempt to u n f a i r l y a s s o c i a t e

the brand with the

legacy

and

the goodwill

o f

h e

B.R.

Cohn Winery.

64.

The

back

l a b e l o f the

D ine a l s o s t a t e s ,

My

amily

has been c r a f t i n g

the f i n e s t

wines

i n

the

Sonoma

Valley

f o r

over

30 y e a r s . This

statement i s

a l s o m ade

o n

DCWC's

ebsite,

dancohnwine.com i n an attempt to

u n f a i r l y

a s s o c i a t e

the

brand with

the

legacy

and

the go odwill o f he

B.R.

Cohn inery.

65. Upon nformation

and

b e l i e f , Defendants

have

s o l d and

d i s t r i b u t e d ,

and

continue

o s e l l

and d i s t r i b u t e

t h e D ine

o

various r e t a i l e r s

t h a t

s e l l

wine

throughout

the U.S.

and

i n


including

i n t h i s j u d i c i a l d i s t r i c t .

For

example,

the

website

www.wine-

searcher.com

s h o w s t h e D ine l i s t e d

f o r s a l e a t

r e t a i l e r s l o c a t e d i n New

e r s e y ,

Connecticut,New ork , assachusetts, l o r i d a ,

Oregon

and C a l i f o r n i a .

66. Defendants adopted t h e DANIEL ORN

mark a f t e r P l a i n t i f f l s

adoption, use

and

r e g i s t r a t i o n

o f

t s

B.R.

ORN ark.

67.

The DANIEL

ORN rademark

i s

confusingly s i m i l a r t o

P l a i n t i f f ' s B.R.

OHN ar k

given

t h a t the m a r k DANIEL

ORN ncompasses

the

dominant

term

ORN

nd

i s

t h e r e f o r e

highly i m i l a r i n appearance, sound

and connotation

o

P l a i n t i f f ' s B.R.

ORN

mark, and

t h a t

the goods o f f e r e d b y

Defendants under t h e

DANIEL ORN

ark

a r e

i d e n t i c a l

to the goods

which

P l a i n t i f f

o f f e r s

under t h e B.R.

ORN

mark, namely

Cabernet

Sauvignon wine m ade

f r o m C a l i f o r n i a g r a p e s .

COMPLAINT 10



11/18

1

2

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1 1

12

13

14

15

16

l7

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

68.

n

l a t e

December

of

2015

P l a i n t i f f

became

aware

t h a t Defendants

were r e l e a s i n g a new

wine

brand c a l l e d

DANIEL

CORN

hen t

received

r e p o r t s

from

t s

s a l e s

f o r c e i n the

f i e l d t h a t Daniel Cohn had been

approaching

and

s o l i c i t i n g

d i s t r i b u t o r s

and r e t a i l e r s

about h e D

ine.

69.On

anuary

5,

2016, l a i n t i f f

s e n t

Daniel

Cohn

demand

l e t t e r r e q u e s t i n g

t h a t he cease

a l l

use of he

term CORN

s

p a r t

of

any trademark

or

r a d e name

n


with

wine as the

D ine

n f r i n g e s the famous B.R.

ORN

rademark

and

i s

an

n e q u i t a b l e

attempt

t o

misappropriate

t h e

goodwill of

the

B.R.

ORN

rand which

P l a i n t i f f

had

purchased

from

the Cohn n t i t i e s . The

l e t t e r

demanded a response

by January

15,

2016.

70. l a i n t i f f

a l s o

sent

a demand

l e t t e r

t o t h e

producer

of

h e DANIEL ORN

ine,

RB

Wine A s s o c i a t e s ,

LLC o c a t e d

i n Healdsburg, a l i f o r n i a , w i t h i n

t h i s

j u d i c i a l

d i s t r i c t .

71.

r i o r

t o the

January

15,

2016

d e a d l i n e , counsel

f o r

Daniel

Cohn

o n t a c t e d

counsel

f o r

P l a i n t i f f

and advised

t h a t

Daniel

Cohn would

consider

complying

with

the demands

made

by

P l a i n t i f f ,

provided t h e p a r t i e s could r e s o l v e

i s s u e s

r e l a t e d

t o

wine a l r e a d y

produced.

