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`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
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`Case No.
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`Plaintiff,
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`Caribe Trademarks LLC
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`vs.
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`STEVINA FOOD COMPANY, LLC.,
`SUN STATE FOOD KING, INC., and
`JOHN JACKSON,
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`Defendants.
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`________________________________/
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`VERIFIED COMPLAINT AND DEMAND FOR A JURY TRIAL
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`Plaintiff Caribe Trademarks LLC (“Plaintiff”) sues Stevina Food Company,
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`LLC. (“Stevina”), Sun State Food King, Inc. (“Sun”), and John Jackson
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`(“Jackson”)(collectively, “Defendants”), and makes the following allegations:
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`PARTIES, JURISDICTION, AND VENUE
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`1.
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`Plaintiff is a limited liability organized under the laws of Florida with
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`a principal office located in the city of Miami in Miami-Dade County, Florida.
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`2.
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`Stevina is a limited liability company organized under the laws of
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`Florida, having a principal office in the city of Tampa in Hillsborough County,
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`Florida.
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`Case 8:22-cv-00143-WFJ-CPT Document 1 Filed 01/18/22 Page 2 of 17 PageID 2
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`3.
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`Stevina conducts business in Florida including offering and rendering
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`infringing restaurant services in the city of Tampa in Hillsborough County, Florida.
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`4.
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`Sun is a corporation formed under the laws of Florida, having a
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`principal office in the city of Wesley Chapel in Pasco County, Florida.
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`5.
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`Sun conducts business in Florida including offering and rendering
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`infringing restaurant services in the city of Tampa in Hillsborough County, Florida.
`John Jackson is an individual domiciled in Florida and conducting
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`business in Florida including offering and rendering infringing restaurant services
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`in the city of Tampa in Hillsborough County, Florida.
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`7.
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`8.
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`Jackson is the founder and managing member of Stevina.
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`Jackson is a moving, conscious, and active force behind Stevina
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`including actively participating in and directing its infringing activity.
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`9.
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`Jackson is, or was, the president and director of Sun.
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`10.
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`Jackson is, or was, a moving, conscious, and active force behind Sun
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`including actively participating in and directing its infringing activity.
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`11. This is an action for federal trademark infringement pursuant to 15
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`U.S.C. § 1114, false designation of origin pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a), and the
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`supplemental state causes of action of Florida common law trademark
`infringement, Florida common law unfair competition, and violation of Florida’s
`Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 501.201-501-2101)
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`Case 8:22-cv-00143-WFJ-CPT Document 1 Filed 01/18/22 Page 3 of 17 PageID 3
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`12.
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`Jurisdiction of this Court arises under 28 U.S.C. § 1331, 28 U.S.C. §
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`1338, and under the doctrine of supplemental jurisdiction over state claims arising
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`from a common nucleus of operative facts.
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`13. Venue is proper in this District pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1391(b) and (c)
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`and §1400(b) because Defendants do business in this District and/or a substantial
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`part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred in this District.
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`FACTUAL BACKGROUND
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`Plaintiff and its CARIBE RESTAURANT Mark
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`14. Plaintiff is the owner of the valid, subsisting, and incontestable mark
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`CARIBE RESTAURANT for café and restaurant services registered on the
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`Principal Register of the United States Patent and Trademark Office as U.S.
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`Registration No. 4703367 (“Plaintiff’s Mark”). See Exhibit 1, corresponding to the
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`certificate of registration.
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`15. Plaintiff was assigned Plaintiff’s Mark on May 18, 2020 by previous
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`owner Juan Jose Alvarado.
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`16. Plaintiff, through its predecessors in interest, opened its first
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`restaurant bearing Plaintiff’s Mark in Florida in 1979.
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`17. Currently, Plaintiff’s café and restaurant services are rendered in six
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`different locations operating under Plaintiff’s Mark in South Florida.
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`Case 8:22-cv-00143-WFJ-CPT Document 1 Filed 01/18/22 Page 4 of 17 PageID 4
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`18. Plaintiff, through its predecessors in interest, has continuously used in
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`commerce in the United States Plaintiff’s Mark for café and restaurant services
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`since at least as early as 1979.
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`19. As a result of its widespread, continuous, and exclusive use of
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`Plaintiff’s Mark to identify its café and restaurant services and Plaintiff as the
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`source, Plaintiff owns valid and subsisting federal statutory and common law rights
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`to Plaintiff’s Mark.
