Capitol Indemnity Corp. v. Elston Self Service Wholesale Groceries, Inc.

551 F. Supp. 2d 711, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19466, 2008 WL 696919
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Illinois
DecidedMarch 13, 2008
Docket04 C 6536
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 551 F. Supp. 2d 711 (Capitol Indemnity Corp. v. Elston Self Service Wholesale Groceries, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Capitol Indemnity Corp. v. Elston Self Service Wholesale Groceries, Inc., 551 F. Supp. 2d 711, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19466, 2008 WL 696919 (N.D. Ill. 2008).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

REBECCA R. PALLMEYER, District Judge.

Plaintiff, Capitol Indemnity Corporation (“Capitol Indemnity”), seeks a declaratory judgment that it has no obligation to defend its insured, Elston Self Service Wholesale Groceries, Inc. (“Elston”), in a lawsuit alleging trademark infringement and fraud. In the underlying dispute, Lorillard Tobacco Company (“Lorillard”) brought claims related to Lorillard’s federally-registered trademarks against Elston; Elston’s owner, Mashour Dukum (“Mike”); and two of Elston’s employees, Ibrahim Dukum (“Ibrahim”) and David Dukum (“David”). Capitol Indemnity filed its Third Amended Complaint for Declaratory Judgment (“Third Amended Complaint”) on October 4, 2006, seeking certain declarations regarding its obligations under the parties’ insurance contract. On March 6, 2007, Capitol Indemnity, on the one hand, and Elston, Mike, Ibrahim, and David (together the “Moving Defendants”), on the other hand, filed cross-motions seeking summary judgment. For the reasons explained below, each side’s motion is granted in part and denied in part.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

I. The Underlying Litigation

The facts are taken from the parties’ Rule 56.1 statements and are largely undisputed. Elston is in the business of distributing wholesale merchandise, including cigarettes. (Defs.’ Resp. to PL’s 56.1 ¶ 17.) Between 1983 and 2003, Elston advertised and sold Newport cigarettes. (Id. ¶ 18.) In what the parties refer to as the underlying litigation, Lorillard alleges that certain of the cigarettes sold by Defendants were counterfeits — that is, cigarettes purporting to be genuine Newport brand cigarettes that were, in fact, knock-offs. (Pl.’s Resp. to Defs.’ 56.1 ¶¶ 19-20.) To understand the parties’ arguments that such a lawsuit is (or is not) covered by the insurance policy issued by Capitol Indemnity, a brief description of Defendants’ marketing activities is useful. Between 1983 and 2003, Elston routinely sent advertising fliers to its customers. (Defs.’ Resp. to PL’s 56.1 ¶¶ 19-20.) Those fliers, which always included an advertisement *715 for Newport cigarettes, were sent as often as once every twelve days. (Id. ¶¶ 20-21.) Elston’s printing contractor, Rapid Press, created these advertising fliers, using a list of product names and prices furnished by Elston and then printing that information and stock clip art on the fliers. (Id. ¶ 22.) The stock clip art Rapid Press supplied included an image of a Newport cigarette box, which was featured on the fliers in identical form between 1983 and 2003. (Id. ¶¶ 22-23.)

In early July 2003, federal marshals raided Elston and seized cigarettes. (Defs.’ Resp. to Pl.’s 56.1 ¶ 12.) On or about July 9, 2003, Lorillard filed suit against Elston, alleging various violations of the Lanham Act, state trademark law, the common law of unfair competition, and state law of deceptive trade practices. (Pl.’s Resp. to Defs.’ 56.1 ¶¶ 10, 12; see also Complaint, Lorillard Tobacco Co. v. Elston Self Serv. Wholesale Groceries, Inc., No. 03 C 4753 (N.D.Ill. July 9, 2003).) 1 According to the parties in this insurance coverage dispute, Lorillard’s claims arise from the alleged sale and offer for sale of counterfeit cigarettes bearing Lorillard’s federal trademark registration: NEWPORT®. (Pl.’s Resp. to Defs.’ 56.1 ¶ 13.) On October 20, 2004, Lorillard filed an Amended Complaint (“Lorillard Amended Complaint”), naming Mike, David, and Ibrahim (the owner of Elston and his two sons) as additional defendants. (Lorillard Am. Compl., Ex. 4 to PL’s 56.1; Defs.’ Resp. to PL’s 56.1 ¶¶ 4-6.) 2 Loril-lard contends that its cigarettes are held to strict quality control standards, contributing to Lorillard’s reputation among smokers for quality and consistency. (Lorillard Am. Compl. ¶ 9.) Lorillard has allegedly spent “substantial time, effort and money in advertising and promoting cigarettes” under its federally registered trademarks, which it obtained to protect its reputation and investments. (Id. ¶¶ 10-11.) Lorillard accuses Elston and the Dukums of misappropriating Loril-lard’s federally registered trademarks as well as the goodwill associated with them. (Id. ¶ 14.) By selling and offering for sale counterfeit products bearing Lorillard’s marks, Lorillard contends, Elston and the Dukums induced the public to purchase goods in the erroneous belief that they are authentic Lorillard goods, thus depriving Lorillard of sales. (Id. ¶¶ 15-17.) The Lorillard marks to which Lorillard refers in the underlying litigation include NEWPORT®, NEWPORT® (stylized), LORIL-LARD®, Spinnaker Design®, and NEWPORT and Design®. (Id. ¶ 11.)

In its Amended Complaint, Lorillard asserts that Elston and the Dukums infringed Lorillard’s marks in violation of 15 U.S.C. § 1114(1) (Count I); falsely designated or misrepresented goods being sold in violation of 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a) (Count II); diluted Lorillard’s marks in violation *716 of 15 U.S.C. § 1125(c) and 765 ILCS 1036/65 (Counts III and IV, respectively); engaged in unfair competition in violation of Illinois common law (Count V); engaged in deceptive trade practices in violation of 815 ILCS 510/2 (Count VI); engaged in common law fraud (Count VII); and induced third parties, including other retailers, to commit fraud (Count VIII). (Lorillard Am. Compl. ¶¶ 26-77.) In the underlying litigation, Elston filed a third-party complaint, naming as third-party defendants Canstar and Cam-Kat and alleging that it purchased the allegedly counterfeit cigarettes from those two suppliers. (Third Am. Compl. ¶ 17.)

To remedy these alleged wrongs, Loril-lard first seeks equitable relief: an injunction prohibiting further wrongful conduct by Elston and the Dukums and an order requiring Elston and the Dukums to deliver to Lorillard for destruction anything in their possession that bears the Lorillard marks, other than genuine Lorillard cigarettes. (Lorillard Am. Compl. ¶¶ 78-79.) Lorillard asks the court to direct Elston and the Dukums to file and serve upon Lorillard a report setting forth the manner and form of them compliance with these injunctive orders. (Id. ¶ 87.) In addition, Lorillard seeks an accounting and disgorgement of Elston’s and the Dukums’ profits from their allegedly wrongful conduct. (Id. ¶¶ 80, 84.) Lorillard also requests monetary relief: an award of attorneys’ fees pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1117(a); treble damages as provided by 15 U.S.C. § 1117(b); statutory damages in lieu of actual damages as provided in 15 U.S.C.

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551 F. Supp. 2d 711, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19466, 2008 WL 696919, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/capitol-indemnity-corp-v-elston-self-service-wholesale-groceries-inc-ilnd-2008.