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  • 8/14/2019 Complaint Us Afip

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    IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

    FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND

    )

    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )

    United States Attorneys Office )

    36 South Charles Street )

    Fourth Floor )

    Baltimore, Maryland 21201 )

    )

    Plaintiff, )

    )

    v. ) Civil Action No. 09-2908

    )AFIP LABORATORIES, INC., d/b/a AIPL, )

    8403 Colesville Road, Suite 1600 )

    Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 )

    Montgomery County )

    )

    DAVID G. BOSTWICK, )

    4724 Lake Calabay Drive )

    Orlando, Florida 32837 )

    )

    and )

    )EVAN R. FARMER, )

    580 Mowbray Arch )

    Norfolk, Virginia 23507 )

    )

    Defendants. )

    )

    COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT,

    UNFAIR COMPETITION, AND

    FALSE AND MISLEADING REPRESENTATIONS OF FACT

    Plaintiff United States of America (United States), for its Complaint against AFIP

    Laboratories, Inc. (AFIP Laboratories), David G. Bostwick, and Evan R. Farmer avers as

    follows:

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    NATURE OF THIS ACTION

    1. This is an action for injunctive relief, damages, costs, and attorneys fees for

    violations by Defendants to intellectual property rights owned by the United States. These

    violations consist of trademark infringement, unfair competition, and false or misleading

    descriptions and representations of fact in commercial advertising.

    2. The Defendants have engaged in trademark infringement of the registered

    trademark Ask AFIP, in violation of the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. 1051-1127, through the

    uses of the confusingly similar tradenames AFIP Laboratories and AIPL, and the uses of the

    domain name afiplaboratories.com and telephone number 1-877-AFIPLAB through which

    Defendants market and provide consultative pathology services.

    3. The Defendants have engaged in unfair competition and false or misleading

    representations and descriptions of fact in violation of the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. 1125(a),

    by falsely creating the impression that their AFIP Laboratories is associated with, or endorsed by,

    the United States and in particular the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, an agency of the

    United States. Defendants uses of the tradenames AFIP Laboratories and AIPL which are

    substantially similar to Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and AFIP, the name and

    acronym continuously used by the United States since 1949 in connection with its pathology and

    radiology laboratory. Defendants advertisement and press releases promoting their pathology

    services repeatedly references AFIP and the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, and states

    characteristics relevant to the Institute, and not to Defendants services.

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    4. For the foregoing reasons, the United States seeks, inter alia, damages, costs and

    attorneys fees, impounding and disposition of infringing materials and means of infringement,

    and to preliminarily and permanently enjoin the Defendants jointly and severally from

    developing, promoting, distributing, providing, and selling pathology services in violation of

    Plaintiffs rights under federal law.

    THE PARTIES

    5. The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (the Institute) is an agency of the

    United States Department of Defense with its headquarters in the District of Columbia. The

    Institute is responsible for providing consultation, education, and research in the areas of

    pathology and radiology.

    6. Defendant AFIP Laboratories is a Maryland corporation engaged in providing

    diagnostic consultative anatomic pathology services. AFIP Laboratories principal place of

    business is located in Silver Spring, Maryland.

    7. Upon information and belief, Defendant David G. Bostwick resides at 4724 Lake

    Calabay Drive, Orlando, Florida. David G. Bostwick has been identified as the initial founder,

    the initial director, and a principal of AFIP Laboratories.

    8. Upon information and belief, Defendant David G. Bostwick is responsible for

    governing the affairs and activities of AFIP Laboratories and is legally responsible for the

    conduct of AFIP Laboratories.

    9. Upon information and belief, Defendant Evan R. Farmer is a resident of the State

    of Virginia. Defendant Evan R. Farmer has been identified as the Director of AFIP Laboratories.

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    10. Upon information and belief, defendant Evan R. Farmer is responsible for

    governing the affairs and activities of AFIP Laboratories and is legally responsible for the

    conduct of AFIP Laboratories.

    JURISDICTION AND VENUE

    11. This Court has federal question and/or original subject matter jurisdiction over

    this action pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1121 and 28 U.S.C. 1331, 1338 and 1345.

    12. Personal jurisdiction exists over Defendant AFIP Laboratories because it resides

    in Maryland; conducts business, sells, and advertises its products in Maryland; and has caused

    injury to Plaintiff in Maryland. Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. Code Ann. 6-103(b)(1).

