`
`ARCHER & GREINER
`A Professional Corporation
`One Centennial Square
`Haddonfield, NJ 08033-0968
`(856) 795-2121
`Attorneys for Plaintiff,
`LaMonica Fine Foods, LLC.
`BY: TREVOR J. COONEY, ESQUIRE
`KATE A. SHERLOCK, ESQUIRE
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
`CAMDEN VICINAGE
`
`LAMONICA FINE FOODS, LLC,
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`
`
`Plaintiff,
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`v.
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`ATLANTIC CAPES FISHERIES, INC. and
`CAPE MAY SALT OYSTER COMPANY,
`LLC,
`
`Defendants.
`
`Civil Action No. __________________
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`Electronically Filed
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`COMPLAINT
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`LaMonica Fine Foods, LLC (“Plaintiff” or “LaMonica”), by way of Complaint against
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`Defendant Atlantic Capes Fisheries, Inc. (“Atlantic”), and Cape May Salt Oyster Company, LLC
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`(“CMSOC”) (each “a Defendant” and together, the “Defendants”) alleges as follows:
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`THE PARTIES
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`1.
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`LaMonica is a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of
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`the State of New Jersey, with its principal place of business at 48 Gorton Road, Millville, New
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`Jersey 08332.
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`2.
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`Atlantic Capes Fisheries, Inc. is a corporation organized and existing under the
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`laws of the State of New Jersey, with its principal place of business at 985 Ocean Drive, Cape
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`May, New Jersey 08204.
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`3.
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`Cape May Salt Oyster Company, LLC is a limited liability company organized
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`and existing under the laws of the State of New Jersey, with its principal place of business at 985
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`Ocean Drive, Cape May, New Jersey 08204.
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`JURISDICTION AND VENUE
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`4.
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`This Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 because
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`claims asserted herein arise under the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1114, 1125, and this Court
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`exercises original jurisdiction pursuant to 15 U.S.C. §§ 1117, 1125(a), and 28 U.S.C. § 1338(a).
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`This Court also exercises supplemental jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s pendant state law claims
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`pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367.
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`5.
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`This Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendants because Defendants transact
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`business within New Jersey, derive substantial revenue from intrastate and interstate commerce,
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`and have engaged in conduct that has significantly and adversely affected the interests of
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`LaMonica, a corporation with its principal place of business in New Jersey. Defendants
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`knowingly and in bad faith engaged in the acts and conduct set forth herein, including breaching
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`a settlement agreement with LaMonica and advertising and selling products under the infringing
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`mark at issue in this action, with the reasonable expectation that such products would be
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`advertised and sold in the State of New Jersey. Defendants have also consented to personal
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`jurisdiction in this Court.
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`6.
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`Venue is proper before this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(a) and (c) because
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`Defendants are subject to personal jurisdiction in this District. Venue is also proper in this
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`District pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b) because both Plaintiff’s and Defendants’ principal
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`places of business are located in this District and a substantial part of the events giving rise to
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`these claims occurred in this District.
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`FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS
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`Introduction
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`This is not the Parties’ first litigation regarding Plaintiff’s CAPE MAY trademark and
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`Plaintiff’s corresponding incontestable federal trademark registration for the mark CAPE MAY.
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`In 2018, Plaintiff was forced to file a federal lawsuit against Defendant CMSOC, a subsidiary or
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`affiliate of Atlantic, to protect its trademark rights in the mark CAPE MAY. After two years of
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`litigation, the Parties entered into a settlement agreement that Defendants have completely
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`disregarded, forcing Plaintiff to once again expend substantial amounts of time and money to
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`protect its valuable rights and substantial goodwill in the CAPE MAY trademark.
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`LaMonica’s CAPE MAY Trademark
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`1.
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`LaMonica is a family-owned seafood business located in Millville, New Jersey,
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`operated by brothers Daniel LaVecchia and Michael LaVecchia.
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`2.
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`LaMonica owns and operates the largest hand-shucking plant in New Jersey with
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`more than 200 employees and a state-of-the-art seafood packing facility.
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`3.
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`4.
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`The LaVecchias also own a company called Cape May Foods, Inc.
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`In 1992, Cape May Foods, Inc. began using the trademark CAPE MAY (the
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`“CAPE MAY Mark”) in commerce to identify its goods.
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`3
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`5.
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`On September 27, 2000, Cape May Foods, Inc. applied to register the CAPE
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`MAY Mark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (the “PTO”). On May 13, 2003,
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`the PTO approved the application and issued a Certificate of Registration under Registration
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`Number 2714953. A copy of the registration certificate is attached as Exhibit 1.
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`6.
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`On December 31, 2009, Cape May Foods, Inc. assigned its entire interest and
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`goodwill in the CAPE MAY Mark to LaMonica.
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`7.
