Case 2:20-cv-11177 Document 1 Filed 12/09/20 Page 1 of 8 Page ID #:1

1 M. JOHN CARSON, CA Bar No. 41285

2 jcarson@lrrc.com
SAMI I. SCHILLY, CA Bar No. 301653
3 sschilly@lrrc.com
4 LEWIS ROCA ROTHGERBER CHRISTIE LLP
655 North Central Avenue, Suite 2300
5 Glendale, CA 91203-1445
6 Telephone: 626-795-9900
Facsimile: 626-577-8800
7
8 NIKA ALDRICH, pro hac vice forthcoming
naldrich@schwabe.com
9 BALAZS TAKACS, pro hac vice forthcoming
10 btakacs@schwabe.com
SCHWABE, WILLIAMSON & WYATT, P.C.
11 1211 SW 5th Ave., Suite 1900
12 Portland, OR 97204
Telephone: 503-222-9981
13 Facsimile: 503-796-2900
14
Attorneys for Plaintiffs
15 MENTOR GROUP, LLC
BENCHMADE KNIFE CO., INC.
16
17 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

18 FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

19 WESTERN DIVISION

20 MENTOR GROUP, LLC, an Oregon limited Case No.: 2:20-cv-11177

liability company, and BENCHMADE COMPLAINT FOR DESIGN
21
KNIFE CO., INC., an Oregon corporation, PATENT INFRINGEMENT
22
Plaintiffs,
23
v. JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
24
HOGUE, INC., a Nevada corporation,
25
Defendant.
26
27
28

113003221.2
 Case 2:20-cv-11177 Document 1 Filed 12/09/20 Page 2 of 8 Page ID #:2

1 Plaintiffs Mentor Group, LLC (“Mentor”) and Benchmade Knife Co., Inc.,
2 (“Benchmade,” and together with Mentor, “Plaintiffs”) for their Complaint against
3 Defendant Hogue, Inc. (“Hogue”) hereby allege as follows:
4 NATURE OF THE ACTION
5 1. This is an action for patent infringement arising under the patent laws of
6 the United States, including 28 U.S.C. §§ 271, 281-285, and 289.
7 2. This lawsuit pertains to Hogue’s infringement of Mentor’s U.S. Design
8 Patent No. 686,900 (the “D’900 Patent”). This patent protects Plaintiffs’ ornamental
9 design of a unique knife blade.
10 3. Plaintiffs seek injunctive relief and damages against Hogue.
11 THE PARTIES
12 4. Plaintiff Mentor is an Oregon limited liability company organized and
13 existing under the laws of the State of Oregon, with its principal place of business at
14 300 Beavercreek Road, Oregon City, Oregon 97045. Mentor owns the D’900 Patent.
15 Mentor licenses the D’900 Patent to Benchmade pursuant to the terms of an exclusive
16 license.
17 5. Plaintiff Benchmade is an Oregon corporation, organized and existing
18 under the laws of the State of Oregon, with its principal place of business at 300
19 Beavercreek Road, Oregon City, Oregon 97045. Under license from Mentor,
20 Benchmade has the exclusive right to manufacture, offer for sale, sell, and import
21 products practicing the D’900 Patent.
22 6. On information and belief, Defendant Hogue is a corporation, organized
23 and existing under the laws of the State of Wyoming, with places of business both at
24 2063 Pabco Road, Henderson, Nevada 89011 and at 550 Linne Road, Paso Robles,
25 California 93446.
26 7. On information and belief, Defendant Hogue manufactures and sells,
27 among other products, knives infringing the D’900 Patent in the State of California at
28

1
113003221.2
 Case 2:20-cv-11177 Document 1 Filed 12/09/20 Page 3 of 8 Page ID #:3

