FN Herstal, S.A. v. Clyde Armory, Inc. et al
Filing
174
ORDER granting 153 Motion for Attorney Fees; granting in part and denying in part 162 Motion to Modify the Injunction; granting in part and denying in part 169 Motion to for Contempt. Ordered by US DISTRICT JUDGE C ASHLEY ROYAL on 9/27/16 (lap)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
ATHENS DIVISION
FN HERSTAL, S.A.,
Plaintiff,
v.
:
:
:
:
:
No. 3:12‐CV‐102 (CAR)
CLYDE ARMORY, INC.,
:
:
Defendant.
:
___________________________________ :
ORDER ON MOTION FOR AN AWARD OF ATTORNEYS’ FEES, MOTION TO
MODIFY THE INJUNCTION, AND MOTION FOR CONTEMPT
Currently before the Court is Plaintiff FN Herstal S.A.’s Motion for an Award of
Attorneys’ Fees as the prevailing party in the trademark infringement action, pursuant
to O.C.G.A. § 13‐6‐11, 15 U.S.C. § 1117(a), and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(d).
Additionally, before the Court is Defendant Clyde Armory, Inc.’s Motion to Modify the
Injunction the Court granted Plaintiff in its Bench Trial Order [Doc. 151]. In response,
Plaintiff filed a Cross‐Motion for Contempt regarding Defendant’s flagrant disregard of
the injunction. For the reasons stated below, Plaintiff’s Motion for an Award of
Attorneys’ Fees [Doc. 153] is GRANTED, Defendant’s Motion to Modify the Injunction
[Doc. 162] is DENIED in part and GRANTED in part, and Plaintiff’s Motion for
Contempt [Doc. 169] is DENIED in part and GRANTED in part.
BACKGROUND
This action arises from a trademark infringement case where both Plaintiff FN
Herstal, S.A. (“FN”) and Defendant Clyde Armory, Inc. (“Clyde Armory”) claimed
superior rights to use “SCAR” or “SCAR‐Stock” in the firearms industry. FN’s mark
originates from winning a bid with the United States Special Operations Forces
Command to design and manufacture a new combat assault rifle for the U.S. Military.
The solicitation for the bid referred to the rifle as the “Special Operations Forces Combat
Assault Rifle,” abbreviated as “SCAR.” FN began producing the rifles with the SCAR
mark in 2004. In 2005, Clyde Armory worked with Sage International, Inc. to develop
replacement stock for one of Sage’s rifles. The replacement stock is completely
unrelated to FN’s SCAR rifles. In 2006, Clyde Armory adopted the SCAR‐Stock mark
for its replacement stock system to reflect the collaborative effort of Sage and Clyde
Armory. After learning of Clyde Armory’s mark, FN brought a trademark
infringement suit in this Court.1
In 2015, after a Bench Trial, this Court found FN has superior trademark rights in
the SCAR mark and entered judgment in favor of FN on all its claims, including
trademark infringement, unfair competition under federal law, and related state law
claims.2 In general, the Court ordered Clyde Armory to: (1) cease any use of the SCAR
1
2
See Bench Trial Order, [Doc. 151] at p. 2‐13.
Id. at p. 32‐34.
2
or SCAR‐Stock marks; (2) abandon any trademark applications for these marks; (3)
assign any domain names including these marks to FN; (4) dismiss with prejudice its
Cancellation Petition and Opposition Petition against FN’s Registration for these marks;
(5) deliver up for destruction all labels, signs, prints, packages, wrappers, receptacles,
advertisements, or other materials in its control that display the marks; and (6) within
sixty days of the Court’s Order, file a report setting forth the manner and form of its
compliance with the Order.3
After final judgment was entered, FN filed a Motion for Attorneys’ Fees
pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 13‐6‐11, 15 U.S.C. § 1117(a), and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
54(d), claiming Clyde Armory’s bad faith conduct in intentionally copying FN’s mark
warrants an award of attorneys’ fees. Subsequently, Clyde Armory filed an appeal with
the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Additionally, Clyde Armory seeks to modify this Court’s injunction pending the
appeal, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 62. In its Motion to Modify the
Injunction, Clyde Armory requests the Court grant the proposed modifications until the
appellate process and potentially post‐appellate proceedings are concluded.
