Coach, Inc. v. Horizon Trading USA Inc.

908 F. Supp. 2d 426, 2012 WL 5451274, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 160528
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedNovember 7, 2012
DocketNo. 11 Civ. 3535(PAE)
StatusPublished
Cited by56 cases

This text of 908 F. Supp. 2d 426 (Coach, Inc. v. Horizon Trading USA Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Coach, Inc. v. Horizon Trading USA Inc., 908 F. Supp. 2d 426, 2012 WL 5451274, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 160528 (S.D.N.Y. 2012).

Opinion

OPINION & ORDER

PAUL A. ENGELMAYER, District Judge:

Plaintiffs Coach, Inc. and Coach Services, Inc. (collectively “Coach”) bring claims of trademark infringement, false designation of origin, copyright infringement, and state statutory claims for trademark infringement, among other state claims, against defendants Horizon Trading USA Inc. (“Horizon Trading”) and Ke Yi Fang (“Fang”).1 Coach alleges that Horizon infringed its exclusive right to use the “Signature C” trademark, and seeks to enjoin defendants from using the allegedly infringing marks. Coach also requests an award of statutory damages under 15 U.S.C. § 1117(c), together with attorney’s fees, costs, and investigative fees under 15 U.S.C. § 1117(a), (b). Horizon denies Coach’s claims.

On June 22, 2012, Coach moved for summary judgment on these claims. For the reasons that follow, Coach’s motion is granted as to each claim, with the exception of Coach’s claims for deceptive trade practices and false advertising, on which summary judgment is granted in favor of defendants.

I. Background2

A. The Parties

Coach manufactures, markets, and sells leather and mixed-material products, including handbags, wallets, and accessories. Lau. Decl. ¶ 3. Coach uses a variety of trademarks, trade dresses, and design elements/copyrights in connection with the advertisement and sale of its products. Id. ¶ 4. One such mark is the “Signature C Mark,” which Coach uses on products such as sunglasses, eyeglass cases, leather goods, and clothing. Id. ¶ 8. Coach has registered the “Signature C Mark” with the United States Patent and Trademark [430]*430Office (“PTO”). Id. ¶ 9; Ex. A. Additionally, Coach has registered copyrights with the United States Copyright Office for several variations of the “Signature C” design. Id. ¶ 15; Ex. B.

Horizon Trading is an importer, exporter, and wholesaler of sunglasses apd other goods. Davis Decl. Ex. B (Plaintiffs’ Requests for Admission to Horizon) (“Horizon Admissions”) ¶48; Ex. C (Plaintiffs’ Requests for Admission to Fang) (“Fang Admissions”) ¶ 16. Horizon Trading is a New York corporation, which conducts business at 44 West 29th Street, New York, New York. Horizon Admissions ¶ 102; Fang Admissions ¶ 105. Ke Yi Fang has an ownership interest in Horizon Trading. Horizon Admissions ¶ 1; Fang Admissions ¶ 1. ■ • -

B. Relevant Events

The events that precipitated this lawsuit are as follows. Coach received information that a store located at 44 West 29th Street in New York City (the “Horizon Store”) was selling allegedly' counterfeit Coach sunglasses. Lau Decl. ¶ 18. Coach also learned that the store was affiliated with a company called Horizon Trading USA Inc., which was owned by Fang. Id. Coach’s Legal Department retained Allegiance Protection Group (“APG”), a private investigative firm, to investigate these activities. Id. ¶ 19. On March 24, 2011, on behalf of Coach, APG’s General Manager, Cara Amore, bought from Horizon, for $7, sunglasses that use a design consisting of the stylized letters “G” and “C”. Id. ¶¶ 20-21; Amore Decl. ¶ 4-, That same day, Amore also purchased different sunglasses from Horizon, for the same price. Id. ¶ 5. Those sunglasses use a design consisting of the stylized letter “C”! in various combinations, orders, and directions. Id. Coach and APG examined both of the Horizon products purchased by Amore at the Horizon Store, and determined that neither was an authentic Coach product. Id. ¶ 8; Lau Decl. ¶¶ 24-25. An authentic pair of Coach sunglasses retails for approximately $185. Lau. Decl. ¶ 25.

C. Procedural History

On May 24, 2011, Coach filed a Complaint. Dkt. 1. On July 22, 2011, defendants filed two separate Answers. Dkt. 12-13. Plaintiffs represent, and defendants do not dispute, that defendants failed to provide written discovery as required. See PL Br. 2.3 On June 22, 2012, Coach moved for summary judgment. Dkt. 27. On July 14, 2012, defendants filed a brief in opposition. Dkt. 33-34. On July 23, 2012, Coach filed a reply. Dkt. 36. •

II. Legal Standard

To prevail on a motion for summary judgment, the movant must “show[] that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R.Civ.P. 56(a). The movant bears the burden of demonstrating the absence of a question of material fact. In making this determination, the Court must view all facts “in the light most favorable” to the non-moving party. Holcomb v. Iona Coll., 521 F.3d 130, 132 (2d Cir.2008). To survive a summary judgment motion, the opposing party must establish a genuine issue of fact by “citing to particular parts of materials in the record.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c)(1); see also Wright v. Goord, 554 F.3d 255, 266 (2d Cir.2009). “A party may [431]*431not rely on mere speculation or conjecture as to the true nature of the facts to overcome a motion for summary judgment.” Hicks v. Baines, 593 F.3d 159, 166 (2d Cir.2010) (citation omitted). Only disputes over “facts that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law” will preclude a grant of summary judgment. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). In determining whether there are genuine issues of material fact, “we are required to resolve all ambiguities and draw all permissible factual inferences in favor of the party against whom summary judgment is sought.” Johnson v. Killian, 680 F.3d 234, 236 (2d Cir.2012) (citing Terry v. Ashcroft, 336 F.3d 128, 137 (2d Cir.2003)).

III. Discussion

In support of its motion for summary judgment, Coach primarily relies upon defendants’ admissions, as fairly derived from defendants’ unexcused failure to respond to Coach’s requests for admission. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 36(a)(3). Coach also argues that summary judgment is warranted even apart from these admissions because defendants’ “GC” and “CC” marks are demonstrably counterfeit.

In assessing Coach’s motion, the Court first considers the effect, under Rule 36, of defendants’ failure to respond to Coach’s requests for admission. Next, the Court considers Coach’s substantive claims. Finally, the Court addresses statutory damages.

A. Defendants’ Failure to Respond to Requests for Admissions

Under Fed.R.Civ.P. 36

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908 F. Supp. 2d 426, 2012 WL 5451274, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 160528, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/coach-inc-v-horizon-trading-usa-inc-nysd-2012.