1 Hogue’s offices, manufacturing plant, and retail store located in or about 550 Linne
2 Road, Paso Robles, California 93446.
3 JURISDICTION AND VENUE
4 8. Plaintiffs’ cause of action for patent infringement against Hogue arises
5 under the patent laws of the United States, 35 U.S.C. § 101 et seq., including §§ 271,
6 281-285, and 289. This Court has original jurisdiction over this subject matter
7 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a).
8 9. This Court has personal jurisdiction over Hogue because Hogue has
9 purposefully availed itself to this jurisdiction by registering with the California
10 Secretary of State as a foreign entity conducting business in this judicial district,
11 employing several employees in this judicial district, and conducting a significant and
12 substantial portion of Hogue’s operations, including the manufacture and sale of the
13 products alleged to infringe the D’900 Patent, in this judicial district.
14 10. Venue is proper in this judicial district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1400(b)
15 because, upon information and belief, Hogue manufactures, offers to sell, and sells the
16 products alleged to infringe the D’900 Patent in this judicial district and has a regular
17 and established place of business in this district.
18 FACTS
19 Plaintiffs’ Patented Design
20 11. Benchmade is an industry leader in the design, manufacture, marketing,
21 and sale of knives, cutters, and tools. Benchmade has been manufacturing, marketing
22 and selling superior quality knives in the U.S. for over thirty years. As a result,
23 Benchmade and its products have become a benchmark for innovation and quality in
24 the knife industry.
25 12. Benchmade’s efforts have been widely recognized in the industry,
26 garnering numerous awards and praise, including: Popular Mechanics 2020 Outdoor
27 Gear Awards: Best Pocket Knife; Oregon Manufacturing Awards 2017: Product
28 Innovation Category; Field & Stream’s Best New Knives 2017; Field & Stream’s Best

2
113003221.2
 Case 2:20-cv-11177 Document 1 Filed 12/09/20 Page 4 of 8 Page ID #:4

1 Hunting Gear Of 2017; and 2016 KnifeNews Dealers’ Choice Awards: Best Overall
2 Lineup, Best New Assisted-Opening Folder, Best Knife Upgrade.
3 13. Mentor is owned by principals at Benchmade. Benchmade’s inventors
4 routinely assign their patent rights to Mentor, who licenses the rights back to
5 Benchmade pursuant to the terms of exclusive license agreements.
6 14. Mentor owns all right, title, and interest in the D’900 Patent, entitled
7 “Knife Blade,” which was duly and legally issued to Mentor by the United States
8 Patent and Trademark Office on July 30, 2013. The D’900 Patent has a single claim
9 that covers the ornamental design for a knife blade, as shown and described in the
10 D’900 Patent’s figures. Figure 3, shown below, depicts the side view of the knife
11 blade.
12
13
14
15
16
17 15. Figure 1 below depicts a three-dimensional view of the nose of the knife

18 blade:

19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26 16. A true and correct copy of the D’900 Patent is attached hereto as
27 Exhibit A.
28

3
113003221.2
 Case 2:20-cv-11177 Document 1 Filed 12/09/20 Page 5 of 8 Page ID #:5

1 Hogue’s Infringing Products

2 17. On information and belief, Hogue manufactures, offers for sale, and sells
3 firearm grips, long gun stocks, knives, holsters, gear, and related accessories.
4 18. On information and belief, Hogue manufactures, offers for sale, sells, and
5 has offered for sale and sold, a line of knives under the TRAUMA mark that utilize
6 the patented ornamental features in the D’900 Patent, as shown below (the “Infringing
7 Knives”). An example of one of Hogue’s TRAUMA knives is set against Figure 3 of
8 the D’900 Patent below:
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16 19. Plaintiffs, suspecting that Hogue’s Infringing Knives infringed the D’900
17 Patent, promptly notified Hogue of the patent and the infringement on July 21, 2020,
18 including the above image.
19 20. Upon information and belief, Hogue has continued to sell the Infringing
20 Knives, willfully disregarding Plaintiffs’ rights in the D’900 Patents.
21 COUNT 1 – INFRINGEMENT OF THE D’900 PATENT
22 21. Plaintiffs restate and reallege each of the allegations, photographs, and
23 figures of paragraphs 1 through 20 as if fully set forth herein.
24 22. On information and belief, Hogue has been, and presently is, infringing
25 the D’900 Patent by manufacturing, importing, using, selling, and/or offering for sale
26 the Infringing Knives that embody the patented invention disclosed in the D’900
27 Patent, in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271.
28

4
113003221.2
 Case 2:20-cv-11177 Document 1 Filed 12/09/20 Page 6 of 8 Page ID #:6

1 23. Hogue is not licensed or otherwise authorized by Plaintiffs to make, use,

2 import, sell, or offer to sell any products covered by the D’900 Patent and its conduct
3 is, in every instance, without Plaintiffs’ consent.
4 24. The design of the blades of Hogue’s Infringing Knives so closely
5 resemble the invention disclosed in the D’900 Patent that an ordinary observer would
6 be deceived into purchasing the Infringing Knives in the mistaken belief that it
7 includes the invention disclosed in the D’900 Patent.
8 25. Hogue will continue to manufacture and sell the Infringing Knives unless
9 enjoined by this Court.
10 26. Due to Hogue’s infringement of the D’900 Patent, Plaintiffs are entitled
11 to recover Hogue’s total profits from the sale of the Infringing Knives under 35 U.S.C.
12 § 289. In the alternative Plaintiffs are entitled to their lost profits pursuant to 35
13 U.S.C. § 284, trebled. At a minimum, Plaintiffs are entitled to a reasonable royalty for
14 the use made of the invention by Hogue.
15 27. Due to Hogue’s infringement of the D’900 Patent, Plaintiffs have
16 suffered, are suffering, and will continue to suffer irreparable injury and damage for
17 which Plaintiffs have no adequate remedy at law. Plaintiffs are therefore entitled to a
18 permanent injunction against Hogue’s further infringing conduct.
19 28. Hogue’s infringement of the D’900 Patent has been and continues to be
20 willful in light of its knowledge of the D’900 Patent since at least July 2020.
21 Accordingly, this is an exceptional case under 35 U.S.C. § 285 and Plaintiffs are
22 entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees.
23 PRAYER FOR RELIEF
24 WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs respectfully request that the Court enter judgment in
25 their favor against Defendant Hogue, granting the following relief:
26 A. A judgment that Hogue has infringed the D’900 Patent;
27 B. Preliminary and permanent injunctions pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 283,
28 enjoining Hogue and its agents, servants, officers, directors, employees, affiliated

5
113003221.2
 Case 2:20-cv-11177 Document 1 Filed 12/09/20 Page 7 of 8 Page ID #:7

1 entities and all persons in active concern or participation with them from continued
2 infringement of the D’900 Patent;
3 C. Disgorgement of Hogue’s profits from its sales of infringing products or
4 an award of damages adequate to compensate Plaintiffs for Hogue’s infringement of
5 the D’900 Patent, in an amount no less than a reasonable royalty for the use made of
6 the invention disclosed in the D’900 Patent by Hogue, together with interest and costs
7 as fixed by the Court, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 284;
8 D. Ordering an accounting for any infringing sales not presented at trial and
9 an award by the Court of additional damages for any such infringing sales;
10 F. Ordering that any award of damages be increased up to three times the
11 actual amount assessed, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 284;
12 H. Declaring this case exceptional and awarding Plaintiffs their attorneys’
13 fees pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 285; and
14 I. Such other relief as this Court deems to be just and equitable.
15
Dated: December 9, 2020 Respectfully submitted,
16
LEWIS ROCA ROTHGERBER CHRISTIE LLP
17
18 By /s/Sami I. Schilly
M. John Carson
19 Sami I. Schilly

20 SCHWABE, WILLIAMSON & WYATT, P.C.

Nika Aldrich, pro hac vice forthcoming
21 Balazs Takacs, pro hac vice forthcoming
22 Attorneys for Plaintiffs
23 MENTOR GROUP, LLC
BENCHMADE KNIFE CO., INC.
24
25
26
27
28

6
113003221.2
 Case 2:20-cv-11177 Document 1 Filed 12/09/20 Page 8 of 8 Page ID #:8

1 DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL

2 Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 38(b), Plaintiffs respectfully request a trial by jury of

3 all issues so triable.

4
Dated: December 9, 2020 Respectfully submitted,
5
LEWIS ROCA ROTHGERBER CHRISTIE LLP
6
By /s/Sami I. Schilly
7 M. John Carson
Sami I. Schilly
8
9 SCHWABE, WILLIAMSON & WYATT, P.C.
Nika Aldrich, pro hac vice forthcoming
10 Balazs Takacs, pro hac vice forthcoming
11 Attorneys for Plaintiffs
MENTOR GROUP, LLC
12 BENCHMADE KNIFE CO., INC.
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28

7
113003221.2
Case 2:20-cv-11177 Document 1-1 Filed 12/09/20 Page 1 of 4 Page ID #:9