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`20. Plaintiff’s restaurants bearing Plaintiff’s Mark predominantly offer
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`Latin American cuisine consisting primarily of Cuban dishes.
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`21. Plaintiff’s café and restaurant services bearing Plaintiff’s Mark are
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`also rendered through delivery services such as Door Dash and Grubhub as well as
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`directly through the ordering portal in its website.
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`22. Plaintiff’s Mark is prominently displayed on the front signs of
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`Plaintiff’s restaurants, menus, website, and promotional material.
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`23. Plaintiff has continuously promoted its café and restaurant services
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`rendered under Plaintiff’s Mark through its website
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`(www.caribecaferestaurant.com), social media (@CaribeMiami on Facebook), and
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`through other promotional material. See Exhibit 2, corresponding to screenshots of
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`Plaintiff website and social media.
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`Case 8:22-cv-00143-WFJ-CPT Document 1 Filed 01/18/22 Page 5 of 17 PageID 5
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`24. Plaintiff promotes and renders its restaurant services using Plaintiff’s
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`Mark to Florida residents as well as out-of-state tourists and travelers. See Exhibit
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`3, corresponding to Plaintiff’s reviews on Tripadvisor.com.
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`25. Plaintiff’s Mark has acquired distinctiveness when applied to café and
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`restaurant services.
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`26. Plaintiff has ensured that the café and restaurant services offered
`under Plaintiff’s Mark are rendered to the highest quality standards.
`27. Since 1979, Plaintiff and its predecessors have expended substantial
`time, money, and resources continuously marketing, advertising, and promoting its
`café and restaurant services bearing Plaintiff’s Mark—thus creating valuable
`goodwill for Plaintiff’s Marks.
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`28. Plaintiff’s Mark has become well known in the restaurant industry and
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`with Plaintiff’s potential and current customers.
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`Defendants’ Unlawful Activities
`29. Without Plaintiff's authorization and beginning after Plaintiff acquired
`protectable exclusive rights in Plaintiff’s Mark, Sun adopted and began using the
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`mark CAFÉ CARIBE for café and restaurant services in Florida and in commerce
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`in the United States (the “Infringing Mark”).
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`30. Sun previously operated a restaurant located in Tampa, Florida under
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`the name CAFÉ CARIBE.
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`Case 8:22-cv-00143-WFJ-CPT Document 1 Filed 01/18/22 Page 6 of 17 PageID 6
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`31.
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`In 2019, Sun assigned the common law rights to the mark and trade
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`name CAFÉ CARIBE to Stevina.
`32. Without Plaintiff's authorization and beginning after Plaintiff acquired
`protectable exclusive rights in Plaintiff’s Mark, Stevina adopted and began using
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`the mark CAFÉ CARIBE for café and restaurant services in Florida and in
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`commerce.
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`33. Stevina currently operates a restaurant located in Tampa, Florida
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`under the name CAFÉ CARIBE.
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`34. On May 3, 2019, Stevina filed an application, signed by John Jackson,
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`for registration of the fictitious name CAFE CARIBE with the Florida Department
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`of State. The registration (No. G19000054498) was granted.
`Jackson instructs employees to offer and render café and restaurant
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`services under the CAFÉ CARIBE mark, was involved in Sun’s and Stevina’s
`adoption of the Infringing Mark, and actively participated in Sun’s and Stevina’s
`marketing, offering, and rendering of restaurant services under the Infringing
`Mark.
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`36. Through online social media and other promotional material,
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`Defendants promote their cafe and restaurant services using the Infringing Mark to
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`current customers as well as potential customers including tourists and visitors
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`Case 8:22-cv-00143-WFJ-CPT Document 1 Filed 01/18/22 Page 7 of 17 PageID 7
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`from other states. See Exhibit 4, corresponding to a screenshot of Defendants’
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`Facebook page.
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`37. The Infringing Mark adopted and used by Defendants is confusingly
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`similar to Plaintiff's Mark sharing CARIBE as the dominant portion of the marks.
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`38. Plaintiff’s Mark and the Infringing Mark are used for identical
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`services: restaurant services that offer mostly Cuban cuisine.
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`39. Plaintiff’s Mark and the Infringing Mark are similarly promoted
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`online through the parties’ websites and social media pages.
