STELOR PRODUCTIONS, INC. v. OOGLES N GOOGLES et al

Filing 72

ANSWER to Amended Complaint, filed by all defendants.(Vaughan, Stephen)

STELOR PRODUCTIONS, INC. v. OOGLES N GOOGLES et al

Doc. 72

Case 1:05-cv-00354-DFH-TAB

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA INDIANAPOLIS DIVISION STELOR PRODUCTIONS, INC., a Delaware corporation Plaintiff v. OOGLES N GOOGLES, an Indiana Corporation; KEVIN MENDELL, DANYA MENDELL, MICHELLE COTE;
ROB LENDERMAN; STACEY LENDERMAN; BRENDA MURTY; MARGIE THOMAS; ROB SLYTER; ELIZABETH SLYTER; CORINNA SPARKS; CHRISTINE WATERBURY; LEIGH SUNDLING; and TINA CARTAYA Defendants.

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Case Number: 1:05-CV-0354-DFH-TAB

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DEFENDANTS' ANSWERS TO PLAINTIFF'S AMENDED COMPLAINT The Defendants, by counsel, for their Answers to Plaintiff's Amended Complaint state as follows: PRELIMINARY STATEMENT The correct name for the Defendant named as "Oogles N Googles, an Indiana corporation" is "Oogles n Googles Franchising, LLC", an Indiana limited liability company (hereinafter "Oogles n Googles"). In addition to Oogles n Googles, Plaintiff has sued thirteen (13) individual defendants. Some of Plaintiff's allegations are directed to fewer than all of the Defendants. To the extent that an allegation is directed to fewer than all of the Defendants, the remaining Defendants

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to which the allegation is not directed make no response. However, to the extent that any such response may be deemed to be required, the Defendants deny such allegation. FIRST DEFENSE 1. Defendants are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the truth of, and

therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 1. 2. The Defendant named as "Oogles N Googles, an Indiana corporation" is

incorrectly named. The correct name of this defendant is "Oogles n Googles Franchising, LLC", an Indiana limited liability company with its principal place of business in Indianapolis, Indiana. Oogles n Googles Franchising, LLC, denies the allegations in paragraph 2. To the extent that allegations are directed to "OOGLES", an Indiana corporation, said allegations are answered on behalf of "Oogles n Googles Franchising, LLC". 3. Kevin Mendell is a member of Oogles n Googles Franchising, LLC and resides in

Carmel, Indiana. He denies any remaining allegations of paragraph 3. 4. Danya Mendell is a member of Oogles n Googles Franchising, LLC and resides in

Carmel, Indiana. Danya and Kevin Mendell admit that they are husband and wife, but deny any remaining allegations in paragraph 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12 13. Kevin and Danya Mendell deny paragraph 5. Oogles n Googles and Corinna Sparks deny paragraph 6.. Oogles n Googles and Leigh Sundling deny paragraph 7. Oogles n Googles and Michelle Cote deny paragraph 8. Oogles n Googles and Rob and Stacey Lenderman deny paragraph 9. Oogles n Googles and Brenda Murty deny paragraph 10. Oogles n Googles and Margie Thomas deny paragraph 11. Oogles n Googles and Rob and Elizabeth Slyter deny paragraph 12. Oogles n Googles and Christine Waterbury deny paragraph 13. 2

Case 1:05-cv-00354-DFH-TAB 14. 15. 16.

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Oogles n Googles and Tina Cartaya deny paragraph 14. Defendants deny paragraph 15. Defendants admit that Plaintiff makes claims for trademark infringement, unfair

competition, and dilution, but deny liability for such claims of paragraph 16. 17. Defendants admit this Court has subject matter jurisdiction but deny the remaining

allegations in paragraph 17. 18. Defendants admit venue is proper in this district, but deny the remaining allegations

in paragraph 18. 19. Defendants are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the truth of, and

therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 19. 20. Defendants are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the truth of, and

therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 20. 21. Defendants are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the truth of, and

therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 21. 22. Defendants are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the truth of, and

therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 22. 23. Defendants are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the truth of, and

therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 23. 24. Defendants are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the truth of, and

therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 24. 25. Defendants are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the truth of, and

therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 25. 26. 27. 28 Oogles n Googles denies paragraph 26. Defendants deny paragraph 27. Defendants deny paragraph 28. 3

Case 1:05-cv-00354-DFH-TAB 29.

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Oogles n Googles admits it has registered the domain name "ooglesngoogles.com",

and advertises its services on the website, but denies any remaining allegations of paragraph 29. 30. 31. Kevin Mendell admits the allegations contained in paragraph 30. Oogles n Googles admits it offers for sale and has sold franchises, but denies the

remaining allegations in paragraph 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. Defendants deny paragraph 32. Defendants deny paragraph 33. Defendants deny paragraph 34. Defendants deny paragraph 35. Defendants deny paragraph 36. Defendants are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the truth of, and

therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 37. 38. 39. Defendants deny paragraph 38. Defendants deny paragraph 39. Defendants deny paragraphs 40 through 49. Defendants deny paragraphs 50 through 55. Defendants deny paragraphs 56 through 60. Defendants deny paragraphs 61 through 63. Paragraphs 64 through 75 comprise a prayer for judgment by the Plaintiff.

40 - 49. 50 ­ 55. 56 ­ 60. 61 ­ 63. 64 ­ 75.

To the extent that the Defendants are required to admit or deny such a prayer for judgment, Defendants deny paragraphs 64 through 75. SECOND DEFENSE Plaintiff's Amended Complaint fails to state claim upon which relief can be granted.

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THIRD DEFENSE Subject to discovery, Plaintiff's claims are barred because there is no likelihood of confusion. FOURTH DEFENSE Subject to discovery, Plaintiff's claims are barred because there is no false designation or description. FIFTH DEFENSE Subject to discovery, Plaintiff's claims are barred by non-use of the alleged trademarks with respect to Plaintiff's alleged goods and services. SIXTH DEFENSE Plaintiff's claims are barred because Defendants have done nothing to mislead, deceive or confuse consumers or to generate likelihood of confusion. SEVENTH DEFENSE Subject to discovery, Plaintiff's claims are barred by doctrine of unclean hands. EIGHTH DEFENSE Subject to discovery, Plaintiff's claims are barred by fair use. NINTH DEFENSE . Subject to discovery, Plaintiff's claims are barred by laches and/or statutes of limitations. TENTH DEFENSE Plaintiff's alleged marks are not famous. ELEVENTH DEFENSE Plaintiff's claims are barred by the fact that even if famous, Defendants' use of the mark preceded such infamy.

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TWELFTH DEFENSE Plaintiff's claims are barred because no dilution has occurred. THIRTEENTH DEFENSE Plaintiff's claims are barred because they have suffered no damages. FOURTEENTH DEFENSE Subject to discovery, Plaintiff's claims are barred because of waiver, acquiescence and/or estoppel. FIFTEENTH DEFENSE Subject to discovery, Plaintiff's claims fail because any marks claimed by Plaintiff have been abandoned. SIXTEENTH DEFENSE Subject to discovery, Plaintiff has failed to mitigate its damages. SEVENTEENTH DEFENSE Subject to discovery, Plaintiff or the prior owner(s) of the alleged trademarks committed fraud on the USPTO.

Wherefore, Defendants pray for judgment in their favor, and all other proper relief.

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JURY DEMAND Defendants pray that all matters triable before a jury be heard as such. Respectfully submitted by: /s/ Stephen L. Vaughan Stephen L. Vaughan, #2294-49 INDIANO VAUGHAN LLP One N. Pennsylvania Street, Suite 850 Indianapolis, IN 46204 Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on October 17, 2007, a copy of the foregoing Answer to Amended Complaint was filed electronically to the below listed counsel of record. Notice of this filing will be sent to all counsel of record by operation of the Court's electronic filing system. Parties may access this filing through the Court's system. John David Hoover Kevin C. Kaplan /s/ Stephen L. Vaughan Stephen L. Vaughan, #2294-49 INDIANO VAUGHAN LLP One N. Pennsylvania Street, Suite 1300 Indianapolis, IN 46204 E-mail: [e-mail]

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