Exhibit A
 Case 2:20-cv-11177 Document 1-1 Filed 12/09/20 Page 2 of 4 Page ID #:10
I IIIII I IIIIII Il llll llll l llll lllll lll l lll l lll l llll 1111111 1 1111 1111
USOOD686900S

c12) United States Design Patent (IO) Patent No.: US D686,900 S

Ohlrich (45) Date of Patent: ** Jul. 30, 2013

(54) KNIFE BLADE D377,296 S * 1/1997 Roberts ............................ D8/98

D382,459 S * 8/1997 Khalsa ............................. D8/99
(75) Inventor: Michael Ohlrich, Oregon City, OR (US) D386,655 S * 11/1997 Spirer .............................. D8/20
D425,389 S * 5/2000 Elishewitz ....................... D8/98
6,122,829 A * 9/2000 McHenry et al. ............... 30/161
(73) Assignee: Mentor Group, L.L.C., Oregon City, D454,768 S * 3/2002 Onion .............................. D8/99
OR (US) 7,278,213 B2 * 10/2007 Pardue et al. ................... 30/160
7,905,023 B2 * 3/2011 Westerfield ..................... 30/161
(**) Term: 14 Years 2009/0056146 Al* 3/2009 Duey .............................. 30/159
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
(21) Appl. No.: 29/422,407
Series of photographs of knife blades, all circa 2005.
(22) Filed: May 21, 2012
* cited by examiner
Related U.S. Application Data
Primary Examiner - Garth Rademaker
(63) Continuation of application No. 29/394,650, filed on (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm - Hancock Hughey LLP
Jun. 20,2011,now abandoned.
(57) CLA IM
(51) LOC (9) Cl. .................................................. 08-03 I claim the ornamental design for a knife blade,as shown and
(52) U.S. Cl. described.
USPC ............................................................. DS/99
(58) Field of Classification Search DESCRIPTION
USPC D8/14,16, 18-20, 45,47,95-104; D22/117,
D22/118; D24/146; 7/118,148; 30/142, 144, FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of the right side a knife
30/151,153,155-161,165,166.3,168,169, blade illustrating my new design;
30/272.1,314,320,346,346.5,346.55, 346.56, FIG. 2 is an upper perspective view of the left side thereof;
30/349, 351, 355-357 FIG. 3 is a right side elevation view thereof;
See application file for complete search history. FIG. 4 is top plan view thereof;
FIG. 5 is a front elevation view thereof;
(56) References Cited FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view thereof;
FIG. 7 is a left side elevation view thereof; and,
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS FIG. 8 is a rear elevation view thereof.
1,002,045 A * 8/1911 Dooleyet al. ................... 30/142 The broken lines shown in the Fi gures are for illustrative
D287,692 S * 1/1987 Brailsford ........................ D8/16 purposes only,and form no part of the claimed desi gn.
D303,210 S * 9/1989 Thompson ....................... D8/99
D369,287 S * 4/ 1996 Seber et al. ...................... D8/98 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Sheets

Exhibit A
8
 Case 2:20-cv-11177 Document 1-1 Filed 12/09/20 Page 3 of 4 Page ID #:11

U.S. Patent Jul. 30, 2013 Sheet 1 of 2 US D686,900 S

,(1 I
II
\.,
I /
I
I
I
l

FIG. 1

,c:.
,r----:.:1
/~ - - - - - I
I

I l
I I
\ 1•' ,
\\ \~~ I
'
\\ '
' ' ', ... _,,.rr-

FIG. 2

Exhibit A
9
 Case 2:20-cv-11177 Document 1-1 Filed 12/09/20 Page 4 of 4 Page ID #:12

U.S. Patent Jul. 30, 2013 Sheet 2 of 2 US D686,900 S

~-, ,........
F~
I .J
i-1
I
I
I .
!

/-,,
I
I I
I
I CJ
I I
,_,.. I
I I I
I:: =I
I- -I

L , _ - - , , _____ ,. I

I "'\
c.o
. .
I
I
\
I
;-'\
,_,,
;
I
I
I
CJ CJ \
I /
I

LL LL ', ...... ___ ,,,,,..,,,,,, /

co
.
. r-------------J CJ
CJ L------------- LL
LL

Exhibit A
10