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`Since that time, LaMonica has continued to sell fresh, frozen, and canned clam
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`and seafood products using the CAPE MAY Mark.
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`8.
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`On October 26, 2017, LaMonica filed a Declaration of Incontestability with the
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`PTO pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1065 for its registration for the CAPE MAY Mark.
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`9.
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`On November 24, 2017, the PTO acknowledged LaMonica’s Section 15
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`declaration, making LaMonica’s CAPE MAY registration incontestable.
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`Defendants’ Unauthorized Activities
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`10.
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`Defendants sell farm-raised oysters from the Delaware Bay that Defendants call
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`“Cape May Salts.”
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`11.
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`In or around 2014, the president of Atlantic, Daniel Cohen, contacted LaMonica
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`seeking a license to use LaMonica’s CAPE MAY Mark.
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`12. Mr. LaVecchia and Mr. Cohen were unable to agree on licensing terms and did
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`not enter into a licensing agreement.
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`13.
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`Despite the lack of a license to do so, Mr. Cohen formed a new limited liability
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`company and incorporated the CAPE MAY Mark into his new company name, Cape May Salt
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`Oyster Company, LLC.
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`4
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`14. Mr. Cohen also incorporated the CAPE MAY Mark into the CMSOC website at
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`the domain www.capemaysalts.com.
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`15.
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`At www.capemaysalts.com, CMSOC sold oysters and merchandise, including but
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`not limited to, “Cape May Salt” oysters, “Elder Point” oysters, and apparel displaying the words
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`“Cape May Salt Oyster Company.”
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`16.
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`In or around September 2017, LaMonica became aware of CMSOC’s existence
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`and its use of the CAPE MAY Mark in its company name and domain.
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`17.
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`In or around October 2017, Daniel LaVecchia contacted Mr. Cohen and instructed
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`him to cease using LaMonica’s CAPE MAY Mark.
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`18.
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`19.
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`Defendant refused to comply with Mr. LaVecchia’s request.
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`On January 23, 2018, LaMonica’s counsel sent a cease and desist letter to counsel
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`for CMSOC regarding Defendant’s unauthorized use of LaMonica’s CAPE MAY Mark.
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`20.
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`21.
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`CMSOC never responded to the January 23, 2018 cease and desist letter.
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`On February 22, 2018, LaMonica filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for
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`the District of New Jersey against CMSOC, Civil Action No. 18-cv-02515, alleging claims of
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`trademark infringement (15 U.S.C. §1114(1)), false designation of origin and false description
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`(15 U.S.C. §1125(a)(1)(A)), cybersquatting, common law unfair competition, and New Jersey
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`statutory unfair competition at N.J.S.A. 56:4-1 (the “2018 Litigation”).
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`22.
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`On May 23, 2019, LaMonica and CMSOC participated in a settlement conference
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`with the Honorable Joel Schneider, U.S.M.J, during which a settlement was reached in principle.
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`5
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`23.
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`The Parties later memorialized their settlement in an agreement dated October 14,
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`2019 (the “Settlement”). A true and accurate copy of the Settlement is attached hereto as Exhibit
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`2.1
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`24.
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`25.
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`26.
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`27.
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`28.
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`Cape May Salts are just one type of oyster sold by CMSOC.
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`29.
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`On November 6, 2019, the 2018 Litigation was dismissed with prejudice.
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`1 The Settlement is subject to confidentiality provisions that prevent Plaintiff from attaching an unredacted copy to
`this Complaint. Plaintiff is contemporaneously filing a motion to file an unredacted copy of this Complaint and the
`Settlement under seal.
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`6
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`30.
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`Despite the promises it made to LaMonica as part of the Settlement, CMSOC and
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`Atlantic continued to use the CAPE MAY Mark by adopting the new business name “Cape May
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`Salt Oyster Farms.”
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`31.
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`Defendants have also continued to use the CAPE MAY Mark in their domain
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`name, by operating a website at https://capemaysaltoysterfarms.com.
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`32.
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`On information and belief, Defendants have not formally dissolved, terminated, or
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`canceled the legal entity Cape May Salt Oyster Company, LLC.
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`33.
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`On or around May 5, 2020, LaMonica notified Defendants of their breach of the
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`Settlement and demanded that Defendants remove all infringing references to CAPE MAY
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`within ten business days from the date of the letter and cease and desist from infringing
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`LaMonica’s CAPE MAY Mark.
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`34.
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`As of September 4, 2020, Defendants are still breaching the Settlement and
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`infringing LaMonica’s CAPE MAY Mark.
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`FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION
`Breach of Contract
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`35.
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` LaMonica repeats and realleges the allegations contained in prior paragraphs as if
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`fully set forth herein.
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`36.
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`LaMonica and Defendants entered into a Settlement that prohibited Defendants
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`from using LaMonica’s CAPE MAY Mark as a trademark or source indicator for its seafood and
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`shellfish products, except as expressly permitted under the Settlement.
