Hawkins v. Bass Pro Shop - Complaint

7/28/2019 Hawkins v. Bass Pro Shop - Complaint

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I N THE UNI TED STATES DI STRI CT COURTSOUTHERN DI STRI CT OF FLORI DA

MI AMI DI VI SI ON

MI CHELL HAWKI NSand WI LLI AM HAWKI NS,

Pl ai nt i f f s,

vs.

BASS PRO SHOPS OUTDOOR WORLD,LLC, and BASS PRO I NTELLECTUALPROPERTY, LLC, Mi ssour i l i mi t edl i abi l i t y compani es,

Def endant s.

/

CASE NO.

MAGI STRATE J UDGE

COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT

AND DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL

COME NOW Pl ai nt i f f s MI CHELL HAWKI NS and WI LLI AM HAWKI NS

( her ei naf t er col l ect i vel y r ef er r ed t o as "HAWKI NS") , and f i l e t hei r

compl ai nt f or pat ent i nf r i ngement agai nst Def endant s BASS PRO SHOPS

OUTDOOR WORLD, LLC, ( ABASS SHOPS @) and BASS PRO I NTELLECTUAL

PROPERTY, LLC ( ABASS I P @) ( her ei naf t er somet i mes r ef er r ed t o

col l ect i vel y as "BASS" ) , al l egi ng as f ol l ows based on per sonal

knowl edge as t o t hei r own act i vi t i es and upon i nf or mat i on and

bel i ef as t o al l ot her mat t er s:

PARTIES

1. Pl ai nt i f f s HAWKI NS ar e i ndi vi dual s i n sui j ur i s r esi di ng

i n Lee Count y Fl or i da, ar e t he i nvent or s of t he i nvent i on ent i t l ed

SHI RT WI TH EXTENDED NECK ( her ei naf t er " Ext ended Neck Shi r t " )

Case 1:13-cv-22311-UU Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/28/2013 Page 1 of 6


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descr i bed and cl ai med i n U. S. Desi gn Pat ent D672, 117 ( her ei naf t er

r ef er r ed t o as "t he ' 117 pat ent ") , and own al l r i ght , t i t l e and

i nt er est t her ei n. A t r ue and cor r ect copy of t he ' 117 pat ent i s

at t ached t o t hi s Compl ai nt as Pl ai nt i f f ' s Exhi bi t 1.

2. Upon i nf or mat i on and bel i ef , BASS ar e Mi ssour i l i mi t ed

l i abi l i t y compani es havi ng t hei r pr i nci pal pl ace of busi ness at

2500 E. Kear ney St r eet , Spr i ngf i el d, Mi ssour i 65803.

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

3. Thi s Cour t has subj ect mat t er j ur i sdi ct i on over t hi s

act i on pur suant t o 28 U. S. C. '' 1331 and 1338( a) because t hi s

act i on ar i ses under t he Pat ent Law of t he Uni t ed St at es, 35 U. S. C.

'' 101, et seq.

4. Thi s Cour t has per sonal j ur i sdi ct i on over Def endant s BASS

because t hey mai nt ai n at l east one pl ace of busi ness i n t hi s j udi ci al di st r i ct , and have commi t t ed act s of i nf r i ngement t her eat .

5. Venue i s pr oper i n t hi s j udi ci al di st r i ct pur suant t o 28

U. S. C. '' 1391( b) and 1400( b) because BASS r egul ar l y conduct s

busi ness wi t hi n t hi s j udi ci al di st r i ct and has commi t t ed act s of

i nf r i ngement wi t hi n t hi s j udi ci al di s t r i ct .

6. Ser vi ce of pr ocess i s i n accor dance wi t h Fed. R. Ci v. P.4.



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CAUSE OF ACTION - PATENT INFRINGEMENT

7. Pl ai nt i f f s r epeat and r e- al l ege Par agr aphs 1 - 6 as i f

f ul l y s et f or t h at t hi s poi nt .

8. Pl ai nt i f f s, HAWKI NS, ar e t he owner s of t he ' 117 pat ent ,

dul y and l awf ul l y i ssued on December 11, 2012. See Pl ai nt i f f s'

Exhi bi t 1. HAWKI NS ar e al so t he f ounder s and owner s of Sni kwah,

I nc. , a Fl or i da cor por at i on havi ng i t s pr i nci pal pl ace of busi ness

at 5781 Lee Boul evar d, Sui t e 302, Lehi gh Acr es, Fl or i da 33971.

9. Si nce August of 2012, t he HAWKI NS have had manuf act ur ed

abr oad t he Ext ended Neck Shi r t , whi ch i s sol d t hr ough Sni kwah I nc.

I t has been sol d onl i ne t hr oughout t he Uni t ed St at es, at t r ade

shows, and t hr ough sever al spor t i ng goods st or es l ocat ed i n

sout hwest Fl or i da.

10. I n J anuary 2013, t he Ext ended Neck Shi r t was of f er ed f or

sal e t o Def endant s BASS, maki ng BASS awar e of t he desi gn of t he

pr oduct , but no agr eement was r eached wi t h BASS.

11. Appr oxi mat el y t hr ee mont hs af t er BASS was appr oached

about buyi ng t he Ext ended Neck Shi r t s f or r esal e t o consumer s,

HAWKI NS det er mi ned t hat a pr oduct l i t er al l y i nf r i ngi ng t he ' 117

pat ent was bei ng mar ket ed and sol d by BASS bot h i n i t s br i ck and

mor t ar st or es and onl i ne i n vi ol at i on of one or mor e of t he

pr ovi si ons of 35 USC ' 271, et seq. whi ch def i nes i nf r i ngement i n



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sever al di f f er ent ways. A copy of a phot ogr aph of BASS' accused

pr oduct i s at t ached her et o as Pl ai nt i f f ' s Exhi bi t 2, and can be

r eadi l y compar ed t o t he Ext ended Neck Shi r t i l l ust r at ed i n t he ' 117

pat ent of Pl ai nt i f f s ' Exhi bi t 1. Thi s i nf r i ngi ng pr oduct i s

mar ket ed wi t h t he t r ademar k AREDHEAD @ whi ch i s owned by BASS I P,

i mpl yi ng t hat BASS I P i s t he suppl i er of t he i nf r i ngi ng pr oduct t o

BASS SHOPS.

12. As a r esul t t her eof , on or about Apr i l 19, 2013, HAWKI NS

r et ai ned under si gned counsel t o send a cease and desi st demand

l et t er t o BASS SHOPS, not i f yi ng t hem of t he exi st ence of HAWKI NS'

' 117 pat ent . The l et t er speci f i cal l y demanded t hat BASS SHOPS

cease i nf r i ngi ng t he ' 117 pat ent f or t he Ext ended Neck Shi r t and

pr ovi de account i ng dat a. A t r ue and cor r ect copy of t he demand

l et t er of Apr i l 19, 2013 l et t er i s at t ached her et o as Pl ai nt i f f s 'Exhi bi t 3.

13. BASS has cont i nued sel l i ng sai d Ext ended Neck Shi r t si nce

Apr i l 19, 2013, and have adver t i sed and/ or ot her wi se pr omot ed, and

sol d onl i ne t hi s i nf r i ngi ng pr oduct wi t hi n Fl or i da and t he Uni t ed

St at es.

14. BASS has i nf r i nged, and i s cont i nui ng t o i nf r i nge, t he' 117 pat ent , by manuf act ur i ng or havi ng manuf act ur ed, sel l i ng, and

of f er i ng t o sel l i n t hi s j udi ci al di s t r i ct and el sewher e, sai d

Ext ended Neck Shi r t . Such conduct const i t ut es i nf r i ngement as



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def i ned by 35 USC ' 271, et seq . i n t hat i t i s a di r ect or

cont r i but or y i nf r i ngement . I t al so i nduces pur chaser s of sai d

Ext ended Neck Shi r t t o be i nf r i nger s, whi ch conduct r ender s BASS

l i abl e as i nf r i nger s .

15. Si nce Apr i l 19, 2013 HAWKI NS have est abl i shed t hat BASS

have cont i nued t o adver t i se and sel l t he i nf r i ngi ng pr oduct bot h

onl i ne and i n t hei r br i ck and mor t ar st or es, and sampl e pur chases

have been made t o document sai d wi l l f ul and want on conduct wi t h

BASS havi ng f ul l knowl edge of t he asser t i on t hat t hei r act s

const i t ut e i nf r i ngement si nce r ecei pt of t he Apr i l 19, 2013 cease

and desi st l et t er . Upon i nf or mat i on and bel i ef , sai d i nf r i ngement

wi l l cont i nue unl ess r est r ai ned by t hi s Cour t .

WHEREFORE, HAWKI NS demand J udgment , j oi nt l y and sever al l y,

agai nst BASS SHOPS and BASS I P as f ol l ows:a. That a pr el i mi nar y and per manent i nj unct i on be

i ssued agai nst BASS, as wel l as BASS' s of f i cer s, agent s, ser vant s,

empl oyees and at t or neys, and upon t hose per sons i n act i ve concer t

or par t i ci pat i on wi t h any of t he f or egoi ng enj oi ni ng t hem f r om

i nf r i ngi ng sai d U. S. Pat ent No. D672, 117.

b. A f i ndi ng t he D672, 117 pat ent i s i nf r i nged by BASS.c. J udgment agai nst BASS i n f avor of Pl ai nt i f f s HAWKI NS

f or damages r esul t i ng f r om sai d i nf r i ngement .

d. A f i ndi ng t hat t he i nf r i ngement i s wi l l f ul and t hi s



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Case 1:13-cv-22311-UU Document 1-1 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/28/2013 Page 1 of 1


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AO 440 (Rev. 06/12) Summons in a Civil Action

U NITED STATES DISTRICT COURTfor the

__________ District of __________

)

)))))))))))

Plaintiff(s)

v. Civil Action No.