    13. Personal jurisdiction exists over Defendant David G. Bostwick because he is the

    initial founder, the initial director, and a principal of Defendant AFIP Laboratories which resides

    in Maryland; conducts business, sells, and advertises its products in Maryland; and has caused

    injury to Plaintiff in Maryland. Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. Code Ann. 6-103(b)(1).

    14. Personal jurisdiction exists over Defendant Evan R. Farmer because he is the

    director and a principal of Defendant AFIP Laboratories which resides in Maryland; conducts

    business, sells, and advertises its products in Maryland; and has caused injury to Plaintiff in

    Maryland. Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. Code Ann. 6-103(b)(1).

    15. Venue is proper in this judicial district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1391(b)-(c) and

    1400(a).

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    STATEMENT OF FACTS

    16. On February 6, 2007, the Department of Defenses (the DOD) trademark Ask

    AFIP (DODs Registered Trademark) was duly registered on the Principal Register of the

    United States Patent and Trademark Office under Registration No. 3,206,308. The DODs

    Registered Trademark is valid and in full force and effect. A true and correct copy of the DODs

    Registered Trademark has been attached to this Complaint as Exhibit 1.

    17. For more than 55 years, the Institute has continuously and widely used its name

    Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and its acronym AFIP (collectively, Institutes Marks)

    to identify the Institute as the source of pathology diagnostic consultations, education, and

    research. The Institute has used the Institutes Marks in providing hundreds of thousands of

    surgical and autopsy consultation for pathologists in the military, the Department of Veterans

    Affairs, and the civilian population. Since 1976, the medical and scientific staff at the Institute,

    using the Institutes Marks, have published over 11,000 journal articles in a multitude of medical

    publications. Further, over the past 60 years, the Institutes staff has given approximately 2,000

    lectures and presentations at professional meetings and conferences throughout the world. The

    Institute was original founded in 1862 as the Army Medical Museum and has been carrying out

    the same mission for the last 147 years.

    18. Each year, the Institute, using the Institutes Marks, publishes an in-depth annual

    report which catalogues the accomplishments of each of the Institutes departments. The report

    is distributed to over 2,000 members of the medical and scientific community worldwide. The

    Institute also publishes a quarterly newsletter, entitled the AFIP Letter, with circulation of

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    15,000, to provide timely information on policies, activities, and programs relevant to the

    military and civilian pathology community.

    19. On September 15, 2005, President George W. Bush sent to Congress a report

    containing the recommendations from the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission

    (BRAC), including the recommendation to disestablish the Institute by September 15, 2011.

    20. In 2008, prior to the disestablishment of the Institute, Congress passed the

    National Defense Authorization Act establishing a Joint Pathology Center to assume many of the

    Institutes responsibilities in consultation, education, and research, as well as the modernization

    of the Institutes tissue repository. Congress further mandated that the Institute remain

    operational under the name Armed Forces Institute of Pathology at least until the DOD creates a

    Joint Pathology Center. National Defense Authorization Act of 2008, Public L. No. 110-181,

    Sec. 722.

    21. The Institute, under the name Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and the

    acronym AFIP, is currently operational and fulfilling its Congressionally mandated duties. The

    Institute plans to remain operational throughout and after the transition into the Joint Pathology

    Center.

    22. On or around July 29, 2009, the DOD received information that Defendant David

    G. Bostwick, as founder, initial director, and principal, had created Defendant AFIP Laboratories

    and was engaged in the business of advertising and providing diagnostic anatomic pathology

    services under the name AFIP Laboratories.

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    23. On or around August 7, 2009, the DOD received information that Defendant Evan

    R. Farmer had been named director of AFIP Laboratories.

    24. On August 3, 2009, the DOD sent the first of two cease and desist letters. The

    first letter was sent to Defendant David G. Bostwick. The second letter, sent on August 4, 2009,

    was mailed to Defendant AFIP Laboratories.

    25. On August 13, 2009, in response to the two cease and desist letters, counsel for

    Defendant AFIP Laboratories e-mailed that by 5 p.m. of that day AFIP Laboratories will cease

    all use in commerce of the AFIP mark, including the AFIP LABORATORIES mark, and will

    disable its website located at the afiplaboratories.com URL.

