System Forward America, Inc. v. Martinez

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
System Forward America, Inc. v. Martinez, 129 F. App'x 88 (5th Cir. 2005)

System Forward America, Inc. v. Martinez

Opinion

PER CURIAM: *

System Forward America, Inc. (“SFA”) owns the service marks Pop-A-Lock® and Pop-A-Lock A Car Door Unlocking Service and design®. SFA filed suit against Adam C. Martinez alleging trademark infringement, dilution, and unfair competition arising out of Martinez’ use of the name Pop-A-Car-Open. Adopting the re.port and recommendation of a magistrate judge, the district court granted' summary judgment in favor of SFA and granted *89 injunctive and monetary relief. Martinez now appeals.

Because Martinez’ objection to the magistrate judge’s report was limited to the amount of profits awarded, we review his challenge to the finding of trademark infringement and to the injunctive relief for plain error. See Douglass v. United Servs. Auto. Ass’n, 79 F.3d 1415, 1430 (5th Cir. 1996) (en banc). We find no plain error in the conclusion that SFA owned protectible marks and used them prior to Martinez’ use of his mark and that there is likelihood of confusion. See Union Nat’l Bank of Texas, Laredo v. Union Nat’l Bank of Texas, Austin, 909 F.2d 839, 844 (5th Cir. 1990); