Gap, Inc. v. Stone International Trading, Inc.

169 F.R.D. 584, 36 Fed. R. Serv. 3d 1184, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 226, 1997 WL 13186
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedJanuary 13, 1997
DocketNo. 93 Civ. 638 (SWK)
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 169 F.R.D. 584 (Gap, Inc. v. Stone International Trading, 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
Gap, Inc. v. Stone International Trading, Inc., 169 F.R.D. 584, 36 Fed. R. Serv. 3d 1184, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 226, 1997 WL 13186 (S.D.N.Y. 1997).

Opinion

[586]*586 MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

KRAM, District Judge.

In this action for unauthorized use of the “Gap” trademark, unfair competition and violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”), plaintiff The Gap, Inc. (“The Gap” or “Gap”) moves to dismiss its complaint without prejudice, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(2). Defendants Stone International Trading, Inc. (“Stone International”) and Johnathan Simon cross-move for costs and attorneys’ fees, as well as sanctions. For the reasons set forth below, The Gap’s motion to dismiss the complaint without prejudice is granted at such time that The Gap executes a covenant not to sue defendants in the future. Defendants’ cross-motion for costs, attorneys’ fees and sanctions is denied.

BACKGROUND1

The Gap is a specialty retailer operating in the United States and abroad that sells casual and active-wear clothing under the Gap, Gapkids and BabyGap trademarks. Defendants Steven Stone (“Stone”) and Johnathan Simon a/k/a Simon Giovanni (“Simon”), New York residents, were, respectively, president and senior vice-president of Stone International, a New York corporation.2

On June 11, 1992, former defendant Nimrod Eshkol (“Eshkol”), an Israeli citizen who resides and practices law in Israel, registered GAP-MA with the Israel Registrar of Companies for the purpose of importing and exporting fashion products. Thereafter, on July 2, 1992, Eshkol filed an application on behalf of GAP-MA for registration of the trademark “Gap” with the Israel Trademark Registrar. According to The Gap, Eshkol has indicated that he registered GAP-MA on behalf of defendant Simon. Eshkol further alleged that he held fifty percent of the shares of GAP-MA in trust for Stone International. Former defendant Yossi Gershen (“Gershen”), also an Israeli citizen and resident, held the remaining shares of GAP-MA

On January 19, 1993, The Gap obtained a search and seizure warrant from the Magistrate’s Court in Tel Aviv, Israel, issued as part of a criminal action against Boy’s Acid Ltd. concerning counterfeit Gap-labelled goods. Pursuant to this warrant, The Gap’s Israeli counsel together with the Israeli police executed a raid on the counterfeiters’ premises. During the course of the search, Rafi Chen (“Chen”), one of the counterfeiters, indicated that he had been negotiating with Eshkol, who purported to be a representative of The Gap, to open a chain of Gap stores in Israel. Specifically, Chen advised The Gap’s Israeli attorney that Eshkol had presented himself to Chen as representing the Israeli franchisee of The Gap, and that Eshkol had indicated that Stone International had been granted franchise rights in New York and Israel by The Gap. Chen also advised The Gap’s Israeli counsel that Eshkol had attempted to extort shares of Chen’s company in exchange for the right to use the Gap marks. Finally, Chen stated that he negotiated with Eshkol and had come to an arrangement whereby Chen would be allowed to run a store in Tel Aviv under the “Gap” name provided he transferred all the shares of his company to Eshkol. In support of these allegations, Chen produced a letter from Eshkol addressed to Chen’s attorney. See Letter from Eshkol to Daniel Vugner, dated Dec. 20, 1992, annexed to the Declaration of Eran Soroker, executed on Nov. 21, 1993 (the “Soroker Deck”), as Exh. “2.” In [587]*587the letter, Eshkol stated, inter alia, that “[m]y client, Stone Intrnational Tradeing Corp. [sic], a foreign corporation registered in the State of New York, is the owner of the franchise to sell and distribute Gap products (GAP).” Id. at 1.