72.

During

the course of the next

four

weeks

the

p a r t i e s

continued t o

n e g o t i a t e

t h e

p o s s i b i l i t y of

an

amicable

r e s o l u t i o n of

the

d i s p u t e .

However, such

n e g o t i a t i o n s were

slowed by the u n a v a i l a b i l i t y of

Daniel

Cohn s

counsel due

to a

death

i n the family,

and

by the

involvement

of

new n v e s t o r s

i n Daniel Cohn s v e n t u r e i n j e c t i n g

themselves n t o

the

n e g o t i a t i o n s .

73. During

the

week

of

ebruary 1 5 t h P l a i n t i f f believed t h a t

t h e n e g o t i a t i o n s had

reached a

s t a n d s t i l l

and

demanded

a

response

to

i t s f i n a l s e t t l e m e n t o f f e r

n o l a t e r

than

Monday,

February 22nd.

Late

on February

22,

2016,

Daniel Cohn

responded t o

P l a i n t i f f s f i n a l

o f f e r

by r e v e r s i n g

h i s

p r i o r p o s i t i o n s and

maintaining

t h a t

D W

ould not

cease

use

of

DANIEL ORN s a brand name o r

wine.

Counsel

f o r

P l a i n t i f f then

advised

Daniel

Cohn s

counsel

h a t

P l a i n t i f f

would be

proceeding

with

t h i s

a c t i o n .

COMPLAINT

11



12/18

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1 1

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

~;

24

25

26

27

28

74.

l a i n t i f f

s u b s e q u e n t l y

came

t o l e a r n from a p o s t i n g on

s o c i a l

media t h a t D a n i e l

Cohn

had

p l a n n e d

f o r

h i s n a t i o n a l

d i s t r i b u t i o n of

h e

DANIEL

CORN ine

t o

t a k e

p l a c e

a t

t h e end of

February

2016

s u g g e s t i n g t h a t D a n i e l

Cohn s a t t e m p t

t o n e g o t i a t e

a

s e t t l e m e n t was a

sham

n t e n d e d

t o

b u y

time

o r him

o

r e l e a s e t h e

i n f r i n g i n g

w i n e .

75.


and

b e l i e f ,

Defendants

wine

b e a r i n g

t h e

DANIEL

CORN

mark

c o n t i n u e s

t o

be

s o l d

i n

t h e

m a r k e t .

76.

Use

of

h e

DANIEL

CORN

mark

on wine

i s

l i k e l y

t o confuse and

m i s l e a d

consumers

i n t o

b e l i e v i n g

t h a t t h e DANIEL CORN wine

i s

a f f i l i a t e d w i t h ,

a s s o c i a t e d

w i t h ,

c o n n e c t e d t o ,

o r

sponsored b y P l a i n t i f f

o r

t s

w e l l

- e s t a b l i s h e d B.R.

CORN b r a n d .

P l a i n t i f f

w i l l

be

hanned

b y

such c o n f u s i o n

and

Defendant

w i l l

u n j u s t l y

b e n e f i t

from

such

a s s o c i a t i o n .

77. l a i n t i f f w i l l

be

f u r t h e r harmed a s consumers w i l l

p u r c h a s e Defendant

DCWC s

DANIEL

CORN

ine

b e l i e v i n g t

t o

be

l a i n t i f f s wine and

h e r e b y

f o r e g o p u r c h a s e

of

P l a i n t i f f s B .R . CORN

wine,

r e s u l t i n g

i n

l o s s of

s a l e s

t o P l a i n t i f f from

D e f e n d a n t s

D W

n f a i r

c o m p e t i t i o n . This has

a l r e a d y

o c c u r r e d

i n

t h e

m a r k e t .

78.

Defendants

i n f r i n g i n g

use

of

t h e

DANIEL CORN mark

has

u n j u s t l y

i n c r e a s e d

t h e

p r o f i t a b i l i t y

of

h e

DANIELCORN

rand t o

t h e d e t r i m e n t of l a i n t i f f

and a t no

c o s t

t o

Defendant.