    26. Upon information and belief, at approximately 9 a.m. on the morning of August

    14, 2009, Defendants domain name www.afiplaboratories.com was still operational and

    displaying the name AFIP Laboratories and the phone number 1.877.AFIPLAB on the website

    home page. Further, the phone number was answered automatically with a machine stating that

    the caller had reached AFIP Laboratories.

    27. Upon information and belief, at approximately 10 a.m. on the morning of

    August 14, 2009, Defendants domain name www.afiplaboratories.com was operational, but

    redirected users to www.aiplaboratories.com, which displayed the name AIPL at the top of the

    home page as well the phone number 1.877.234.7522. Appearing near the top of Defendants

    website home page, read the words American International Pathology Laboratories. Further,

    the phone number was answered automatically with a machine stating that the caller had reached

    AIP Laboratories.

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    Defendants Actions Prior to 10 a.m. on August 14, 2009

    28. On or around July 29, 2009, the DOD learned that Defendants had created a one-

    page advertisement (Advertisement or Defendants Advertisement) to promote their

    pathology services. Defendants placed the Advertisement in at least one medical journal. The

    Advertisement used the name AFIP Laboratories and referenced the Armed Forces Institute of

    Pathology furthering Defendants efforts to confuse consumers as to the source of their services.

    29. Defendants Advertisement provided readers with contact information for AFIP

    Laboratories through a provided website domain name and phone number. The domain name of

    Defendants website provided in the Defendants Advertisement was www.afiplaboratories.com

    and the provided phone number was 1.877.AFIPLAB.

    30. Defendants Advertisement included at the top of the page the name, AFIP

    Laboratories, and just below the name, the statement Heritage of Excellence. Near the bottom

    of the Advertisement, a bullet point read, 150 Years of Experience, and in the text below the

    bullet point appeared the statement, AFIP Laboratories is a premium provider of diagnostic

    consultative anatomic pathology services, made up of many former civilian pathologists and staff

    of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. Building on that organizations 150-year history,

    AFIP Laboratories will continue the Institutes tradition of excellence and expertise . . . .

    31. As of 10 a.m. on August 14, 2009, Defendants website home page was accessed

    through the domain name www.afiplaboratories.com. The home page provided readers with

    contact information for AFIP Laboratories through the phone number 1.877.AFIPLAB.

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    32. As of 10 a.m. on August 14, 2009, Defendants website home page included at the

    top of the page the name, AFIP Laboratories, and just below the name, the statement Heritage

    of Excellence. A statement near the middle of the page read in part: AFIP Laboratories

    proudly announces its formation and the appointment of Dr. Evan Farmer, M.D. as Director.

    AFIP Laboratories will be led by former civilian pathologists, radiologists and professional staff

    of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, who will continue to provide premium anatomic

    pathology services for the government, physicians and patients, with emphasis on all anatomic

    pathology specimens and related services.

    Defendants Actions After 10 a.m. on August 14, 2009

    33. On August 14, 2009 at approximately 10 a.m., Defendants changed the name of

    their laboratory from AFIP Laboratories to AIPL, which Defendants state stands for

    American International Pathology Laboratories.

    34. As of August 18, 2009, Defendants website home page included a link to a press

    release (Press Release) with the headline AFIP Laboratories Fills Critical Void Left by

    Scheduled Closure of Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The Press Release repeatedly uses

    the name AFIP Laboratories, further describes the Institute as soon-to-be-closed, and states,

    AFIP Laboratories will continue the Institutes mission of providing pathology services to

    government, physicians and patients . . . . A line of text at the top of the Press Release provided

    that the Press Release occurred prior to the name change from AFIP Laboratories to AIPL.

    35. As of August 21, 2009, Defendants website home page continued to be

    accessible through both the domain name www.aiplaboratories.com and the domain name

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    www.afiplaboratories.com, which redirects users to www.aiplaboratories.com. Defendants

    website home page provided readers with contact information for AIPL through the phone

    number 1.877.234.7522.

    36. On September 8, 2009, Defendants issued a second press release (Second Press

    Release) titled AIPL Opens Doors to World-Class Facility. The Second Press Release stated

    that [t]he 150-year-old Institute will cease operations when Walter Reed closes under the

    Federal Base Realignment and Closure Program and that under Defendant Farmers direction,

    AIPL will continue the Institutes mission of providing premium anatomic pathology services to

    governments, scientists, physicians and patients . . . .

    37. As of October 4, 2009, Defendants website home page included the following

    statement: In 2005, as part of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Program, the

    Department of Defense decided to close the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP). As the

    deadline for closure is drawing near a group of AFIP pathologists have formed a new

    organization - American Pathology Laboratories (AIPL) - aimed at continuing the AFIP tradition

    of the highest quality consultation, education and research in anatomic pathology.

    38. Defendants website home page continues to include the name, AIPL, near the

    top of the page. Immediately below the name appears the statement, Heritage of Excellence,

    and just below that statement, reads the phrase, American International Pathology

    Laboratories.

    39. Defendants activities are likely to confuse consumers or deceive them into

    believing that Defendants pathology services are products of the Plaintiff or that Defendant

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    and/or its services are endorsed or associated with the Plaintiff. Based upon information and

    belief, an unlawful purpose of Defendants activities is to obtain the benefit of the valuable

    goodwill and reputation associated with the Institutes Marks.

    FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF

    (Trademark Infringement)

    40. Defendants uses of the names AFIP Laboratories and AIPL as trademarks,

    Defendants uses of the phone number 1.877.AFIPLAB, and Defendants uses of

    www.afiplaboratories.com as a domain name on the internet and in advertising are likely to and

    have caused actual confusion, mistake, and deception as to the source, sponsorship, or affiliation

    of Defendants services in violation of the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. 1114.

    41. Defendants statements contained in the Press Release and the Second Press

    Release are likely to and have caused actual confusion, mistake, and deception as to the source,

    sponsorship, or affiliation of Defendants services in violation of the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C.

    1114.

    42. AFIP Laboratories is not affiliated with the Institute, an agency of the DOD (and

    thereby the United States), which owns the DODs Registered Trademark.

    43. Both Defendants and the Institute provide pathology consultation services under

    their respective tradenames.

    44. The name AFIP Laboratories, the name AIPL, the website domain name

    www.afiplaboratories.com, and phone number 1.877.AFIPLAB closely resemble the DODs

    Registered Trademark.

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    45. Defendants activities have caused the DOD to sustain damage to its business, and

    to the value of the DODs Registered Trademark and the goodwill associated with the DODs

    Registered Trademark.

    SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF

    (False Designation of Origin)

    46. Defendants uses of the names AFIP Laboratories and AIPL, the website

    domain name www.afiplaboratories.com, and the phone number 1.877.AFIPLAB constitute false

    designations of origin in violation of the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. 1125(a).

    47. For over 50 years, the Institute has continuously used in commerce the name

    Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and the acronym AFIP in connection with the Institutes

    services.

    48. The name Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and the acronym AFIP act to

    designate the source of origin for the Institutes services.

    49. The Department of Defense owns common law trademark rights in the name

    Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and the acronym AFIP for use in connection with its

    services.

    50. The name AFIP Laboratories used in connection with providing pathology

    services is confusingly similar to the Institutes trademarks - Armed Forces Institute of

    Pathology and AFIP - and is likely to cause, and already has caused, confusion, mistake, or

    deception as to the origin of Defendants services.

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    51. The name AIPL used in connection with providing pathology services is

    confusingly similar to the Institutes trademarks - Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and

    AFIP - and is likely to cause, and already has caused, confusion, mistake, or deception as to the

    origin of Defendants services.

    52. The website domain name, www.afiplaboratories.com, used to promote Defendant

    AFIP Laboratories pathology services, is confusingly similar to the Institutes Marks and is likely

    to cause, and already has caused, confusion, mistake, or deception as to the origin of Defendants

    services.

    53. The phone number, 1.877.AFIPLAB, used as a means to contact Defendant AFIP

    Laboratories to avail oneself of its pathology services, is likely to cause, and already has caused,

    confusion, mistake, or deception as to the origin of Defendants services.

    54. In promoting their pathology services, Defendants Advertisement, Press Release,

    Second Press Release, and statements appearing on their website individually and collectively

    constitute false designation of origin in violation of the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. 1125(a).

    55. Defendants Advertisement includes the name AFIP Laboratories, the website

    domain name www.afiplaboratories.com, and the phone number 1.877.AFIPLAB which

    individually and collectively are confusingly similar to the Institutes Marks and are likely to

    cause, and already have caused, confusion, mistake, or deception as to the origin of Defendants

    services.