Defendant(s)

SUMMONS IN A CIVIL ACTION

To: (Defendants name and address)

A lawsuit has been filed against you.

Within 21 days after service of this summons on you (not counting the day you received it) or 60 days if you

are the United States or a United States agency, or an officer or employee of the United States described in Fed. R. Civ.P. 12 (a)(2) or (3) you must serve on the plaintiff an answer to the attached complaint or a motion under Rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The answer or motion must be served on the plaintiff or plaintiffs attorney,whose name and address are:

If you fail to respond, judgment by default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint.You also must file your answer or motion with the court.

CLERK OF COURT

Date:Signature of Clerk or Deputy Clerk


Southern District of Florida

Michell Hawkins and William Hawkins

Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, LLC and Bass ProIntellectual Property, LLC

Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, LLC2500 E. Kearny St.Springfield, Mo 65898

Robert J. Van Der WallROBERT J. VAN DER WALL, P.A.Grand Bay Plaza Suite 8012665 South Bayshore DriveCoconut Grove, FL 33133


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AO 440 (Rev. 06/12) Summons in a Civil Action (Page 2)

Civil Action No.

PROOF OF SERVICE

(This section should not be filed with the court unless required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 4 (l))

This summons for (name of individual and title, if any)

was received by me on (date) .

I personally served the summons on the individual at (place)

on (date) ; or

I left the summons at the individuals residence or usual place of abode with (name)

, a person of suitable age and discretion who resides there,

on (date) , and mailed a copy to the individuals last known address; or

I served the summons on (name of individual) , who is

designated by law to accept service of process on behalf of (name of organization)

on (date) ; or

I returned the summons unexecuted because ; or

Other (specify):

.

My fees are $ for travel and $ for services, for a total of $ .

I declare under penalty of perjury that this information is true.

Date:Servers signature

Printed name and title

Servers address

Additional information regarding attempted service, etc:


0.00

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10/21

AO 440 (Rev. 06/12) Summons in a Civil Action

U NITED STATES DISTRICT COURTfor the

__________ District of __________

)

)))))))))))

Plaintiff(s)

v. Civil Action No.

Defendant(s)

SUMMONS IN A CIVIL ACTION

To: (Defendants name and address)

A lawsuit has been filed against you.

Within 21 days after service of this summons on you (not counting the day you received it) or 60 days if you

are the United States or a United States agency, or an officer or employee of the United States described in Fed. R. Civ.P. 12 (a)(2) or (3) you must serve on the plaintiff an answer to the attached complaint or a motion under Rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The answer or motion must be served on the plaintiff or plaintiffs attorney,whose name and address are:

If you fail to respond, judgment by default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint.You also must file your answer or motion with the court.

CLERK OF COURT

Date:Signature of Clerk or Deputy Clerk


Southern District of Florida

Michell Hawkins and William Hawkins

Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, LLC and Bass ProIntellectual Property, LLC

Bass Pro Intellectual Property, LLC2500 E. Kearny St.Springfield, Mo 65898

Robert J. Van Der WallROBERT J. VAN DER WALL, P.A.Grand Bay Plaza Suite 8012665 South Bayshore DriveCoconut Grove, FL 33133


11/21

AO 440 (Rev. 06/12) Summons in a Civil Action (Page 2)

Civil Action No.

PROOF OF SERVICE

(This section should not be filed with the court unless required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 4 (l))

This summons for (name of individual and title, if any)

was received by me on (date) .

I personally served the summons on the individual at (place)

on (date) ; or

I left the summons at the individuals residence or usual place of abode with (name)

, a person of suitable age and discretion who resides there,

on (date) , and mailed a copy to the individuals last known address; or

I served the summons on (name of individual) , who is

designated by law to accept service of process on behalf of (name of organization)

on (date) ; or

I returned the summons unexecuted because ; or

Other (specify):

.

My fees are $ for travel and $ for services, for a total of $ .

I declare under penalty of perjury that this information is true.

Date:Servers signature

Printed name and title

Servers address

Additional information regarding attempted service, etc:


0.00

Print Save As... Reset


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EXHIBIT 1



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EXHIBIT 2



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-22311-UU Document 1-5 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/28/2013 P


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EXHIBIT 3



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Hawkins v. Bass Pro Shop - Complaint

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Transcript of Hawkins v. Bass Pro Shop - Complaint