Professional Documents
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Chrome Hearts v. Macy's
Chrome Hearts v. Macy's
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COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND EQUITABLE RELIEF
Case 2:20-cv-07238 Document 1 Filed 08/11/20 Page 2 of 15 Page ID #:2
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COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND EQUITABLE RELIEF
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COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND EQUITABLE RELIEF
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1 12. Chrome Hearts is known for combining the look of rugged apparel with
2 fashion attire to make fashion apparel and accessories. All of Chrome Hearts’ leather
3 products are adorned with sterling silver hardware, including all of the buttons and
4 ornamental pieces. Chrome Hearts is also known for using suede inlay designs in
5 connection with leather clothing.
6 13. Entertainers, such as Madonna, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rihanna, Cher,
7 Kate Hudson, Tom Brady, David Beckham, and Lenny Kravitz can all be seen in
8 Chrome Hearts’ fashions.
9 14. In 1993, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (“CFDA”)
10 presented Chrome Hearts with an unsolicited award as designer of the year for its
11 innovative accessories and jewelry designs.
12 15. Virtually all Chrome Hearts® products, including clothing, denim, and
13 jewelry, are handmade in Los Angeles by Chrome Hearts’ craftsmen. The level of
14 expert workmanship exercised by these individuals is superior and conforms with the
15 strict standards established by Chrome Hearts.
16 16. Chrome Hearts® products have been praised and recognized in numerous
17 articles appearing in both trade publications and publications directed to the general
18 public around the world, including articles in the United States, Germany, Japan and
19 France. These articles have acclaimed the high artistry, fashion and style of Chrome
20 Hearts’ designs and the uniqueness of the designs.
21 17. Chrome Hearts is the owner of the CHROME HEARTS word mark,
22 various design only marks, and composite trademarks comprising the CHROME
23 HEARTS mark and design components (hereinafter collectively the “Chrome Hearts
24 Marks”).
25 18. Chrome Hearts’ most iconic and well recognized trademarks include, but
26 are not limited to, the following U.S. trademark registrations:
27 //
28 //
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COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND EQUITABLE RELIEF
Case 2:20-cv-07238 Document 1 Filed 08/11/20 Page 5 of 15 Page ID #:5
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Mark U.S. Reg. No. Relevant Goods
2 3,894,026 Jewelry, namely, rings,
3 earrings, pedants, cuff
bracelets, bracelets,
4 necklaces, cuff links, watch
5 bracelets, brooches and dog
tags for wear by humans for
6 Chrome Hearts Plus Horseshoe decorative purposes
7 Design Composite Mark
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COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND EQUITABLE RELIEF
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COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND EQUITABLE RELIEF
Case 2:20-cv-07238 Document 1 Filed 08/11/20 Page 7 of 15 Page ID #:7
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Exemplary Infringing Products
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10 29. Upon information and belief, Defendants’ unlawful acts have misled and
11 confused, and were intended to cause confusion, or to cause mistake, or to deceive as
12 to the origin, affiliation, or association of the Infringing Products with Chrome Hearts,
13 and the sponsorship or approval of the Infringing Products by Chrome Hearts.
14 FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION
15 (Trademark Infringement Under the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1114)
16 30. Plaintiff incorporates by reference each and every one of the preceding
17 paragraphs as though fully set forth herein.
18 31. The Chrome Hearts Marks are nationally recognized, including within the
19 Central District of California, as being affixed to goods and merchandise of the highest
20 quality, with Chrome Hearts being the exclusive source of all such products.
21 32. The specific U.S. registrations to the Chrome Hearts Marks identified
22 herein are in full force and effect, and each one has been in continuous use since their
23 respective first dates of use. Indeed, the specific U.S. registrations identified herein,
24 like many Chrome Hearts Marks, are incontestable by virtue of their registrations and
25 continuous use in commerce for more than five years.