Specifically, Clyde Armory requests the following modifications: (1) permission to
continue selling the current inventory of its SCAR‐Stock product in its store and
through its primary website, but it agrees not to advertise in magazines or other
3
Id. at 34‐35.
3
websites; (2) to suspend, rather than abandon, its current trademark application; (3) to
deactivate its scarstock.com website and put up a placeholder screen, rather than assign
the domain to FN; (4) to suspend, rather than dismiss with prejudice, the cancellation
and opposition proceedings filed against FN’s SCAR mark; (5) to store in a warehouse
at its own expense the identified items rather than destroy these items; and (6) if
unsuccessful on appeal, comply and report its complaint with the original terms of the
injunction within sixty (60) days of the final judgment.4 Currently, Clyde Armory has
only complied with its proposed modified injunction.
In response, FN filed a Cross‐Motion for Contempt for Clyde Armory’s failure to
comply with the Court’s Bench Trial Order. FN requests the Court order Clyde Armory
to immediately comply with the original injunction and allow FN to seize the remaining
SCAR‐Stock products and materials. Additionally, as a sanction for violating the
injunction, FN seeks an award of the attorneys’ fees it has incurred in moving for
Contempt. The Court will now address each motion in turn.
Def.’s Mtn. to Modify Injunction, Text of Proposed Order [Doc. 162‐3] at p. 1‐2. FN agrees to Clyde
Armory’s request to suspend, rather than abandon, its current trademark application. See Pl.’s Response
and Cross‐Motion, [Doc. 169] at p. 22.
4
4
DISCUSSION
I.
FN’s Motion for Attorneys’ Fees
FN seeks attorneys’ fees based on the Court’s finding that Clyde Armory acted in
bad faith in adopting the SCAR‐Stock mark.5 FN argues a finding of bad faith makes
this an exceptional case under the Lanham Act, and the Court should therefore award
FN reasonable attorneys’ fees. However, Clyde Armory contends, first, it did not act in
bad faith in adopting the mark, and second, despite this finding, the Court should still
deny attorneys’ fees, as it is well within the Court’s discretion.
Under the Lanham Act, “[t]he court in exceptional cases may award reasonable
attorney fees to the prevailing party.”6 While Congress did not further define
exceptional, the Eleventh Circuit holds an “exceptional case” is “one that can be
characterized as malicious, fraudulent, deliberate and willful, or one in which evidence
of fraud or bad faith exists.”7 “Although a case may rise to the level of exceptionality,
the decision to grant attorney fees remains within the discretion of the trial court.”8
In an effort to conserve judicial resources, FN moves for leave to submit evidence of the fees incurred
only if the Court determines attorneys’ fees should be awarded. The Court will stay this determination
until the appeal process is complete.
6 15 U.S.C. § 1117(a).
7 Tire Kingdom, Inc. v. Morgan Tire & Auto, Inc., 253 F.3d 1332 (2001) (internal citations and quotation
marks omitted).
8 Burger King Corp. v. Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., 15 F.3d 166, 168 (11th Cir. 1994) (citing Dieter v. B & H Indus. of
Sw. Fla., Inc., 880 F.2d 322, 329 (11th Cir. 1989), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 950 (1990)).
5
5
FN suggests the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Octane Fitness LLC v. ICON
Health & Fitness Inc. has changed the standard for determining exceptional cases.9 In
Octane, the Supreme Court held the Federal Circuit’s framework for awarding
attorney’s fees in patent cases under 35 U.S.C. § 285 was “unduly rigid.” The Supreme
Court, instead, held
an ‘exceptional’ case is simply one that stands out from others with
respect to the substantive strength of a party’s litigation position
(considering the governing law and the facts of the case) or the
unreasonable manner in which the case was litigated. District Courts may
determine whether a case is ‘exceptional’ in the case‐by‐case exercise of
their discretion, considering the totality of the circumstances. 10
Though other circuits, as well as district courts within this Circuit, adopted the Octane
standard in trademark cases, neither the Supreme Court nor the Eleventh Circuit has
9
___ U.S. ___, 134 S.Ct. 1749 (2014).
Id. at 1756.
10
6
addressed whether Octane applies to the Lanham Act.11 Thus, the Court is bound by the
Eleventh Circuit’s standard for exceptional cases.12
Because there is ample evidence to show Clyde Armory adopted the SCAR‐Stock
mark in bad faith, the Court finds this is an exceptional case. For instance, the Court
found Mr. Clyde’s testimony regarding the adoption of the mark was not credible. Mr.
Clyde claimed he adopted the SCAR‐Stock mark as an acronym to reflect the
collaborate effort of Sage and Clyde Armory. However, Mr. Clyde never told anyone
about the meaning of the acronym, not even the president of Sage. Mr. Clyde was
familiar with FN’s products and knew about the SCAR firearm when he adopted the
SCAR‐Stock mark for use in the same industry. The Court also found Clyde Armory’s
former Chief Operating Officer, Joshua Smith’s testimony was credible with regard to
this matter. Mr. Smith testified Mr. Clyde knew about the marketing of SCAR products,
and in adopting the SCAR‐Stock mark, Clyde Armory was attempting to take
See, e.g., Georgia‐Pacific Consumer Products LP v. Von Drehle Corp., 781 F.3d 710, 719‐21 (4th Cir. 2015)
(incorporating Octane’s definition of exceptionality under Section 1117(a)); Fair Wind Sailing, Inc. v.
Dempster, 764 F.3d 303, 813‐15 (3d Cir. 2014) (adopting Octane for determining “exceptional” cases under
the Lanham Act and eliminating the circuit’s culpability requirement); Baker v. DeShong, 821 F.3d 620, 621‐
25 (5th Cir. 2016) (“In light of the Supreme Courtʹs clear guidance under § 285—and given the parallel
purpose, structure, and language of § 1117(a) to § 285—we join our sister circuits in their reading of
“exceptional” under Octane Fitness and construe the same meaning here.”); Donut Joe’s, Inc. v. Interveston
Food Services, LLC, 116 F.Supp.3d 1290, 1293‐94 (N.D. Ala. 2015); High Tech Pet Products, Inc. v. Shenzhen
Jianfeng Electronic Pet Product Co., Ltd., No. 6:14‐cv‐759‐Orl‐22TBS, 2015 WL 926023, at *1‐2 (M.D. Fla.
March 4, 2015); Atlantic Nat. Bank v. Atlantic Southern Bank, No. CV 208‐147, 2010 WL 5067412, at *3 (S.D.
Ga. Nov. 23, 2010).
12 See Synergistic Int’l, LLC v. Berry, No. 1:14‐CV‐0813‐LMM, 2015 WL 10960930, at *2 (N.D. Ga. Feb. 4,
2015) (applying the Eleventh Circuit standard for exceptional cases and finding “that because the
Defendant continued to infringe Plaintiffʹs mark after receiving a cease and desist letter, evaded service,
and failed to respond to the Complaint, Plaintiff is entitled to attorneysʹ fees under the Lanham Act”).
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advantage of the popularity surrounding the SCAR mark in the firearms industry.
Indeed, the SCAR‐Stock mark imitates the font and style of FN’s laser‐engraved SCAR
mark. Thus, as stated in the Bench Trial Order, there is ample evidence to support a
finding of bad faith. “Furthermore, an award of attorneyʹs fees … will serve the
important functions of deterring future infringements, penalizing Defendant[ ] for [its]
unlawful conduct, and compensating Plaintiff for their fees and costs.”13 Accordingly,
the Court finds this is an exceptional case, making it appropriate to award FN
reasonable attorneys’ fees.