    56. Defendants Advertisement includes in the header the statement Heritage of

    Excellence, near the bottom of the page a bullet point reading 150 Years of Experience, and

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    in the text below the bullet point the statement, [b]uilding on that organizations [the Institutes]

    150-year history, AFIP Laboratories will continue the Institutes tradition of excellence and

    expertise, . . . .

    57. The name AFIP Laboratories repeatedly appears in Defendants Press Release

    and is confusingly similar to the Institutes Marks and is likely to cause, and already has caused,

    confusion, mistake, or deception as to the origin of Defendants services.

    58. Defendants Press Release is titled, AFIP Laboratories Fills Critical Void Left by

    Scheduled Closure of Walter Reed Army Medical Center, describes the Institute as soon-to-be-

    closed, and states, AFIP Laboratories will continue the Institutes mission of providing

    pathology services to government, physicians and patients . . . .

    59. Defendants Second Press Release stated that [t]he 150-year-old Institute will

    cease operations when Walter Reed closes under the Federal Base Realignment and Closure

    Program and that under Defendant Farmers direction, AIPL will continue the Institutes

    mission of providing premium anatomic pathology services to governments, scientists,

    physicians and patients . . . .

    60. Defendants website stated that the Department of Defense decided to close the

    Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), and that AIPL is aimed at continuing the AFIP

    tradition of the highest quality consultation, education and research in anatomic pathology.

    61. Through the statements set forth in paragraphs 55 to 60, Defendants create a false

    suggestion of association with the Institute that is likely to cause, and already has caused,

    confusion, mistake, or deception as to the origin of Defendants services.

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    THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF

    (Unfair Competition)

    62. Defendants uses of the names AFIP Laboratories and AIPL, the website

    domain name www.afiplaboratories.com, and the phone number 1.877.AFIPLAB constitute

    unfair competition in violation of the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. 1125(a).

    63. The name AFIP Laboratories used in connection with providing pathology

    services is confusingly similar to the Institutes Marks and is likely to cause, and already has

    caused, confusion, mistake, or deception as to affiliation, connection, or association of Defendant

    AFIP Laboratories with the Institute.

    64. The website domain name, www.afiplaboratories.com, used to promote Defendant

    AFIP Laboratories pathology services, is confusingly similar to the Institutes Marks and is likely

    to cause, and already has caused, confusion, mistake, or deception as to affiliation, connection, or

    association of Defendant AFIP Laboratories with the Institute.

    65. The phone number, 1.877.AFIPLAB, used as a means to contact Defendant AFIP

    Laboratories to avail oneself of their pathology services, is likely to cause, and already has

    caused, confusion, mistake, or deception as to affiliation, connection, or association of Defendant

    AFIP Laboratories with the Institute.

    66. In promoting their pathology services, Defendants Advertisement, Press Release,

    Second Press Release, and statements appearing on their website individually and collectively

    constitute false designation of origin in violation of the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. 1125(a).

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    67. Defendants Advertisement includes the name AFIP Laboratories, the website

    domain name www.afiplaboratories.com, and the phone number 1.877.AFIPLAB which

    individually and collectively are confusingly similar to the Institutes Marks and are likely to

    cause, and already have caused, confusion, mistake, or deception as to the origin of Defendants

    services.

    68. Defendants Advertisement includes in the header the statement Heritage of

    Excellence, near the bottom of the page a bullet point reading 150 Years of Experience, and

    in the text below the bullet point the statement, [b]uilding on that organizations [the Institutes]

    150-year history, AFIP Laboratories will continue the Institutes tradition of excellence and

    expertise, . . . .

    69. The name AFIP Laboratories repeatedly appears in Defendants Press Release

    and is confusingly similar to the Institutes Marks and is likely to cause, and already has caused,

    confusion, mistake, or deception as to the origin of Defendants services.

    70. Defendants Press Release is titled, AFIP Laboratories Fills Critical Void Left by

    Scheduled Closure of Walter Reed Army Medical Center, describes the Institute as soon-to-be-

    closed, and states, AFIP Laboratories will continue the Institutes mission of providing

    pathology services to government, physicians and patients . . . .

    71. Defendants Second Press Release stated that [t]he 150-year-old Institute will

    cease operations when Walter Reed closes under the Federal Base Realignment and Closure

    Program and that under Defendant Farmers direction, AIPL will continue the Institutes

    mission of providing premium anatomic pathology services to governments, scientists,

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    physicians and patients . . . .