`40. Defendants did not use in commerce the Infringing Mark for café and
`restaurant services prior to 1979.
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`41. Plaintiff adopted and used in commerce Plaintiff’s Mark for café and
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`restaurant services prior to Defendants’ earliest use of the Infringing Mark for café
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`and restaurant services.
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`42. Plaintiff first learned of Defendants’ use of the Infringing Mark for
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`café and restaurant services in 2019.
`In 2019, Plaintiff sent a cease-and-desist letter to Stevina demanding
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`it cease its infringement of Plaintiff’s Mark.
` Stevina and Jackson refused to cease their use of the mark CAFÉ
`44.
`CARIBE and continue to use the Infringing Mark as of the date of this Complaint.
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`Case 8:22-cv-00143-WFJ-CPT Document 1 Filed 01/18/22 Page 8 of 17 PageID 8
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`45. Plaintiff has been, and will continue to be, damaged by the acts of
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`Defendants.
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`46. Moreover, the goodwill of Plaintiff has been damaged and will
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`continue to be irreparably damaged unless enjoined.
`47. There is no adequate remedy at law for this irreparable harm unless an
`injunction is issued.
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`COUNT I
`TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT UNDER 15 U.S.C. § 1114
`(Against all Defendants)
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`48. Plaintiff realleges the allegations set forth in paragraphs 1 through 47
`inclusive.
`49. The above referenced acts constitute infringement of Plaintiff’s Mark
`in violation of Plaintiff’s rights under Section 32 of the Lanham Act (15 U.S.C. §
`1114).
`50. The use in commerce by Defendants of the Infringing Mark is likely
`to deceive consumers as to the origin, source, sponsorship, or affiliation of
`Defendants’ café and restaurant services, and is likely to cause consumers to
`believe, contrary to fact, that Defendants’ café and restaurant services are rendered,
`authorized, endorsed, or sponsored by Plaintiff, or that Defendants are in some way
`affiliated with or sponsored by Plaintiff.
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`Case 8:22-cv-00143-WFJ-CPT Document 1 Filed 01/18/22 Page 9 of 17 PageID 9
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`51. Defendants have committed the foregoing acts of infringement with
`full knowledge of Plaintiff's prior rights in the Plaintiff’s Mark and with the willful
`intent to cause confusion and trade on Plaintiff's goodwill.
`52. Defendants’ conduct is causing immediate and irreparable harm and
`injury to Plaintiff, and to its goodwill and reputation, and will continue to both
`damage Plaintiff and confuse the public unless enjoined by this court. Plaintiff has
`no adequate remedy at law.
`53. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests this Honorable Court to
`grant injunctive relief and an award of actual damages, Defendants’ profits,
`enhanced damages and profits, reasonable attorneys' fees, and costs of the action
`under Sections 34 and 35 of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1116, 1117, together
`with prejudgment and post-judgment interest.
`COUNT II
`COUNTERFEITING UNDER 15 U.S.C. § 1114
`(Against all Defendants)
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`54. Plaintiff realleges the allegations set forth in paragraphs 1 through 47
`inclusive.
`55. The above referenced acts constitute counterfeiting under Section 32
`of the Lanham Act (15 U.S.C. § 1114).
`56. Defendants have engaged in the advertising, promotion, offering, and
`rendering of the counterfeit café and restaurant services through operating
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`Case 8:22-cv-00143-WFJ-CPT Document 1 Filed 01/18/22 Page 10 of 17 PageID 10
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`restaurants bearing the Infringing Mark and promoting said restaurant services
`online though social media and other outlets.
`57. Defendants’ unauthorized use in commerce of a spurious designation
`that is substantially indistinguishable from Plaintiff's Mark, on and in connection
`with café and restaurant services as alleged herein is likely to deceive consumers as
`to the origin, source, sponsorship, or affiliation of the counterfeit services, and is
`likely to cause consumers to believe, contrary to fact, that Defendants’ services are
`rendered, authorized, endorsed, or sponsored by Plaintiff, or that Defendants are in
`some way affiliated with or sponsored by Plaintiff.
`58. Defendants have committed the foregoing acts of counterfeiting and
`infringement with full knowledge of Plaintiff's prior rights in Plaintiff’s Mark and
`with the willful intent to cause confusion and trade on Plaintiff's goodwill.