79. Defendants o n t i n u e d i n f r i n g i n g use

of

h e

c o n f u s i n g l y

s i m i l a r

DANIEL

CORN mark

w i l l harm P l a i n t i f f

f i n a n c i a l l y

b y

d i m i n i s h i n g t h e v a l u e

of

l a i n t i f f s

B.R.

CORN mark

and

endangering

t h e

a b i l i t y

of l a i n t i f f s B.R.

CORN

mark

t o s e r v e

a s

a

unique

and

d i s t i n c t i v e

s o u r c e

i n d i c a t o r f o r

P l a i n t i f f

a n d / o r

P l a i n t i f f s

goods.

80.

Unless

r e s t r a i n e d

b y t h i s

C o u r t ,

Defendants

w i l l

c o n t i n u e

t o

u n f a i r l y

compete

w i t h

P l a i n t i f f b y u s i n g t h e DANIEL

CORN

mark,

wherefore P l a i n t i f f

i s

w i t h o u t a d e q u a t e

remedy t

law.

81.

This c a s e

i s

an e x c e p t i o n a l c a s e

e n t i t l i n g

P l a i n t i f f t o t r e b l e

damages

and

a t t o r n e y s f e e s ,

and Defendants conduct

u r t h e r e n t i t l e s P l a i n t i f f

t o p u n i t i v e

damages.

COMPLAINT

12



13/18

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1 1

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

7

28

FIRSTCAUSEOFACTION

(Federal

T radem ark Infringement

under

15 U.S.C. §1114)

82. l a i n t i f f

r e s t a t e s a n d r e a v e r s the a l l e g a t i o n s of arag raphs 1 through 81,

n c l u s i v e ,

a n d

the

a c t s

of Defendants

a s s e r t e d t h e r e i n

as

i f s e t f o r t h i n

f u l l as

p a r t

of

h i s

Ca use

of

Action.

83. Defendants' above

- a v e r r e d

a c t i o n s

c o n s t i t u t e

use

i n

co mme r c e

of a r e p r o d u c t i o n ,

c o u n t e r f e i t , copy

or c o l o r a b l e i m i t a t i o n

of

l a i n t i f f

s

e g i s t e r e d

m a r k

in

connection with

the

s a l e ,

o f f e r i n g f o r

s a l e ,

d i s t r i b u t i o n

or

a d v e r t i s i n g

of

goods

or

s e r v i c e s

on or i n

connection with

wh i c h s u c h

use i s

l i k e l y

to

cause

consumer

confusion, deception

or

mistake as to s o u r c e , sponsorship or

approval of

Defendants'

a f o r e s a i d goods

or

s e r v i c e s i n

v i o l a t i o n

of

15 U.S.C. §1114.

SE ONDCAUSEOFACTION

(Federal

Unfair Competition

under

15

U.S. C. §1125(a))

84.

l a i n t i f f

r e s t a t e s a n d r e a v e r s

the

a l l e g a t i o n s of Parag raphs

1

through

83,

n c l u s i v e , a n d

the

a c t s

of

Defendants

a s s e r t e d

t h e r e i n

as i f s e t

f o r t h

i n

f u l l as

p a r t

of h i s Ca use of

Action.

85.

e f e n d a n t s above- a v e r r e d a c t i o n s

c o n s t i t u t e

u s e

i n commerce

of a word,

n a m e o r

d e v i c e

and

f a l s e d e s i g n a t i o n

of o r i g i n which i s

l i k e l y

t o c a u s e c o n f u s i o n , o r

t o

c a u s e

m i s t a k e , o r

t o

d e c e i v e a s

t o a f f i l i a t i o n ,

c o n n e c t i o n o r


of Defendant

w i t h

P l a i n t i f f

o r

a s

t o

t h e

o r i g i n , s p o n s o r s h i p o r a p p r o v a l

of

h e goods

o f f e r e d i n c o n n e c t i o n

t h e r e w i t h i n v i o l a t i o n

of

15 U.S.C.

1 1 2 5 ( a ) .

THIRD

CAUSE

OF

ACTION

( S t a t e

U n f a i r

C o m p e t i t i o n under C a l .

Bus.

Prof.

Code § 7200)

86.

l a i n t i f f

r e s t a t e s

and r e a v e r s t h e

a l l e g a t i o n s

of

a r a g r a p h s

1

t h r o u g h

85,

n c l u s i v e ,

and

t h e a c t s of D e f e n d a n t s a s s e r t e d

t h e r e i n

a s

i f

s e t f o r t h

i n f u l l

a s

p a r t of

h i s

Cause

of

Action.

COMPLAINT

13



14/18

2

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1 1

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

2 0

21

2 2

2 3

2 4

25

2 6

2 7

28

87.

D e f e n d a n t s

above- a v e r r e d a c t i o n s

c o n s t i t u t e

u n l a w f u l ,

u n f a i r

o r

f r a u d u l e n t

b u s i n e s s

a c t s o r p r a c t i c e s which have

r e s u l t e d

i n a c t u a l

harm

and

f i n a n c i a l

l o s s t o

P l a i n t i f f

i n

v i o l a t i o n o f a l .

Bus.

Pr of . C od e § 7 2 0 0 .

FOURTH

CAUSE

OF

ACTION

( F a l s e

o r M i s l e a d i n g

S t a t e m e n t s

u n d e r C a l .

Bus.

Prof.

C od e

§

7500)

88.

l a i n t i f f r e s t a t e s

and

r e a v e r s t h e


of

a r a g r a p h s

1

t h r o u g h

87, n c l u s i v e ,

and

t h e

a c t s

o f D e f e n d a n t s

a s s e r t e d

t h e r e i n

a s

i f

s e t f o r t h

i n

f u l l a s p a r t of t h i s

Cause

of

A c t i o n .

89. e f e n d a n t s above- a v e r r e d

a c t i o n s

c o n s t i t u t e

t h e

d i s s e m i n a t i o n

and

making o f

n t r u e

o r m i s l e a d i n g

s t a t e m e n t s ,

which b y t h e e x e r c i s e

o f

r e a s o n a b l e

c a r e

s h o u l d

have

been

k n o w n

t o

be f a l s e

o r

m i s l e a d i n g , n v i o l a t i o n

of

a l .

Bus. Prof.

C od e § 7500.

FIFTH

CAUSEOF

ACTION

Common

Law

rademark

I n f r i n g e m e n t )

90.

l a i n t i f f r e s t a t e s

and

r e a v e r s

t h e a l l e g a t i o n s o f a r a g r a p h s 1 t h r o u g h

89,

n c l u s i v e , and

t h e a c t s

of D e f e n d a n t s


a s

i f

s e t f o r t h i n f u l l

a s p a r t

of

t h i s

Cause o f

A c t i o n .

91.

e f e n d a n t s

above

- a v e r r e d

a c t i o n s

c o n s t i t u t e

t r a d e m a r k

i n f r i n g e m e n t

and

p a s s i n g o f f

n

v i o l a t i o n

of

h e

common aw

o f a l i f o r n i a .

SIXTHCAUSE

OF

ACTION

Common

La w

U n f a i r C o m p e t i t i o n )

92. l a i n t i f f

r e s t a t e s

and r e a v e r s

t h e


of

a r a g r a p h s 1 t h r o u g h 91, n c l u s i v e ,

and

t h e a c t s

of

D e f e n d a n t s a s s e r t e d

t h e r e i n a s i f s e t f o r t h

i n

f u l l a s p a r t of

t h i s Cause o f

A c t i o n .

93. e f e n d a n t s

above

- a v e r r e d

a c t i o n s c o n s t i t u t e

a

f a l s e

d e s i g n a t i o n of

r i g i n i n

v i o l a t i o n

o f h e

common

aw o f

a l i f o r n i a .

COMPLAINT

14



15/18

2

3

4

5~

6

7

8

9

10

1 1

12

IJ

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

SEVENTH CAUSEOFACTION

(Misappropriation

o f

Trade

S e c r e t s

under

Cal. C iv.

C o d e

§3426)

94.

l a i n t i f f

r e s t a t e s

and

r e a v e r s

the

a l l e g a t i o n s o f

Paragraphs

1

through 93,

n c l u s i v e , a n d

the

a c t s

o f

Defendants


as i f s e t f o r t h

i n

f u l l

a s p a r t o f t h i s

C a u s e

o f

Action.

95.