Additionally, under the Octane standard for exceptionality, FN would certainly
be entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees. Octane has been described as a “less rigid and
more holistic” standard.14 “Under the new standard, no bright‐line rules define the
parameters of what is exceptional, and no single element (such as baselessness or
sanctionability) is dispositive. Rather, the inquiry requires the Court to consider a
totality of the circumstances and to exercise its equitable discretion.”15 Here, not only
was Mr. Clyde’s testimony not credible, but now, Clyde Armory continues to sell its
SCAR‐Stock products and ignores FN’s requests to stop. Thus, this is an exceptional
case under the Octane standard.
PetMed Express, Inc. v. MedPets.Com, Inc., 336 F.Supp.2d 1213, 1222 (S.D. Fla. 2004).
High Tech Pet Products, Inc., No. 6:14‐cv‐759‐Orl‐22TBS, 2015 WL 926023, at *1 (M.D. Fla. Mar. 4, 2015)
(quoting CreAgri, Inc. v. Pinnaclife, Inc., No. 11–CV–6635–LHK, 2014 WL 2508386, at *6 (N.D. Cal. June 3,
2014)).
15 Id.
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13
14
The Court recognizes it may be reasonable for Clyde Armory to wait for the
Court to decide its Motion to Modify the Injunction before fully complying with the
Court’s Order. For instance, waiting to abandon or cancel its pending trademark
applications may be reasonable. However, it was completely unreasonable for Clyde
Armory to continue selling the SCAR‐Stock products to make a profit off an infringing
mark and maintaining a website that directed people to such sales. Clyde Armory
could have easily taken these products off the market, as required by the Court’s Order,
until the Motion to Modify the Injunction was decided. Instead, Clyde Armory
attempts to deplete the remaining SCAR‐Stock inventory and ignores FN’s repeated
requests to comply with the Court’s injunction. Based on a totality of the circumstances,
the Court finds Clyde Armory’s behavior before and after the Bench Trial supports an
award of attorneys’ fees.16
Accordingly, FN’s Motion to Award Attorneys’ Fees [Doc. 153] is GRANTED.
The Court will STAY determination of the amount of reasonable fees to be awarded
until Clyde Armory’s pending appeal is decided.
See, e.g., CarMax Auto Superstores v. StarMax Finance, Inc., __ F.Supp.3d __, No. 6:15‐cv‐898‐Orl‐37TBS,
2016 WL 3406425, at *4 (M.D. Fla. June 21, 2016) (finding an award of attorneys’ fees appropriate where
the defendant ignored the plaintiff’s intellectual property rights, as well as the Court’s default judgment
and injunction, and continued its decision to infringe).
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II.
Clyde Armory’s Motion to Modify the Injunction
Clyde Armory requests the Court modify the injunction issued on August 20,
2015, pending the completion of its appeal to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Clyde Armory contends the modified injunction will preserve the parties’ status quo,
give reasonable effect to the terms of the injunction, and provide adequate protection to
both parties’ rights pending the complete of the appeal. However, FN argues the Court
does not have jurisdiction to dissolve the injunction while it is on appeal, and even if
the Court has jurisdiction, the motion should still be denied because Clyde Armory
cannot meet the standard for modifying an injunction.
“As a general rule, ‘[t]he filing of a notice of appeal … divests the district court of
control over those aspects of the case involved in the appeal.’”17 However, under Rule
62(c), “[w]hile an appeal is pending from an interlocutory order or final judgment that
grants … an injunction, the court may … modify … an injunction on terms for bond or
other terms that secure the opposing partyʹs rights.”18 “Courts have interpreted Rule
62(c) to allow a district court to modify an injunction that has been appealed only to the
Pacific Ins. Co. v. General Dev. Corp., 28 F.3d 1093, 1096 n.7 (11th Cir. 1994) (quoting Griggs v. Provident
Consumer Discount Co., 459 U.S. 56, 58 (1982)).