On January 20, 1993, in response to a request from Gap’s Israeli counsel, Eshkol drafted a facsimile transmission stating:

I represent an American corporation named Stone International Trading, Inc. from New York, which is the owner of the franchise to distribute Gap products in Israel. Their fax number is 212-791-6765. Mr. Simon Giovanni- (?) is handling this matter for them. Please check with The Gap on the nature of the relationship between my client and The Gap, and reply as soon as possible.

Facsimile transmission from Eshkol to Eran Soroker, dated Jan. 20, 1993, annexed to the Soroker Dec!., as Exh. “3:” At his deposition taken on March 16, 1993, however, Simon indicated that Eshkol did not represent either Simon or Stone International. See Deposition of Johnathan Simon, taken on March 16, 1992, annexed to the Soroker Deck as Exh. “6,” at 69-70. Simon further indicated that he had not requested that Eshkol form GAP-MA on his behalf. Simon did state, however, that Gershen introduced Simon to Eshkol via telephone and that they had since spoken by telephone several times on a social basis. In addition, Simon stated that he had numerous telephone conversations with Gershen concerning whether Simon could purchase off-price Gap goods for resale in Israel. Simon ultimately declined to purchase these goods.

On February 1, 1993, Eran Soroker, The Gap’s Israeli counsel, met with Eshkol. During this meeting Eshkol alleged that in June 1992 he received a written request from Giovanni Simon to set up the company, half of the shares of which were to held in trust by Eshkol for Stone International. Soroker Deck ¶ 16.

On February 2, 1993, The Gap commenced this action for (1) counterfeiting and false designation of origin in violation of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a); (2) the perpetuation of a pattern of racketeering activity in violation of RICO sections 1962(c) and 1964(c), 18 U.S.C. § 1961, et seq.; and (3) unfair competition under New York State law. Specifically, The Gap’s complaint alleges that defendants commenced a fraudulent scheme by which Stone International, acting through defendants Stone, Simon and Eshkol, misrepresented to manufacturers of counterfeit Gap clothing in Tel Aviv that Stone International was the owner of a franchise to sell and distribute Gap products. In addition, The Gap alleges that the defendants attempted to extort shares of stock of the counterfeit manufacturing business in return for purportedly authorizing the counterfeiters to operate a Gap store in Tel Aviv. Finally, The Gap alleges that defendants fraudulently attempted to register the Gap trademark in Israel.

On November 30, 1994 this Court dismissed the complaint against defendants Eshkol, GAP-MA and Gershen for lack of personal jurisdiction. Prior to the November 30, 1994 Order, The Gap brought an action before the Israel Commissioner of Patents, Trademarks and Designs against Eshkol and GAP-MA, seeking a determination that The Gap was the only legitimate owner of rights to the Gap marks in Israel. On July 5, 1995, the Commissioner granted The Gap’s request, finding that The Gap owns all right, title and interest in and to the Gap marks in Israel, and that Eshkol and GAP-MA have no right in the Gap marks. See Decision of the Israel Comm. of Patents, Trademarks and Designs, dated July 5, 1995, annexed in part to the Soroker Deck as Exh. “F.”

The Gap presently moves to dismiss the complaint against the remaining defendants without prejudice.

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

Related

Sun v. GTV Media Group Inc.
S.D. New York, 2024
Rudersdal, EOOD v. Harris
S.D. New York, 2023
Harrell v. United States
S.D. New York, 2020
Doe v. Quest Diagnostics, Inc.
318 F.R.D. 707 (S.D. New York, 2016)
Federal Insurance Co. v. Speedboat Racing Ltd.
200 F. Supp. 3d 312 (D. Connecticut, 2016)
Aventis Pasteur, Inc. v. Skevofilax
914 A.2d 113 (Court of Appeals of Maryland, 2007)
Team Obsolete Ltd. v. A.H.R.M.A. Ltd.
216 F.R.D. 29 (E.D. New York, 2003)
Correspondent Services Corp. v. J.V.W. Investments Ltd.
205 F. Supp. 2d 191 (S.D. New York, 2002)
BD v. DeBuono
193 F.R.D. 117 (S.D. New York, 2000)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
169 F.R.D. 584, 36 Fed. R. Serv. 3d 1184, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 226, 1997 WL 13186, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gap-inc-v-stone-international-trading-inc-nysd-1997.