    72. Defendants website stated that the Department of Defense decided to close the

    Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), and that AIPL is aimed at continuing the AFIP

    tradition of the highest quality consultation, education and research in anatomic pathology.

    73. Through the statements set forth in paragraphs 67 to 72, Defendants create a false

    suggestion of association with the Institute that is likely to cause, and already has caused,

    confusion, mistake, or deception as to the origin of Defendants services.

    FOURTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF

    (False or Misleading Descriptions and Representations of Fact)

    74. Defendants Advertisement promoting Defendant AFIP Laboratories and their

    pathology services contained false or misleading descriptions of fact and false or misleading

    representations of fact in violation of the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. 1125(a).

    75. Defendants Advertisement includes in the header the statement Heritage of

    Excellence, near the bottom of the page a bullet point reading 150 Years of Experience, and

    in the text below the bullet point the statement, [b]uilding on that organizations [the Institutes]

    150-year history, AFIP Laboratories will continue the Institutes tradition of excellence and

    expertise . . . .

    76. Through the statements set forth in paragraph 75, Defendants misrepresent their

    affiliation with the Institute by falsely implying that the Defendant AFIP Laboratories is affiliated

    with or the successor to the Institute, when in fact no such association exists.

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    77. Defendants Press Release, Second Press Release, and statements on their website

    promoting Defendant AFIP Laboratories and their pathology services contained false or

    misleading descriptions of fact and false or misleading representations of fact in violation of the

    Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. 1125(a).

    78. Defendants Press Release is titled, AFIP Laboratories Fills Critical Void Left by

    Scheduled Closure of Walter Reed Army Medical Center, describes the Institute as soon-to-be-

    closed, and states, AFIP Laboratories will continue the Institutes mission of providing

    pathology services to government, physicians and patients . . . .

    79. Defendants Second Press Release stated that [t]he 150-year-old Institute will

    cease operations when Walter Reed closes under the Federal Base Realignment and Closure

    Program and that under Defendant Farmers direction, AIPL will continue the Institutes

    mission of providing premium anatomic pathology services to governments, scientists,

    physicians and patients . . . .

    80. Defendants website stated that the Department of Defense decided to close the

    Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), and that AIPL is aimed at continuing the AFIP

    tradition of the highest quality consultation, education and research in anatomic pathology.

    81. Through the statements set forth in paragraphs 78 to 80, Defendants misrepresent

    their affiliation with the Institute by falsely implying that the Institute will be imminently closing

    and that Defendant AFIP Laboratories is the successor to the Institute, when in fact the Institute

    remains operational and no such association exists.

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    82. Defendants uses of the confusingly similar names AFIP Laboratories and

    AIPL, the website domain name www.afiplaboratories.com, and the phone number

    1.877.AFIPLAB individually and collectively mislead the relevant consumers as to the

    affiliation, connection, or association of Defendant AFIP Laboratories with the Institute in

    violation of the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C.

    1125(a).

    83. Defendants conduct and acts have caused or are likely to cause damage to the

    Plaintiff in that such acts have deceived the relevant consumers about the nature, quality, and

    source of Defendants goods and products and have caused harm to the Plaintiffs reputation and

    to the reputation and perceived quality of Plaintiffs products. Such damage has caused

    irreparable injury to Plaintiff and unless preliminary and permanently enjoined, will continue to

    cause irreparable injury and damage to the Plaintiff for which there is no adequate remedy at

    law.

    FIFTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF

    (Wrongful Registration of Domain Name)

    84. Defendants registration of the domain name, www.afiplaboratories.com, was in

    bad faith with the intent to profit from the good will associated with the Institutes name and

    acronym in violation of the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. 1125(d).

    85. Upon information and belief, since February of 1998, the Institute has used the

    domain name, www.afip.org, to provide information regarding its services.

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    86. For over 55 years, the Institute has continuously used in commerce the name

    Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and the acronym AFIP in connection with the Institutes

    services.

    87. The domain name, www.afiplaboratories.com, is confusingly similar to the

    Institutes domain name, www.afip.org, as well as the Institutes name and acronym.

    88. Defendants had bad faith intent to profit by including their domain name on

    Defendants Advertisement which attempts to create a false suggestion of association between

    Defendants and the Institute.