Defendants

ab ove

- a v e r r e d a c t i o n s c o n s t i t u t e t h e m i s a p p r o p r i a t i o n o f

P l a i n t i f f l s

t r a d e

s e c r e t

information i n v i o l a t i o n o f al. Civ.

C o d e

§3426.

EIGHTH CAUSEOFACTION

(CommonLaw

isappropriation o f

Trade S e c r e t s )

96. l a i n t i f f

r e s t a t e s

a n d

r e a v e r s

the a l l e g a t i o n s o f Paragraphs

1

through

95,

n c l u s i v e ,

a n d

the

a c t s

o f

Defendants


as

i f s e t f o r t h

i n

f u l l

as

p a r t

o f

t h i s

C a u s e o f

Action.

97. Defendants

ab ove

- a v e r r e d a c t i o n s c o n s t i t u t e the m i s a p p r o p r i a t i o n o f

l a i n t i f f s

t r a d e

s e c r e t

information i n v i o l a t i o n

o f he

common

a w o f

a l i f o r n i a .

PRAYER FORRELIEF

WHEREFORE,

l a i n t i f f

r e q u e s t s t h a t

judgme n t

be

e n t e r e d as

o l l o w s :

1 .

Th at

Defendants,

t h e i r p r i n c i p a l s , p a r t n e r s ,

f r a n c h i s e e s ,

a g e n t s ,

employees,

l i c e n s e e s , a f f i l i a t e s , d i s t r i b u t o r s , producers,

a n y

p a r e n t

and

s u b s i d i a r y

c o m p a n i e s,

a t t o r n e y s a n d

r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s

a n d a l l o f

those i n p r i v i t y with

i t

or

a c t i n g under i ts

d i r e c t i o n

and/or

pursuant

to

i t s c o n t r o l , be

p r e l i m i n a r i l y

and permanently

enjoined

a n d

r e s t r a i n e d , f r o m

d i r e c t l y or i n d i r e c t l y :

a .

Us i n g

t h e

name

r m a r k

DANIELCORN

r

any

term

or

m a rk

confusingly

s i m i l a r

t o the B .R .CORN

ark,

ncluding the term

CORN,

n connection

with

the

advertisement, promotion, d i s t r i b u t i o n ,

o f f e r i n g

f o r s a l e or s e l l i n g

o f

wine,

r

products

or

s e r v i c e s r e l a t e d

t o

wine;

b.

Performing a n y a c t s o r

using a n y trademarks, n a m e s,

words, i m a g e s

or

phrases

t h a t

a r e

l i k e l y

to

cause

confusion, t o

cause

mistake,

to

deceive

or

COMPLAINT 15



16/18

J

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1 1

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

otherwise mislead

t h e t r a d e

o r

p u b l i c i n t o b e l i e v i n g

t h a t P l a i n t i f f

a nd

Defendants a r e o n e

i n

t h e

s a m e

o r

a r e

i n

s o m e w a y

connected o r t h a t

P l a i n t i f f

i s a sponsor

o f Defendants

o r t h a t

t h e

g o o d s

o f

Defendants

o r i g i n a t e w i t h

P l a i n t i f f o r

a r e

l i k e l y t o

l e a d t h e

t r a d e

o r

p u b l i c t o

a s s o c i a t e

Defendants

w i t h

P l a i n t i f f ;

c .

Continuing

t h e m i s a p p r o p r i a t i o n o f

l a i n t i f f s

t r a d e

s e c r e t s

by ongoing

us e

o f l a i n ti f f s c u s t o m e r

d a t a ;

2.

That

Defendants

be

r e q u i r e d

t o

f i l e with

t h e Court, an d

s e r v e o n P l a i n t i f f ,

a

s t a t e m e n t under oat h e v i d e n c i n g

compliance w i t h

any

p r e l i m i n a r y

o r

permanent

i n j u n c t i v e

r e l i e f

ordered

by t h e

C o u r t

w i t h i n

f o u r t e e n (14)

days a f t e r

t h e

e n t r y

o f

s u c h

o r d e r o f

n j u n c t i v e r e l i e f ;

3 .

