Rolex, U.S.A., Inc. v. Hoffman

717 F. Supp. 942, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18357, 1989 WL 96526
CourtDistrict Court, D. Massachusetts
DecidedJune 6, 1989
DocketCiv. A. No. 87-1313-WF
StatusPublished

This text of 717 F. Supp. 942 (Rolex, U.S.A., Inc. v. Hoffman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Massachusetts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Rolex, U.S.A., Inc. v. Hoffman, 717 F. Supp. 942, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18357, 1989 WL 96526 (D. Mass. 1989).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

WOLF, District Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

This matter is before the court on the plaintiff Rolex Watch U.S.A. Inc.’s (“Rolex”) motion for contempt for violation of the preliminary injunction entered, by consent, against the defendants on June 16, 1987 (the “Preliminary Injunction”). The motion has been addressed as a matter of civil contempt. Hearings, consisting largely of the testimony of witnesses, were held on February 28, March 27, and June 2, 1989.

For the reasons set forth below, the court finds that Rolex has demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence that the defendants willfully disobeyed the Preliminary Injunction. The defendants are, therefore, adjudged in contempt. Accordingly, it will be necessary to determine the amount required to compensate Rolex for the actual damages it sustained as a result of defendants’ failure to comply with the Preliminary Injunction, and to consider an award of costs and reasonable attorney’s fees in connection with this contempt proceeding.

In addition, although the evidence has not indicated that there is a continuing violation of the preliminary injunction, the court reiterates its warning that any future [943]*943issue of contempt will be addressed as a criminal matter.

II. THE FACTS

The court has considered the testimony of the witnesses and documentary evidence presented at the hearings on the motion for contempt. Particularly careful attention has been paid to the credibility of the witnesses whose testimony was disputed. The court finds that the credible evidence clearly and convincingly establishes the following facts.

On May 21,1987, Rolex filed suit against the defendants, Jack Hoffman, (“Hoffman”), individually, and Jack Hoffman, d/b/a Jack Hoffman Sales, Jack Hoffman, d/b/a J.H. Consolidated Sales and Consolidated Sales Corp (the “defendants”). The suit alleged that the defendants were violating federal trademark law as well as engaging in unfair competition and unfair and deceptive trade practices by selling counterfeit Rolex watches.

When suit was filed, Rolex applied for an ex parte order seeking to enjoin the defendants from using the Rolex trademarks and seeking authority to seize all counterfeit Rolex watches in the possession of the defendants. After a hearing on May 21, 1987, Judge John McNaught granted plaintiff’s requested relief.

On May 22, 1987, the Complaint and the Court’s order were served upon the defendants. Over 300 counterfeit Rolex watches were confiscated from the defendants at that time.

On June 3,1987, the defendants executed a stipulation agreeing that the defendants would be preliminarily enjoined from, among other things, using the Rolex trademark and from selling counterfeit Rolex watches.

On June 16, 1987, this Court entered the Preliminary Injunction, which provided, in relevant part, that:

The defendants and each of their officers, agents, servants, employees, attorneys and all persons acting for, with or under them, directly or indirectly, are immediately preliminarily enjoined and restrained: (a) from using the marks, “ROLEX,” “PRESIDENT,” and/or “Crown Device,” or any reproductions, counterfeit, copy of colorable imitation of said marks in connection with the advertising, offering for sale, or sale of non-Rolex watches and watch bracelets or other products....

On May 1, 1988, L. David Covino, an investigator retained by Rolex’s counsel purchased for $45 a counterfeit Rolex watch from Carol Abbott. Abbott provided Covino with a blank receipt which listed co-defendant, Consolidated Sales Corp. (“Consolidated”), as the vendor. Hoffman is Consolidated’s sole officer and director. The purchase was made from a display table at Dick and Ellie’s Flea Market in Mashpee, Massachusetts (“Dick and Ellie’s”).

On May 15, 1988, Covino returned to Dick and Ellie’s. Once again he spoke to Carol Abbott. After Covino expressed interest in buying more counterfeit, or “replica,” Rolex watches, Abbott went into a van registered to Consolidated and returned with various styles of watches. Co-vino then negotiated the sale of five counterfeit Rolex watches. Abbott initially requested $215 for the five watches. Covino offered to pay $175 cash. Abbott consulted Hoffman, who agreed to accept $175 cash for the five counterfeit Rolex watches.

On May 15, 1988, Douglas Anthony, another Rolex investigator, also bought a counterfeit Rolex watch from Carol Abbott. Anthony paid $40 for the watch, which had been displayed in a case at the Consolidated booth at Dick and Ellie’s.

On May 21,1988, Anthony bought another counterfeit Rolex watch and a “replica” of another maker’s watch for $80, from Hoffman, at Dick and Ellie’s. Anthony told Hoffman he might be interested in buying a quantity of “replica” Rolexes and other counterfeit watches. Hoffman told Anthony that he could sell him such watches and gave Anthony his address and telephone number.

On June 3, 1988, Anthony went to Consolidated’s office in Worcester, where he [944]*944met with Hoffman. Hoffman showed Anthony about 400 counterfeit watches; approximately 100 were counterfeit Rolex watches. Hoffman told Anthony that it was a felony to sell the watches; that he himself was under a federal court order not to do so; and it was, therefore, necessary to be careful. Hoffman then proceeded to sell 14 watches, including six counterfeit Rolex watches, to Anthony for a total of $325. Hoffman told Anthony that he could sell him additional counterfeit Rolex watches, by the dozen, for about $20 each.

On June 10, 1988, Rolex brought another suit against Hoffman and his co-defendants in a case captioned Rolex Watch U.S.A., Inc. v. Jack Hoffman, et al., C.A. No. 88-1739-WF. In that case, this court granted an ex parte seizure order and a temporary restraining order substantially similar to the Preliminary Injunction.

On June 18,1988, Covino, several Deputy Sheriffs, and attorneys for Rolex returned to Dick and Elbe’s to execute the seizure order. Hoffman and Abbott were present. When Covino asked to see “replica” Rolex watches, Abbott produced a valise containing forty counterfeit Rolex watches. These watches were seized.

On August 23,1988, Rolex initiated these contempt proceedings. Its motion to show cause was supported by an affidavit of Covino. Rolex’s submissions described Co-vino’s purchases on May 1, and May 15, and the June 18, 1988 seizure. Although Rolex also alleged on information and belief that Hoffman engaged in other sales of Rolex watches after the issuance of the Preliminary Injunction, Rolex did not refer to any of Anthony’s activities, including the sales made to him on May 15, May 21 or June 3, 1988.

The elaborate testimony of Abbott, a long time employee and friend of Hoffman, and the brief but unequivocal testimony of Hoffman was fundamentally inconsistent with the facts as the court has found them. The court concludes that Hoffman and Abbott each testified falsely after being advised of their right to counsel, repeatedly warned that giving knowingly false testimony could constitute a prosecutable, criminal offense, and given an opportunity— which they did not accept — to recant their testimony even after it became manifest to the court that they had testified falsely.

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Bluebook (online)
717 F. Supp. 942, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18357, 1989 WL 96526, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/rolex-usa-inc-v-hoffman-mad-1989.