26 33. The Infringing Products bear identical or confusingly similar
27 reproductions of one or more Chrome Hearts Marks that are likely to lead to and result
28 in consumers believing that Chrome Hearts produced, sponsored, authorized, licensed
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COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND EQUITABLE RELIEF
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COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND EQUITABLE RELIEF
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COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND EQUITABLE RELIEF
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1 47. Through prominent, long, and continuous use in commerce, the Chrome
2 Hearts Marks have become and continue to be famous and distinctive in the State of
3 California.
4 48. Defendants’ misappropriation of the Chrome Hearts Marks was intended
5 to capitalize on Chrome Hearts’ goodwill for Defendants’ own pecuniary gain.
6 49. Defendants’ unauthorized use of the Chrome Hearts Marks dilutes the
7 distinctive quality of the Chrome Hearts Marks and decreases the capacity of such
8 marks to identify and distinguish Chrome Hearts’ products and has caused a likelihood
9 of harm to Chrome Hearts’ business reputation.
10 50. By the acts described above, Defendants have caused and will continue to
11 cause irreparable injury to Chrome Hearts’ goodwill and business reputation, in
12 violation of Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200 et seq.
13 51. Upon information and belief, Defendants have made and will continue to
14 make substantial profits and gains to which they are not in law or equity entitled.
15 52. Defendants are liable to Chrome Hearts for all damages, whether direct or
16 indirect, for the misappropriation of Chrome Hearts’ trademarks, reputation and
17 goodwill, which damages are subject to trebling.
18 53. Upon information and belief, Defendants will continue their infringing acts
19 unless restrained by this Court.
20 54. Defendants’ acts have damaged and will continue to damage Chrome
21 Hearts, and Chrome Hearts has no adequate remedy at law.
22 55. In light of the foregoing, Chrome Hearts is entitled to all available relief
23 provided for in California Unfair Business Practices Act, Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code, §
24 17200, et. seq. including permanent injunctive relief, restitution, and attorneys’ fees and
25 costs.
26 FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION
27 (Common Law Trademark Infringement and Unfair Competition)
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COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND EQUITABLE RELIEF
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COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND EQUITABLE RELIEF
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1 gains, profits and advantages obtained by Defendants as a result of their infringing acts
2 alleged above in an amount not yet known, and the costs of this action.
3 PRAYER FOR RELIEF
4 WHEREFORE, Plaintiff Chrome Hearts LLC respectfully prays that this Court
5 enter judgment in its favor and against Defendants as follows:
6 1. Entry of an ORDER granting temporary, preliminary and permanent
7 injunctive relief restraining and enjoining Defendants, their officers, agents, employees,
8 and attorneys, and all those persons or entities in active concert or participation with
9 them from:
10 a. manufacturing, importing, advertising, marketing, promoting,
11 supplying, distributing, offering for sale, or selling Infringing
12 Products and/or any other products that bear the Chrome Hearts
13 Marks, or any other marks confusingly similar thereto;
14 b. engaging in any other activity constituting unfair competition with
15 Chrome Hearts, or acts and practices that deceive consumers, the
16 public, and/or trade, including without limitation, the use of
17 designations and design elements associated with Chrome Hearts;
18 c. committing any other act which falsely represents or which has the
19 effect of falsely representing that the goods and services of
20 Defendants are licensed by, authorized by, offered by, produced by,
21 sponsored by, or in any other way associated with Chrome Hearts;
22 2. Entry of an ORDER directing Defendants to recall from any distributors
23 and retailers and to deliver to Chrome Hearts for destruction, or other disposition, all
24 remaining inventory of the Infringing Products, in addition to any other goods that
25 infringe upon Chrome Hearts’ rights to the Chrome Hearts Marks, including all
26 advertisements, promotional and marketing materials therefore, as well as means of
27 making same in their possession or under their control;
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COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND EQUITABLE RELIEF
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COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND EQUITABLE RELIEF
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Dated: August 11, 2020 BLAKELY LAW GROUP
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By: /s/ Colby A. Meagle__________
5 Brent H. Blakely
Mark S. Zhai
6 Colby A. Meagle
Attorneys for Plaintiff
7 Chrome Hearts LLC
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COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND EQUITABLE RELIEF
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COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND EQUITABLE RELIEF