Phelps Team Successfully Prosecutes Trademark Infringement Claims for Nonprofit Educational Institution

NEW ORLEANS, La. — Nov. 8, 2022 — After a contentious legal battle which spanned multiple years and jurisdictions throughout the United States, Phelps achieved a successful resolution for a nonprofit education institution in the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming. The court authorized a settlement agreement, resolving a trademark dispute with former board members, including the founder of the institution.

The suit alleged that former board members infringed upon the client’s trademarks after forming a competing institution with a similar name, resulting in a loss of donations to the nonprofit. Further, the former board members allegedly conspired with others to misappropriate the client’s trade secrets in an effort to promote their new endeavor as well as infringe on the client’s copyrighted materials.

The court issued a permanent injunction and the defendants agreed not to use the trademarks, affirming Phelps’ demand for the same.

The Phelps trademark team was led by New Orleans partner Chris Ralston along with associates Lindsay Calhoun, Matthew Slaughter and James Gilbert, with trial assistance and support from paralegal Rose Berlow.

 

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