AWGI, L.L.C. v. Atlas Trucking Company, L.L.C.

381 F. Supp. 3d 832
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Michigan
DecidedMarch 25, 2019
DocketCase No. 17-12131
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 381 F. Supp. 3d 832 (AWGI, L.L.C. v. Atlas Trucking Company, L.L.C.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Michigan primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
AWGI, L.L.C. v. Atlas Trucking Company, L.L.C., 381 F. Supp. 3d 832 (E.D. Mich. 2019).

Opinion

Sean F. Cox, United States District Judge *840This is a trademark case about the use of a stylized "A" and the terms "Atlas," "Atlas Logistics," and "Atlas -- the Agent's Van Line." The plaintiffs are Atlas Van Lines (a household moving company), Atlas Logistics, Inc. (a logistics management service) ("Plaintiff Logistics"), and AGWI, L.L.C. (the holding company for Van Lines and Plaintiff Logistics). The defendants are Eaton Steel Bar Company (a steel manufacturer) and its affiliated trucking and logistics companies, Atlas Trucking Company, L.L.C. and Atlas Logistics, L.L.C. ("Defendant Logistics").

Plaintiffs allege four counts of trademark infringement under the Lanham Act, two counts of trademark counterfeiting under the Lanham Act, and one count of common law unfair competition. Defendant Logistics has counterclaimed against Plaintiff Logistics and AWGI for one count of unfair competition and false designation of origin under the Lanham Act, and one count of common law unfair competition. Defendant Logistics also seeks a declaratory injunction, pursuant to § 1119 of the Lanham Act, stating that Plaintiffs' trademark in "Atlas Logistics" was improperly registered and directing the Commission of Patents and Trademarks to cancel it.

Plaintiffs now move for summary judgment on all claims and counter-claims, except their infringement claim related to the stylized "A". Defendants have moved for summary judgment on all claims and counter-claims.

As explained below, the Court finds that there is no genuine issue of material fact that (1) Defendant Logistics's Lanham Act claims are not barred by laches; (2) Plaintiffs' Lanham Act claims are barred by laches to the extent they seek any form of money damages for past harm; (3) Plaintiffs' Lanham Act claims fail on the merits to the extent they seek injunctive relief; and (4) the common law claim and counterclaim for unfair competition are barred by the statute of limitations. The Court also concludes that there is a genuine issue of material fact underlying Count I and Count III of Defendant Logistics's counterclaims, and that a jury should decide who are the senior users of the "Atlas Logistics" mark.

Accordingly, the Court will deny Plaintiffs' motion as to their claims and Count I and Count III of Defendant Logistics's counterclaims, and grant Plaintiffs' motion as to Count II of Defendant Logistics's counterclaims. The Court will also grant Defendants' motion as to Plaintiffs claims, and deny it as to Defendant Logistics's counterclaims.

In sum, the only claims to survive these cross-motions for summary judgment will be Defendant Logistics's Lanham Act *841counterclaims (Counterclaims I and III) against Plaintiff Logistics and AWGI.

BACKGROUND

Plaintiffs and the "Atlas -- The Agent's Van Line," the stylized "A," and "Atlas" marks

Plaintiff AWGI is a holding company for its co-plaintiffs Van Lines and Plaintiff Logistics. Founded in 1933, Van Lines is a moving service that focuses on transporting household goods for people moving to a new residence. Roughly 55% of Van Lines's household moving business comes from relocating their corporate client's employees, roughly 20% comes from relocating private customers, and the remainder comes from relocating government workers and members of the military. McConnell Dep. 27:13-20, November 16, 2017. On the other hand, Van Lines's sister company, Plaintiff Logistics, focuses on providing third-party logistics services for "all other commodities that are available on the marketplace." Id. at 163:5-18. "Atlas Logistics, Inc." is Plaintiff Logistics's third name: from December 11, 1995 to June 11, 2012 it operated as "Atlas Relocation Services, Inc." and from June 11, 2012 until January 9, 2015, it operated as "AWG Logistics, Inc." Id. at 165:5-166:22.

On April 10, 1990, Van Lines registered a trademark in the term "Atlas -- The Agent's Van Line" when used for "transportation of household goods by motor van." (ECF No. 70-1, PageID 2878) (Reg No. 1,591,344). On September 5, 2006, AWGI registered a trademark in a stylized "A," to be used on "clothing, namely hats and shirts" and "cloth patches for clothing." (ECF No 70-1, PageID 2874) (Reg. No. 3,137,526). This is the stylized "A":

On December 1, 2009, Van Lines registered a trademark in the term "Atlas" when used for "freight forwarding services" and the "transportation of household good of others." (ECF No. 70-1, PageID 2858) (Reg. No. 3,718, 117).

Defendants

Defendant Eaton Steel Bar Company manufactures steel products, such as bars, coils, and rods. Defendant Atlas Trucking, L.L.C., is an Eaton affiliate and focuses on shipping raw materials and finished products to Eaton's customers, suppliers, and other affiliates. Defendant Logistics is also an Eaton affiliate, and offers shipping coordination to the Eaton family of companies, its vendors, its customers, and third-party companies. Based on the Court's review of data submitted by Defendants, since 2012, roughly 75% of Trucking and Defendant Logistics's customers have come from within the Eaton family of companies. Sealed Ex. 19 to Defs' Mot. for Sum. J. (ECF No. 87). The Court's review also showed that roughly 89% of the cargo shipped by Trucking and Defendant Logistics was either "bars and rods of iron or steel" or "coils." Id.

Defendant Logistics and Trucking appear to use the following logos (or substantially similar variants on the following logos):

*842(ECF No. 71, PageID 3006)

(ECF No. 1, PageID 6).

The Cease-and-Desist Letters and the "Atlas Logistics" Mark

On January 10, 2012, Plaintiffs' counsel sent a cease-and-desist letter to Defendants, alleging violations of its "Atlas" trademark. Plaintiffs claimed that its "Atlas" mark applied to "moving and storage services as well as freight forwarding and logistics services." (ECF No. 70-1, PageID 2856). Plaintiffs further asserted "that it was the rightful owner of any website domain name that incorporates the mark 'Atlas' to offer moving, freight forwarding, and logistics services." Id. Plaintiffs alleged that Defendants' use of the terms "Atlas Trucking" and "Atlas Logistics" was likely to cause consumer confusion as to the source of Defendants' sponsorship and that Defendants were trying to trade off of Plaintiffs' good will. (ECF No. 70-1, PageID 2856-2857). Plaintiffs attached their "Atlas" trademark registration to this letter.

On January 23, 2012, Defendants responded, "vehemently" denying that they made any attempt to misappropriate Plaintiffs' good will. (ECF 70-1, PageID 2861). Defendants also argued that the "Atlas" registration only secured trademark rights related to "freight forwarding" and "the transportation of household goods of others" and that Defendants were not engaged in providing either of these services. Id. Defendants stated that "AWGI is in the business of moving households in enclosed trailers, whereas, Atlas is in the business of trucking steel bars and other steel-related products on flatbeds." Id. Because of their disparate services and customer bases, Defendants argued that consumers would not be confused. Id.

After this exchange, neither Plaintiffs nor Defendants took any further action to enforce any trademark rights for more than 5 years.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
381 F. Supp. 3d 832, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/awgi-llc-v-atlas-trucking-company-llc-mied-2019.