18 Fed. R. Civ. P. 62(c).
10
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extent necessary to maintain the status quo, and the modification cannot be such that it
moots the appeal and divests the appellate court of jurisdiction.”19
Here, FN contends Clyde Armory is essentially asking the Court to dissolve the
injunction and consider arguments already rejected by the Court. Thus, the Court lacks
jurisdiction to consider the motion. The Court disagrees. Clyde Armory’s
modifications are an attempt to lessen many of the harsh effects of the injunction, but
the modifications do not completely dissolve the injunction.20 Even if the Court granted
Clyde Armory’s modifications, it would not change the Court’s decision that FN has
superior rights to the trademark, which is the main issue on appeal. Thus, the
modifications would not materially alter the status of the case on appeal.21
Additionally, this Court is not reconsidering its previous decision.22 Clyde Armory is
required to show its likelihood of success on appeal, and the Court must consider this
factor before granting a Rule 62 motion. Therefore, the Court has jurisdiction to
Sammons v. Polk Cnty. Schl. Bd., No. 8:04CV2657T24EAJ, 2006 WL 82606, at *2 (M.D. Fla. Jan. 12, 2006)
(citing Coastal Corp. v. Texas Eastern Corp., 869 F.2d 817, 820 (5th Cir. 1989)).
20 See id. (“[Rule 62] does not allow a district court to dissolve an injunction during the pendency of the
appeal.”).
21 See Securities and Exchange Com’n v. Kirkland, No. 606‐CV183‐ORL‐28KRS, 2006 WL 2639522, at *2 (M.D.
Fla. Sept. 13, 2006) (“A district court does not have the power to alter the status of the case as it rests
before the Court of Appeals.” (quoting Green Leaf Nursery v. E.I. Du Pont de Nemours, 341 F.3d 1292, 1309
(11th Cir.2003)).
22 Dillard v. City of Foley, 926 F.Supp. 1053, 1076 (M.D. Ala. 1995) (Rule 62 is “not designed to restore
jurisdiction to the district court to adjudicate anew the merits of the case after either party has invoked its
right of appeal and jurisdiction has passed to an appellate court.” (internal citations and quotation marks
omitted)).
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consider Clyde Armory’s Motion and will now turn to Clyde Armory’s request to
modify the injunction.
When exercising its discretion to modify an injunction, the Court must consider
the following factors: “(1) the movantʹs likelihood of success on appeal; (2) the potential
for irreparable injury to the movant in the absence of [the modification]; (3) whether
[the modification] would substantially harm other parties; and (4) whether the
[modification] serves the public interest.”23 Ordinarily, the first factor is the most
important, and requires the movant to show the district court was “clearly erroneous.”24
However, the movant “may also have its motion granted by showing only that it has a
‘substantial case on the merits,’ if the final three factors weigh[ ] heavily in favor of
granting the [motion].”25 Under either approach, granting the motion is an “exceptional
response.”26
Clyde Armory contends the following arguments have a strong likelihood of
success on appeal as to justify a modified injunction: (1) the Court erred in determining
Clyde Armory adopted the SCAR‐Stock mark in bad faith; (2) the Court erred when it
sua sponte granted FN summary judgment on Clyde Armory’s affirmative defense of
23 United States v. Engelhard Corp., No. 6‐95‐CV‐45 (WLS), 1997 WL 834205, at *1 (M.D. Ga. April 7, 1997)
(citing Garcia–Mir v. Meese, 781 F.2d 1450, 1453 (11th Cir. 1986)).
24 Garcia–Mir, 781 F.2d at 1453 (“Ordinarily the first factor is the most important. A finding that the
movant demonstrates a probable likelihood of success on the merits on appeal requires that we determine
that the trial court below was clearly erroneous.”).
25 Rashad v. Fulton Cnty. Dep’t of Health and Wellness, No. 1:05‐cv‐01658‐JOF, 2010 WL 2821845, at *3 (N.D.
Ga. July 15, 2010) (quoting Garcia–Mir, 781 F.2d at 1453).
26 United States v. Hamilton, 963 F.2d 322, 323 (11th Cir.1992).
12
unlawful use; and (3) the Court abused its discretion when it allowed FN to withdraw
its consent to trial by jury and rejected Clyde Armory’s request to reinstate its damages
claim. The Court has already fully considered each argument in the Court’s the Bench
Trial Order. Clyde Armory now fails to persuade the Court its previous decisions were
clearly erroneous. Thus, the first factor does not weigh in favor of modifying the
injunction, as Clyde Armory fails to make a strong showing it is likely to prevail on
appeal.
Additionally, as to the final three factors, the Court finds they do not weigh
heavily in favor of granting the modifications. First, the relief requested does not
preserve the status quo or provide both parties protection as Clyde Armory claims.
Instead, the modifications confer a benefit on Clyde Armory by allowing it to profit off
the infringing products.27 The Court recognizes Clyde Armory may experience some
harm in not granting the requested modifications. However, these hardships are
minimal, as there are not many SCAR‐Stock products remaining. “[O]ne who elects to
build a business on a product found to infringe cannot be heard to complain if an
injunction against continuing infringement destroys the business so elected.”28
See, e.g., Brake Parts, Inc. v. Lewis, Nos. 09‐132‐KSF, 10‐212‐KSF, 2011 WL 93036, at *2‐3 (E.D. Ky. Jan. 11,
2011) (“Here, the relief requested by [the defendant] does not preserve the status quo, but to essentially
confer an additional benefit upon [the defendant] by allowing it to profit from its conduct which the
Court found likely to amount to misappropriation of [the plaintiff’s] trade secrets.”).
28 Merial LTD. V. Valcera Inc., 877 F.Supp.2d 1348, 1366, (M.D. Ga. 2012) (quoting Broadcom Corp. v.
Qualcomm Inc., 543 F.3d 683, 704 (Fed.Cir. 2008); see also, Instrumentalist Co. v. Marine Corps League, 509
13
27
Accordingly, the Court finds any hardships Clyde Armory may experience do not rise
to a level of irreparability to warrant modifying the injunction.
Second, the requested modifications do not give reasonable effect to the terms of
the injunction, nor do they provide adequate protection to FN. Ultimately, the
modifications would only stop Clyde Armory from producing more infringing
products, but it would still allow Clyde Armory to sell the remaining inventory. It is
clear FN will be irreparably harmed if the Court allows Clyde Armory to continue
making a profit off the infringing mark.29 The Court finds the harm to FN in granting
any of these modifications outweighs the harm to Clyde Armory in enforcing the
original injunction.30
Third, in the trademark context, the public has a right to not be deceived or
confused by Clyde Armory’s infringing mark.31 Thus, the public interest weighs
heavily against modifying the injunction.
F.Supp. 323, 341‐42 (N.D. Ill. 1981) (“Any claimed hardships encountered because of the injunction are
really of defendantsʹ own making and in any event do not rise to the level of irreparability.”).
29 See, e.g., Arkansas Best Corp. v. Carolina Freight Corp., 60 F.Supp.2d 517, 520 (W.D. N.C. 1999)
(“Defendants unauthorized use of Plaintiffsʹ federally registered service mark presents an undeniable
threat to Plaintiffsʹ reputation and goodwill and, therefore, creates imminent irreparable harm.”).
30 See, e.g., Universal Motor Oils Co., Inc. v. Amoco Oil Co., Civ. A. No. 89‐1662‐T, 1990 WL 163303, at *1‐2 (D.
Kan. Sept. 12, 1990) (“The court agrees that the defendant does risk losing the use of [its product] if it
changes its designation pending appeal. The court believes, however, that this risk of harm is insufficient
to justify a stay of the modified injunction. Any harm to its relationship with its dealers and distributors
would be a result of defendantʹs own conduct and does not justify a stay.”).
31 See, e.g., Century 21 Real Estate LLC v. All Professional Realty, Inc., 889 F.Supp.2d 1198, 1243‐44 (E.D. Cali.
2012) (“[T]he public interest weighs heavily against granting a stay because the public interest in the
trademark context is the right of the public not to be deceived or confused.”).
14
Accordingly, the Court finds Clyde Armory has failed to meet its burden under
Rule 63, as all four factors weigh against modifying the Court’s injunction. However,
FN does concede to one modification—allowing Clyde Armory to suspend, rather than
abandon, its current trademark application. 32 Therefore, Clyde Armory’s Motion to
Modify the Injunction [Doc. 162] is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.