    89. Defendants had bad faith intent to profit by creating a website at the domain

    name, www.afiplaboratories.com, which included a confusingly similar tradename and phone

    number, as well as a links to a misleading and false press release.

    PRAYER FOR RELIEF

    WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for:

    1. A preliminary and permanent injunction:

    (a) Restraining AFIP Laboratories, Inc., its officers, agents, directors,

    employees, servants, partners, shareholders, and all persons in active concert or

    participation with them, including David G. Bostwick and Evan R. Farmer, from using

    the tradename AFIP Laboratories, the domain name afiplaboratories.com, the phone

    number 1.877.AFIPLAB, the acronym AFIP, the name Armed Forces Institute of

    Pathology or any other indicia of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology or any other

    indicia of Government affiliation in any manner likely to cause confusion, or to cause

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    mistake, or to deceive, or from otherwise representing to the public in any way that the

    Defendants or any product produced or service provided by them is in any way sponsored,

    endorsed, approved, authorized by, or affiliated or connected with, the United States of

    America, the United States Department of Defense, the Armed Forces Institute of

    Pathology, the United States Government or any product or service thereof.

    (b) directing AFIP Laboratories and its officers, agents, employees, servants,

    partners, shareholders, and all persons in active concert or participation with them:

    (1) to collect and surrender up to counsel for the Plaintiff all works,

    products, packaging, and advertising and any derivative works of the same

    containing the trademark Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, AFIP, or any

    other indicia of any Armed Forces Institute of Pathology trademark, tradename or

    any other indicia of Government affiliation;

    (2) to transfer the registration for the domain name

    www.afiplaboratories.com to the Plaintiff, as represented by the Secretary of the

    Army;

    (3) to place the following disclaimer, in 12-point font, or font

    commensurate with the largest font used on the website or materials, on all uses of

    the marks AIPL or AIP Laboratories: AIP Laboratories is a private

    corporation and is not sponsored, endorsed, or affiliated in any way with the

    Armed Forces Institute of Pathology;

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    (4) from using in any way any mark, indicia, designation or name

    similar to the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology or AFIP as to be in any manner

    likely to cause confusion, or to cause mistake, or to deceive;

    (5) from representing to the public in any way that the Defendants or

    any product produced by them is in any way sponsored, endorsed, approved,

    authorized by, affiliated or connected in any way with, the United States of

    America, the United States Department of Defense, the Armed Forces Institute of

    Pathology, or any government entity or any product or service thereof; and

    (6) from making false or misleading statements to the public regarding

    the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology.

    2. An award against AFIP Laboratories, David G. Bostwick, and Evan R. Farmer of

    all forms of monetary relief authorized by Section 1117 of the Trademark Act, including but not

    limited to (1) a sum to be spent on corrective advertising and other expenses required to

    overcome the confusion which has been created by the Defendants infringement and other

    unlawful acts; (2) a sum measured by Plaintiffs actual damages or by the amount of profits

    earned by the Defendants, whichever is greater; or where an intentional infringement is found by

    the Court, three times the amount of the Defendants profits attributable to the Defendants

    infringement or three times the Plaintiffs actual damages, whichever is greater; and (3) the costs

    of this action along with reasonable attorney fees and interest, as applicable, and for each, in an

    amount to be determined at trial.

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    3. An awardof compensatory damages against Defendants and each of them.4. An accounting and disgorgement of each and all of the Defendants' profits

    derived as a result of its wrongful acts or such other amount as the court shall find to be justaccording to the circumstances of the case.

    5. Any other and/or further reliefas this Court may deem just, fairand equitable.Respectfully submitted,ROD J. ROSENSTEDSfUnited States Attorney

    By: Michael P.GradyAssistantUnited States AttorneyBar No. 28845United States Attorney's Office3 6 S ou th Charles StreetFour th FloorBaltimore, Maryland 21201-2692Telephone: (410) 209-4800Facsimile: (410) [email protected]

    O f Counsel: TONY WE STAssistant Attorney GeneralSTEVEN O. FORTNEYTrial AttorneyCommercial Litigation BranchCiv il Div is ionDepartment of JusticeWashington, DC 20530Telephone: (202) 307-0343Facsimile: (202) 307-0343Steven.O.Fortney@usdoj .govAttorneys for PlaintiffUnited States

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