2:18-cv-02004-CSB-EIL # 1 Page 1 of 9 E-FILED

Wednesday, 03 January, 2018 02:58:00 PM

Clerk, U.S. District Court, ILCD

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
URBANA DIVISION

UNITED GENERAL SUPPLY §

CO., INC., §
§
Plaintiff, §
vs. § CIVIL ACTION NO. 2:18-cv-2004
§
RURAL KING ADMINISTRATION, § JURY DEMANDED
INC. and RURAL KING §
HOLDING CO., §
§
Defendants. §

ORIGINAL COMPLAINT

TO THE HONORABLE COURT:

This is an action for patent infringement and trademark infringement. Plaintiff United

General Supply Co., Inc. (“United General” or “Plaintiff”) files this Original Complaint against

Rural King Supply Administration, Inc. and Rural King Holding Co. (collectively “Rural King”

or “Defendant”) and shows the following:

I. PARTIES

1. Plaintiff United General is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of

Texas. United General maintains its principal place of business at 9320 Harwin Drive, Houston,

TX 77036.

2. Defendants Rural King Administration, Inc. and Rural King Holding Co. are both

corporations organized under the laws of the State of Illinois with a principal place of business at

4216 DeWitt Avenue, Mattoon, IL 61938 and may be served with process by serving their

registered agent, Don Davis at the same address.

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II. JURISDICTION AND VENUE

3. This is a civil action for: trademark infringement under the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C.

§1051 et seq.; and patent infringement under 35 U.S.C. §§271.

4. The Court has subject matter jurisdiction of this civil action under 15 U.S.C. §1121

and 28 U.S.C. §§1331 and 1338(a).

5. The Court has personal jurisdiction over Rural King. Rural King is incorporated in

the State of Illinois and is subject to this court’s general jurisdiction.

6. Venue is proper in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois

for United General’s trademark infringement claim pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1391(b)(1), because

Rural King resides in the Central District of Illinois.

7. Venue is proper in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois

for United General’s patent infringement claim because Rural King is incorporated in the State of

Illinois.

SECTION III: FACTUAL BACKGROUND

8. United General is a local Texas business that designs and sells indoor and outdoor

furniture, décor, and kitchenware. United General specializes in rustic and Texan-themed

furnishings. To protect its designs, United General has secured various federally registered

patents and trademarks.

9. Rural King, without authorization, purchases infringing products from Anji Jiayi

Gardening Supplies Co., Ltd., United General Supply Co.’s manufacturer in China. Rural King

imports these infringing products into the United States and sells them into the stream of

commerce.

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SECTION IV: CAUSES OF ACTION

Count 1 – Infringement of U.S. Patent No. D596,427

10. United General refers to and incorporates all preceding paragraphs as though fully

set forth herein.

11. Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 282, United States Patent No. D596,427 (“the ’427

Patent”) is presumed valid.

12. The ’427 Patent, entitled “FRAME FOR A TABLE UMBRELLA SUPPORT”

was duly and legally issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office on July 21, 2009

after full and fair examination. United General is the assignee of all rights, title, and interest in

and to the ’427 Patent as of November 21, 2017 and possesses all rights of recovery under the

’427 Patent, including the right to recover damages for past infringement. A true and correct

copy of the ’427 Patent is attached as Exhibit A.

13. Rural King has actual notice of the ’427 Patent at least as early as March 1, 2017,

when United General provided actual notice of infringement via a cease and desist letter.

14. Upon information and belief, Rural King is infringing the ’427 Patent under 35

U.S.C. § 271 by importing, offering to sell, and selling, without authority, the “Round Wood Bar

Table” (attached as Exhibit B), which appears to be identical to the table that is the subject of the

’427 Patent.

15. As a result of Rural King’s acts of infringement, United General has suffered and

will continue to suffer damages in an amount to be proved at trial.

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16. United General has sent four cease and desist letters to Rural King regarding its

infringement of the ’427 Patent, dated March 1, 2017, April 12, 2017, June 9, 2017, and August

2, 2017. Because Rural King has continued to infringe the ’427 Patent after notice of

infringement, United General requests that its damages on and after March 1, 2017 be enhanced

pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 284.