III.
FN’s Motion for Contempt
In response to the request for a modified injunction, FN filed a Cross‐Motion for
Contempt, arguing the Court should sanction Clyde Armory for failing to comply with
the Court’s Order. However, Clyde Armory contends it should not be held in contempt
because FN’s motion is unwarranted and premature.
“An injunction can be enforced, if necessary, through a contempt proceeding.”33
“A finding of civil contempt—willful disregard of the authority of the court—must be
supported by clear and convincing evidence.”34 Once the prima facie showing of a
violation is made, the burden shifts to the alleged contemnor to produce evidence
See Pl.’s Response and Cross‐Motion, [Doc. 169] at p. 22. See Lawson v. Life of South Ins. Co., 738
F.Supp.2d 1376, 1382 (M.D. Ga. 2010) (noting the Ninth Circuit only affirmed a district court’s post‐
judgment modifications because the modifications “did not materially alter the status of the case on
appeal….”).
33 Riccard v. Prudential Ins. Co., 307 F.3d 1277, 1296 (11th Cir. 2002).
34 Id. (“The clear and convincing evidence must establish that: (1) the allegedly violated order was valid
and lawful; (2) the order was clear and unambiguous; and (3) the alleged violator had the ability to
comply with the order.”).
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showing its inability to comply with the injunction.35 The Eleventh Circuit has stated
“substantial, diligent, or good faith efforts are not enough; the only issue is
compliance.”36 However, “[c]onduct that evinces substantial, but not complete,
compliance with the court order may be excused if it was made as part of a good faith
effort at compliance.”37
In this case, it is undisputed Clyde Armory did not adhere to the injunction set
out in the Court’s Bench Trial Order. Admittedly, Clyde Armory has only complied
with the modified injunction it proposed to the Court.38 Clyde Armory fails to rebut
FN’s prima facie case of contempt or present any evidence to show its inability to comply
with the injunction. Instead, Clyde Armory simply contends it is not in contempt
because it appealed the Court’s Bench Trial Order to the Eleventh Circuit and moved
the Court to modify the injunction. According to Clyde Armory, it does not have to
fully comply with the Court’s Order until after the Court’s decision regarding the
modified injunction. However, the Court disagrees.
Chairs v. Burgess, 143 F.3d 1432, 1436 (11th Cir. 1998). “The burden shifts back to the initiating party
only upon a sufficient showing by the alleged contemnor. The party seeking to show contempt, then, has
the burden of proving ability to comply.” Commodity Futures Trading Com’n v. Wellington Precious Metals,
Inc., 950 F.2d 1525, 1529 (11th Cir. 1992).
36 F.T.C. v. Leshin, 618 F.3d 1221, 1232‐33 (11th Cir. 2010) (citing Combs v. Ryanʹs Coal Co., 785 F.2d 970, 984
(11th Cir.1986)).
37 Howard Johnson Co., Inc. v. Khimani, 892 F.2d 1512, 1516 (11th Cir. 1990) (“The district court’s judgment
of civil contempt will be affirmed unless [Eleventh Circuit] find[s] that the court abused its discretion.”).
38 Def.’s Reply to the Mtn. to Modify the Injunction and Response to Pl.’s Cross‐Motion for Contempt,
[Doc. 170] at p. 8‐9.