`59. Defendants’ conduct is causing immediate and irreparable harm and
`injury to Plaintiff, and to its goodwill and reputation, and will continue to both
`damage Plaintiff and confuse the public unless enjoined by this court. Plaintiff has
`no adequate remedy at law.
`60. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests this Honorable Court to
`grant injunctive relief and an award of actual damages, Defendant's profits,
`enhanced damages and profits, statutory damages, reasonable attorneys' fees, and
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`costs of the action under Sections 34 and 35 of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. §§
`1116, 1117, together with prejudgment and post-judgment interest.
`COUNT III
`VIOLATION OF SECTION 43(a) OF THE LANHAM ACT (15 U.S.C. §
`1125(a))
`(Against all Defendants)
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`61. Plaintiff realleges the allegations set forth in paragraphs 1 through 47
`inclusive.
`62. The above referenced acts constitute misrepresentations under Section
`43(a) of the Lanham Act 15 U.S.C § 1125(a)(1)(A). Defendants’ unauthorized use
`in commerce of the Infringing Mark, as alleged in this Complaint, constitutes false
`designation of origin.
`63. Defendants’ unauthorized use in commerce of the Infringing Mark as
`alleged in this Complaint is likely to cause confusion as to the origin, source,
`sponsorship, or affiliation of Defendants’ café and restaurant services and is likely
`to cause consumers to believe, contrary to fact, that Defendants’ café and
`restaurant services are rendered, authorized, endorsed, or sponsored by Plaintiff, or
`that Defendants are in some way affiliated with or sponsored by Plaintiff.
`64. Defendants’ conduct as alleged in this Complaint is willful and is
`intended to and is likely to cause confusion, mistake, or deception as to the
`affiliation, connection, or association of Defendants with Plaintiff.
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`65. Defendants’ conduct as alleged herein is causing immediate and irreparable
`harm and injury to Plaintiff, and to its goodwill and reputation, and will
`continue to both damage Plaintiff and confuse the public unless enjoined by
`this court. Plaintiff has no adequate remedy at law.
`66. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests this Honorable Court to grant
`the remedies provided under Sections 34 and 35 of the Lanham Act (15
`U.S.C. §§ 1116 and 1117) including preliminary and permanent injunctive
`relief, compensatory damages, treble damages, attorneys’ fees, costs, and
`any other relief the Court deems just and proper.
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`COUNT IV
`COMMON LAW MARK INFRINGEMENT
`(Against all Defendants)
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`67. Plaintiffs reallege the allegations set forth in paragraphs 1 through 47,
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`inclusive.
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`68. Defendants’ above referenced conduct constitutes trademark
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`infringement in violation of the common law of the State of Florida.
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`69. The use and/or advertising of the Infringing Mark by Defendants is
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`likely to cause confusion or mistake among consumers as to the source of
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`Defendants’ café and restaurant services with those of Plaintiff.
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`Case 8:22-cv-00143-WFJ-CPT Document 1 Filed 01/18/22 Page 13 of 17 PageID 13
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`70. Plaintiff, through its predecessors in interest, has used in commerce
`and in Florida Plaintiff’s Mark for café and restaurant services prior to Defendants’
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`adoption of the Infringing Mark.
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`71. Defendants’ deliberate and willful use and/or advertising of the
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`Infringing Mark to identify the same, or related, services is likely to cause
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`confusion or mistake among purchasers as to the source and sponsorship of the
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`goods and such acts of said Defendants constitutes common law infringement of
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`Plaintiff’s Mark.
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`72. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests this Honorable Court to
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`grant preliminary and permanent injunctive relief, compensatory damages and
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`punitive damages, accounting and lost profits, and any other relief the Court deems
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`just and proper.
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`COUNT V
`COMMON LAW UNFAIR COMPETITION
`(Against all Defendants)
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`73. Plaintiffs reallege the allegations set forth in paragraphs 1 through 47,
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`inclusive.
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`74. Defendants’ above referenced conduct constitutes unfair competition in
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`violation of the common law of the State of Florida.
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`Case 8:22-cv-00143-WFJ-CPT Document 1 Filed 01/18/22 Page 14 of 17 PageID 14
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`75. Plaintiff is active in the café and restaurant business and adopted the
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`Plaintiff’s Mark prior to Defendants’ adoption of the Infringing Mark and has
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`continuously used said mark in Florida and in commerce in the United States.