Count 2 – Infringement of U.S. Patent No. D577,520

17. United General refers to and incorporates all preceding paragraphs as though fully

set forth herein.

18. Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 282, United States Patent No. D577,520 (“the ’520

Patent”) is presumed valid.

19. The ’520 Patent, entitled “SEAT BACK” was duly and legally issued by the

United States Patent and Trademark Office on September 30, 2008 after full and fair

examination. United General is the assignee of all rights, title, and interest in and to the ’520

Patent as of June 12, 2015 and possesses all rights of recovery under the ’520 Patent, including

the right to recover damages for past infringement. A true and correct copy of the ’520 Patent is

attached as Exhibit C.

20. Rural King has actual notice of the ’520 Patent at least as early as March 1, 2017,

when United General provided actual notice of infringement via a cease and desist letter.

21. Upon information and belief, Rural King is infringing the ’520 Patent under 35

U.S.C. § 271 by importing, offering to sell and selling, without authority, the “Char-Log Single

Rocker” (attached as Exhibit D) and the “Log Two-Seater with Tray” (attached as Exhibit E).

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22. As a result of Rural King’s acts of infringement, United General has suffered and

will continue to suffer damages in an amount to be proved at trial.

23. United General has sent four cease and desist letters to Rural King regarding its

infringement of the ’520 Patent, dated March 1, 2017, April 12, 2017, June 9, 2017, and August

2, 2017. Because Rural King has continued to infringe the ’520 Patent after notice of

infringement, United General requests that its damages on and after March 1, 2017 be enhanced

pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 284.

Count 3 – Infringement of U.S. Patent No. D597,325

24. United General refers to and incorporates all preceding paragraphs as though fully

set forth herein.

25. Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 282, United States Patent No. D597,325 (“the ’325

Patent”) is presumed valid.

26. The ’325 Patent, entitled “ROCKING CHAIR FRAME” was duly and legally

issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office on August 4, 2009 after full and fair

examination. United General is the assignee of all rights, title, and interest in and to the ’325

Patent as of November 21, 2017 and possesses all rights of recovery under the ’325 Patent,

including the right to recover damages for past infringement. A true and correct copy of the ’325

Patent is attached as Exhibit F.

27. Rural King has actual notice of the ’325 Patent at least as early as March 29,

2013, when United General provided actual notice of infringement via a cease and desist letter.

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28. Upon information and belief, Rural King is infringing the ’325 Patent under 35

U.S.C. § 271 by importing, offering to sell and selling, without authority, the “Char-Log Single

Rocker” (attached as Exhibit D).

29. As a result of Rural King’s acts of infringement, United General has suffered and

will continue to suffer damages in an amount to be proved at trial.

30. United General sent a cease and desist letter to Rural King on March 29, 2013

regarding past infringement of the ’325 Patent. Additionally, United General has sent four cease

and desist letters to Rural King regarding its current infringement of the ’325 Patent, dated

March 1, 2017, April 12, 2017, June 9, 2017, and August 2, 2017. Because Rural King has had

knowledge of the ’325 Patent since March 29, 2013 and has continued to infringe the ’325 Patent

after notice of infringement, United General requests that its damages on and after March 29,

2013 be enhanced pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 284.

Count 4 – Trademark Infringement

31. United General refers to and incorporates all preceding paragraphs as though fully

set forth herein.

32. United General is the registered owner for the federal trademark “CHAR-LOG,”

in International Class 20 (Reg. No. 3423911), for use in conjunction with chairs, rocking chairs,

baby chairs, bar stools, and love seats. A true and correct copy of the registration for “CHAR-

LOG” is attached here as Exhibit G.

33. Upon information and belief, Rural King is infringing the “CHAR-LOG”

trademark under 15 U.S.C. §1114 by using the “CHAR-LOG” mark in commerce to advertise,

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offer for sale, and sell the “Char-Log Single Rocker” (attached as Exhibit D). Such use of the

“CHAR-LOG” mark is likely to deceive, confuse, and cause mistake among consumers as to the

origin, sponsorship, and approval of the infringing goods.