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`37.
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`LaMonica and Defendants exchanged consideration in exchange for the promises
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`set forth in the Settlement.
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`38.
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`LaMonica relied on CMSOC’s promises within the Settlement when it filed a
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`stipulation to dismiss the 2018 Litigation.
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`7
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`39.
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`Defendants have materially breached and continue to materially breach the
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`Settlement by operating as Cape May Salt Oyster Farms, LLC and utilizing the domain
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`www.capemaysaltoysterfarms.com.
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`40.
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`LaMonica has suffered irreparable injury and continues to suffer irreparable
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`injury as a result of Defendants’ breach.
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`41.
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`SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION
`Breach of the Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing
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`42.
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`LaMonica repeats and realleges the allegations contained in prior paragraphs as if
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`fully set forth herein.
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`43.
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`LaMonica and Defendants entered into a Settlement that prohibited Defendants
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`from using LaMonica’s CAPE MAY Mark as a trademark or source indicator for its seafood and
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`shellfish products, except as expressly permitted under the Settlement.
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`44.
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`LaMonica and Defendants exchanged consideration in exchange for the promises
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`set forth in the Settlement.
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`45.
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`LaMonica relied on CMSOC’s promises within the Settlement when it filed a
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`stipulation to dismiss the 2018 Litigation.
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`46.
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`47.
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`Defendants never complied with their obligations in the Settlement.
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`Defendants acted in bad faith when they entered into the Settlement without ever
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`intending to comply with their obligations.
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`8
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`48.
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`LaMonica is suffering damage as a result of the acts of Defendants as aforesaid in
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`an amount thus far not determined.
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`THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION
`Trademark Infringement
`15 U.S.C. §1114(1)
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`49.
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`LaMonica repeats and realleges the allegations contained in prior paragraphs as if
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`fully set forth herein.
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`50.
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`LaMonica’s registration for the CAPE MAY Mark is in full force and effect, and
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`the trademark thereof and the goodwill of LaMonica’s business in connection with which its
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`trademark is used has never been abandoned.
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`51.
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`52.
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`LaMonica’s registration for the CAPE MAY Mark is incontestable.
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`LaMonica intends to continue to preserve and maintain its rights with respect to
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`its trademark registration for the CAPE MAY Mark.
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`53.
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`LaMonica’s CAPE MAY Mark and the goodwill associated therewith are of
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`inestimable value to LaMonica.
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`54.
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`Upon information and belief, Defendants commenced and continued their
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`unauthorized use of the CAPE MAY Mark with full knowledge of and by reason of the fact that
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`the CAPE MAY Mark is highly valuable.
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`55.
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`Defendants’ use of the CAPE MAY Mark has been without the consent of the
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`LaMonica.
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`56.
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`The activities of Defendants complained of herein constitute willful and
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`intentional infringement of the CAPE MAY Mark as protected by the respective registration set
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`forth above. Defendants have acted in complete disregard of LaMonica’s rights and in spite of
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`Defendants’ knowledge that their unauthorized use of the CAPE MAY Mark or any mark likely
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`to be confused therewith infringes LaMonica’s rights.
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`57.
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`Defendants’ infringement of the CAPE MAY Mark is likely to cause confusion
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`and mistake in the minds of the purchasing public.
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`58.
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`Defendants’ infringement of the CAPE MAY Mark tends to and does falsely
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`create the impression that the products sold by Defendants are authorized, sponsored, or
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`approved by LaMonica.
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`59.
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`Alternatively, or in addition to the foregoing, Defendants’ infringement of the
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`CAPE MAY Mark is likely to cause reverse confusion, tending to and falsely creating the
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`impression that the products sold by LaMonica are either authorized, sponsored, or approved by
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`Defendants or the false impression that LaMonica is infringing on the rights of Defendants.
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`60.
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`LaMonica is suffering damage as a result of the acts of Defendants as aforesaid in
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`an amount thus far not determined.
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`FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION
`False Designation of Origin and False Description
`15 U.S.C. §1125(a)(1)(A)
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`61.
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`LaMonica repeats and realleges the allegations contained in prior paragraphs as if
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`fully set forth herein.
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`62.
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`Upon information and belief, Defendants have used in connection with the sale of
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`its products, false designations of origin and false descriptions and representations that tend
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`falsely to describe or represent their products.
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`63.
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`Upon information and belief, Defendants have caused the aforementioned
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`products to enter into commerce with full knowledge of the falsity of such designations of origin
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`and such descriptions and representations, all to the detriment of LaMonica.
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`10
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`64.
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`Defendants’ use of the CAPE MAY Mark constitutes the use of false designations
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`of origin and false descriptions and representations tending falsely to describe or represent goods
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`sold by Defendants.