T h a t

Defendants,

t h e i r

p r i n c i p a l s ,

p a r t n e r s ,

f r a n c hi s e e s , a g e n t s ,

employees,

l i c e n s e e s , a f f i l i a t e s ,

d i s t r i b u t o r s ,

p r o d u c e r s ,

any p a r e n t an d

s u b s i d i a r y

c o m p a n i e s ,

a t t o r n e y s

and

r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s and

a l l o f those

i n

p r i v i t y

w i t h i t o r

a c t i n g

under

i t s

d i r e c t i o n

a n d / o r pursuant

t o

i t s

c o n t r o l be

r e q u i r e d

t o

d e l i v e r

u p o r d e s t r u c t i o n :

a . All

a d v e r t i s i n g ,

promotional m a t e r i a l s , p o i n t

o f

a l e

m a t e r i a l s ,

l a b e l s ,

c a p s ,

c o r k s , n e c k e r s , packaging,

an d

any

o t h e r

m a t e r i a l s

b e a r i n g t h e

i n f r i n g i n g

m a r k t o g e t h e r with

a l l a r t w o r k ,

p l a t e s ,

m o l d s ,

m a t r i c e s and o t h e r

m e a n s a nd

m a t e r i a l s

f o r m a k i n g

an d

reproducing t h e s a m e ;

b .

All

copies o f

h e P l a i n t i f f s

t r a d e s e c r e t c u s t o m e r

d a t a

an d i n f o r m a t i o n ;

4.

T h a t

Defendants

be

o r d e r e d

t o

r e c a l l

a l l i n f r i n g i n g

w i n e b e a r i n g

t h e DANIEL

CORN

a r k

i n t h e

marke tplace f r o m r e t a i l e r s ;

5 .

T h a t Defendants be ordered

t o

pay

P l a i n t i f f

monetary

d a m a g e s

f o r

t h e h a r m

r e s u l t i n g

f r o m

infringement

o f

P l a i n t if f s

B.R.

CORN

a r k , i n

a n

a m o u n t t o be

de t e rmined a t r i a l ;

6.

T h a t

P l a i n t if f s

d a m a g e s be

t r e b l e d

an d t h a t

Defendants

be o r d e r e d

t o pa y

P l a i n t i f f s a t t o r n e y s f e e s

o n

t h e b a s i s

t h a t t h i s

i s

a n

e x c e p t i o n a l

c a s e ;

7 .

T h a t

l a i n t i f f

b e a w a r d e d p u n i t i v e

d a m a g e s

as a

r e s u l t

o f

efendants conduct;

a nd

COMPLAINT



17/18

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1 1

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

l9

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

8.

That

P l a i n t i f f be

g r a n t e d

such

o t h e r

and

f u r t h e r

r e l i e f

as

t h i s

Court

s h a l l deem j u s t

and proper on t h e m e r i t s .

Dated:

F e b r u a r y

29 2016

R e s p e c t f u l l y s u b m i t t e d

DICKF~ON,

~ATMAN OGARTY

Chris

h e r

J .

Pa

s r e l l i

Corinna

a r l t o n

1455

F i r s t S t r e e t S t e .

301

Napa

a l i f o r n i a

94559

T e l e p h o n e :

707-252-7122

F a c s i m i l e : 707-255-6876

A t t o r n e y s

f o r

P l a i n t i f f

V i n t a g e Wine s t a t e s n c .

COMPLAIN I~ 17



18/18

2

4

5

6

7

8

9~

10

1 1

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

DEMANDFORJURY

TRIAL

P l a i n t i f f

hereby r e q u e s t s a r i a l

b y

ury n

t h i s

m a t t e r .

Dated:

February

29 2016

R e s p e c t f u l l y

s u b m i t t e d ,

DICKENSON

EATMAN

OGARTY

J . 3 2 t t Ue

en

C h r i s t o p h e r

Pas a r e l l i

Corinna

M.W.E

r l t o n

1455

i r s t S t r e e t ,

S t e .

301

Napa

a l i f o r n i a

94559

Telephone: 707-252-7122

F a c s i m i l e :

707-255-6876

A t t o r n e y s

f o r P l a i n t i f f ,

Vintage

Win e

s t a t e s ,

I n c .


Documents

Vintage Wine Estates v. Dan Cohn - trademark complaint.pdf