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`76. By misappropriating and using the confusingly similar Infringing
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`Mark, Defendants have falsely designated and falsely represented that the services
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`they promote, advertise, offer for sale, and/or render are endorsed by, are
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`connected with, authorized by, or otherwise associated with Plaintiff.
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`77. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests this Honorable Court to
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`grant preliminary and permanent injunctive relief, compensatory damages and
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`punitive damages, accounting and lost profits, and any other relief the Court deems
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`just and proper.
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`COUNT VI
`FLORIDA DECEPTIVE AND UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES ACT
`(Against all Defendants)
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`78. Plaintiffs reallege the allegations set forth in paragraphs 1 through 47,
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`inclusive.
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`79. This is a claim for violation of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade
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`Practices Act (FDUTPA), Sections 501.201-501-2101 of the Florida Statutes.
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`80. Defendants’ conduct as alleged herein occurred in the conduct of trade
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`and/or commerce.
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`81. Defendants engaged in deceptive and unfair acts by engaging in
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`Case 8:22-cv-00143-WFJ-CPT Document 1 Filed 01/18/22 Page 15 of 17 PageID 15
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`trademark infringement by using the confusingly similar trademark CAFÉ
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`CARIBE for identical or highly related services—café and restaurant services—as
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`Plaintiff’s Mark.
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`82. Defendants’ infringing activity is likely to mislead consumers acting
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`reasonably in the circumstances to the consumer's detriment. Defendants’ conduct
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`has had, and will continue to have, an adverse effect on Plaintiff and on members
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`of the general public. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants’ unfair trade
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`practices, members of the general public are likely to mistakenly believe that
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`Defendants’ businesses, and the services provided by Defendants, are approved or
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`endorsed by, or otherwise provided by Plaintiff.
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`83. Defendants’ unlawful conduct as set forth herein has been and
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`continues to be willful, deliberate, fraudulent, and in bad faith.
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`84. Plaintiff has been damaged by Defendants’ unfair practices because
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`Plaintiff and Defendants are competitors.
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`85. As a result of Defendants’ unlawful conduct, Plaintiff has suffered
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`damage to the goodwill associated with Plaintiff’s Mark and has suffered and will
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`continue to suffer irreparable harm. Unless enjoined, Defendants will continue to
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`violate FDUTPA, further injuring Plaintiff and confusing the public. Accordingly,
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`Plaintiff is entitled to entry of injunctive relief.
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`86. Defendants’ acts and practices as alleged herein offend public policy,
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`are and were unethical, oppressive, and unscrupulous, and cause and have caused
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`Plaintiff and consumers substantial and unavoidable injury. As a direct and
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`proximate result of Defendants’ unfair, unconscionable, and deceptive acts and
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`practices, Plaintiff has sustained injury and damages.
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`87. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff requests judgment against Defendants
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`including the entry of a permanent injunction and an award of damages, together
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`with costs of suit, reasonable attorney’s fees pursuant to Fla. Stat. §501.2105,
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`punitive damages, and such other and further relief as the court may deem proper.
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`DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
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`Plaintiff respectfully requests a trial by jury on all issues so triable in
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`accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 38.
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`Dated: January 18, 2022
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`Respectfully submitted,
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` /s/ Christian Sanchelima
`Chris Sanchelima, Esq. (Fla. Bar No. 107751)
`chris@sanchelima.com
`Sanchelima & Associates, P.A.
`235 S.W. Le Jeune Road
`Miami, Florida 33134
`Telephone: (305) 447-1617
`Facsimile: (305) 445-8484
`Attorneys for Plaintiff
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`Case 8:22-cv-00143-WFJ-CPT Document 1 Filed 01/18/22 Page 17 of 17 PageID 17
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`VERIFICATION
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`I, Juan Jose Alvarado, declare as follows:
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`I am a member of Caribe Trademarks LLC and I am authorized to makethis
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`verification on its behalf. I have read the foregoing VERIFIED COMPLAINTand
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`I am familiar with its contents. The matters stated therein are true to the best of my
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`knowledge, information, andbelief.
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`Executed on October_/, 2021 at Miami, Florida.
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`I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States and the
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`State of Florida that the foregoing is true and correct.
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`Caribe Trademarks LLC
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`FAfie Sp
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`Juan Jose Alvarado
`Position: Member
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