34. Upon information and belief, Rural King’s infringement is knowing and

deliberate.

35. As a result of Rural King’s acts of infringement, United General has suffered and

will continue to suffer damages in an amount to be proved at trial.

Count 5 – False Designation of Origin

36. United General refers to and incorporates all preceding paragraphs as though fully

set forth herein.

37. Rural King’s use in commerce of the “CHAR-LOG” mark to advertise, offer for

sale, and sell the “Char-Log Single Rocker” (attached as Exhibit D) is in violation of 15 U.S.C.

§1125 because such use is likely to cause confusion, mistake and deceive consumers as to the

origin of the infringing products.

38. Upon information and belief, Rural King’s infringement is knowing and

deliberate.

39. As a result of Rural King’s acts of infringement, United General has suffered and

will continue to suffer damages in an amount to be proved at trial.

SECTION V: JURY DEMAND

40. United General demands a jury trial.

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SECTION VI: PRAYER

United General prays for the following relief:

A. A judgment that Rural King has directly infringed the ’427, ’520, and ’325

Patents as alleged herein;

B. A judgment that Rural King has willfully infringed the ’427, ’520, and ’325

Patents as alleged herein;

C. A judgment that this case is exceptional, entitling United General to reasonable

attorney’s fees under 35 U.S.C. § 285;

D. A judgment and order requiring Rural King to pay United General compensatory

damages in an amount no less than a reasonable royalty under 35 U.S.C. § 284;

E. A judgment and order requiring Rural King to pay United General enhanced

damages for willful infringement under 35 U.S.C. § 284, at a rate determined by the Court;

F. A judgment and order requiring Rural King to pay United General its total profit

on products infringing design Patents 427, ’520, and ’325 under 35 U.S.C. § 2859;

G. A judgment and order that Rural King pay United General an on-going royalty for

future acts of infringement if appropriate, at a rate determined by the Court;

H. A judgment that Rural King has infringed the “CHAR-LOG” mark as alleged

herein.

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I. A judgment that Rural King’s use of the “CHAR-LOG” mark constitutes false

designation of origin as alleged herein.

J. A judgment and order that requiring Rural King to pay United General all

damages United General has suffered, or will suffer, as a result of Rural King’s trademark

infringement and false designation of origin.

K. A judgment and order requiring Rural King to pay United General reasonable

attorney’s fees under 35 U.S.C. § 285;

L. A judgment and order for the recovery of Rural King’s profits, and United

General’s damages and costs as permitted by 15 U.S.C. § 1117(a);

M. A judgment and order requiring Rural King to pay United General pre-judgment

and post-judgment interest on the damages awarded; and

N. Any and all other relief as the Court deems just and equitable.

DATED: January 3, 2018 Respectfully submitted,

/s/ David Cabello

J. David Cabello
Texas State Bar No. 03574500
Blank Rome LLP
717 Texas Avenue
Suite 1400
Houston, TX 77002
Telephone: (713) 228-6601
Facsimile: (713) 228 6605
E-mail: dcabello@blankrome.com

Attorney for Plaintiff United General Supply

Co., Inc.

9
-65HY
2:18-cv-02004-CSB-EIL # 1-1 Page 1 of 1
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Wednesday, 03 January, 2018 02:58:00 PM
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2:18-cv-02004-CSB-EIL # 1-2 Page 1 of 4 E-FILED
Wednesday, 03 January, 2018 02:58:00 PM
Clerk, U.S. District Court, ILCD

EXHIBIT A
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Wednesday, 03 January, 2018 02:58:00 PM
Clerk, U.S. District Court, ILCD

EXHIBIT B
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Wednesday, 03 January, 2018 02:58:00 PM
Clerk, U.S. District Court, ILCD

(;+,%,7&
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Clerk, U.S. District Court, ILCD

EXHIBIT D
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Wednesday, 03 January, 2018 02:58:01 PM
Clerk, U.S. District Court, ILCD

EXHIBIT E
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Clerk, U.S. District Court, ILCD

EXHIBIT F
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Wednesday, 03 January, 2018 02:58:01 PM
Clerk, U.S. District Court, ILCD

EXHIBIT G
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