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Once this Court ordered the injunction, Clyde Armory was to respect and
comply with the Order, unless it was unable to do so.39 As stated above, though
waiting to abandon the trademark application may have been reasonable or at most a
good faith effort to comply with the injunction, the same cannot be said for Clyde
Armory’s continued sales of the SCAR‐Stock product. Additionally, several of the
requested modifications seem like an attempt to avoid the harsher effects of the
injunction. For instance, instead of ceasing all promotions and sales of the infringing
products, Clyde Armory requests to continue selling the remaining SCAR‐Stock
inventory (76 units) in its store and through its primary website, and agrees to no
longer advertise its SCAR‐Stock products in magazines or other websites. However,
Clyde Armory already ceased advertising through third‐party carriers in 2013. Further,
Clyde Armory requests to deactivate the scarstock.com website and put an “under
construction” screen in its place, rather than assign the website to FN. Yet currently, the
under construction screen directs users to Clyde Armory’s main website where the
See Howat v. Kansas, 258 U.S. 181, 189–90 (1922) (“An injunction duly issuing out of a court of general
jurisdiction with equity powers ... must be obeyed by [the parties], however erroneous the action of the
court may be .... It is for the court of first instance to determine the question of the validity of the law, and
until its decision is reversed for error by orderly review, either by itself or by a higher court, its orders
based on its decision are to be respected, and disobedience of them is contempt of its lawful authority, to
be punished.”); Locke v. United States, 75 F.2d 157, 159 (5th Cir. 1935) (“Willful disobedience of an
injunction, however erroneous, issued by a court having jurisdiction while such injunction is in force
unreversed constitutes contempt of court.”) (Decisions of the former Fifth Circuit rendered prior to
October 1, 1981, constitute circuit precedent in the Eleventh Circuit, see Bonner v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d
1206, 1209 (11th Cir. 1981) (en banc)); but see Gannett Outdoor Co. v. Feist, No. 1:89‐CV‐472, 1991 U.S. Dist.
LEXIS 948, at *14 (W.D. Mich. Jan. 29, 1991) (refusing to find defendants in contempt for failing to follow
the court’s order while an appeal and motion to stay the injunction were both pending).
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infringing products are still sold. The requested modifications are simply an attempt to
avoid losing profits on the remaining infringing products. Clyde Armory did not
comply, or even substantially comply with the injunction. Therefore, the Court finds
Clyde Armory in contempt of the Court’s Bench Trial Order and will now consider the
appropriate sanction.
“A court has broad discretion in fashioning a contempt sanction.”40 A contempt
sanction “can be either coercive, which is intended to make the recalcitrant party
comply, or compensatory, which ‘reimburses the injured party for the losses and
expenses incurred because of his adversaryʹs noncompliance.’”41 FN seeks both a
coercive and compensatory sanction. Specifically, FN requests the Court order Clyde
Amory to immediately comply with the original injunction, to allow FN to seize all
SCAR‐Stock products to ensure compliance, and to award FN attorneys’ fees incurred
in moving for Contempt.
The Court agrees a coercive order is appropriate. The Court orders immediate
compliance with the original injunction set out in the Court’s Bench Trial Order, and
will schedule a hearing to ensure compliance with the Court’s Order. At this time, the
Court finds immediate seizure of the infringing products or compensatory sanctions are
unnecessary.
40
41
Sizzler Family Steak Houses v. Western Sizzlin Steak House, Inc., 793 F.2d 1529, 1536 n.8 (11th Cir. 1986).
Id. at 1534 (quoting Rickard v. Auto Publisher, Inc., 735 F.2d 450, 458 (11th Cir. 1984)).
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CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, Plaintiff’s Motion for an Award of Attorneys’ Fees [Doc.
153] is GRANTED, Defendant’s Motion to Modify the Injunction [Doc. 162] is DENIED
in part and GRANTED in part, and Plaintiff’s Motion for Contempt [Doc. 169] is
DENIED in part and GRANTED in part. The Court will STAY consideration of the
amount of reasonable attorneys’ fees until the pending appeal is disposed of.
Further, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Clyde Armory, its respective directors,
officers, agents, and employees immediately comply with the Court’s Injunction set out
in its Bench Trial Order, with the exception of abandoning its trademark application.
Clyde Armory may suspend, rather than abandon, any trademark applications already
filed that show SCAR‐Stock or include the designations, names, or marks SCAR and
any confusingly similar variations thereof, pending the conclusion of the appeal. To
ensure compliance with the Court’s Order, the parties are HEREBY DIRECTED to
appear before the Court on October 25, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. in Athens, Georgia.
SO ORDERED, this 27th day of September, 2016.
S/ C. Ashley Royal
C. ASHLEY ROYAL, JUDGE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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