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`65.
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`Upon information and belief, Defendants have distributed, offered for sale or sold
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`its products by using the CAPE MAY Mark with the express intent to cause confusion and
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`mistake, to deceive and mislead the purchasing public, to trade upon the reputation of LaMonica,
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`and improperly to appropriate the valuable trademark rights of LaMonica.
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`66.
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`Alternatively, or in addition to the foregoing, Defendants’ conduct causes reverse
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`confusion, tending to and falsely creating the impression that the products sold by LaMonica are
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`either authorized, sponsored, or approved by Defendants or the false impression that LaMonica
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`is infringing on the rights of Defendants.
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`67.
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`LaMonica is suffering damage as a result of the acts of Defendants as aforesaid in
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`an amount thus far not determined.
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`FIFTH CAUSE OF ACTION
`Common Law Unfair Competition
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`68.
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`LaMonica repeats and realleges the allegations contained in prior paragraphs as if
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`fully set forth herein.
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`69.
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`Upon information and belief, Defendants have intentionally and with bad faith
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`appropriated the CAPE MAY Mark with the intent of causing confusion, mistake, and deception
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`as to the source of its goods or to otherwise wrongfully benefit from the infringement of
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`LaMonica’s rights without due compensation.
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`70.
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`Upon information belief, Defendants have acted with the intent to palm off its
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`goods as those of LaMonica, or to otherwise deceive the public. Such acts amount to trademark
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`infringement, unfair competition, and wrongful misappropriation under the common law.
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`71.
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`LaMonica is suffering damage as a result of the acts of Defendants as aforesaid in
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`an amount thus far not determined.
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`SIXTH CAUSE OF ACTION
`New Jersey Statutory Unfair Competition at N.J.S.A. 56:4-1
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`72.
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`LaMonica repeats and realleges the allegations contained in prior paragraphs as if
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`fully set forth herein.
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`73.
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`Upon information and belief, Defendants have intentionally and with bad faith
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`appropriated the CAPE MAY Mark with the intent of causing confusion, mistake, and deception
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`as to the source of its goods or to otherwise wrongfully benefit from the infringement of
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`LaMonica’s rights without due compensation.
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`74.
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`Upon information belief, Defendants have acted with the intent to palm off their
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`goods as those of LaMonica, or to otherwise deceive the public. Such acts amount to trademark
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`infringement and unfair competition in violation of N.J.S.A. 56:4-1.
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`75.
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`LaMonica is suffering damage as a result of the acts of Defendants as aforesaid in
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`an amount thus far not determined.
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`WHEREFORE, LaMonica demands judgment against Defendants as follows:
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`1)
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`2)
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`3)
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`4)
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`For an Order requiring Defendants to comply with the terms of the Settlement
`Agreement;
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`For actual damages suffered by LaMonica and for disgorgement of Defendants’
`profits as a result of Defendants’ actions described herein;
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`For attorney’s fees, interest, and costs of suit;
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`For an order barring Defendants and Defendants’ affiliates, subsidiaries, partners,
`joint venturers, parent companies, successors and assigns, and Defendants’
`officers, agents, servants, employees and attorneys, and all others in active
`concert or participation with Defendants who receive actual notice of the order by
`personal service or otherwise, from:
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`12
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`a)
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`b)
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`c)
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`Using the CAPE MAY Mark, or any confusingly similar variation thereof,
`as a trademark or service mark, or in Defendants’ business name or trade
`name;
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`Using the CAPE MAY Mark, or any confusingly similar variation thereof
`in Defendants’ website domain(s); and
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`Using the CAPE MAY Mark, or any confusingly similar variation thereof
`in Defendants’ advertising that would cause a likelihood of confusion as to
`sponsorship, affiliation, or association between LaMonica and Defendants.
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`5)
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`For an order requiring Defendants, Defendants’ affiliates, subsidiaries, partners,
`joint venturers, parent companies, successors and assigns, and Defendants’
`officers, agents, servants, employees and attorneys, to deliver to LaMonica for
`destruction all labels, stickers, signs, prints, packages, wrappers, receptacles,
`advertisements, apparel, merchandise and other written or printed material in their
`possession, custody or control that bear the CAPE MAY Mark, alone or in
`combination with any other words, marks or other elements.
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`6)
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`Such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and equitable.
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`JURY DEMAND
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`LaMonica demands trial by jury on all issues amenable thereto.
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`ARCHER & GREINER
`A Professional Corporation
`One Centennial Square
`P.O. Box 3000
`(856) 795-2121
`Attorneys for Plaintiff,
`LaMonica Fine Foods, LLC
`
`By: /s/ Kate A. Sherlock
` Kate A. Sherlock, Esq.
` Trevor J. Cooney, Esq.
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`Dated: September 4, 2020.
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`218973327v3
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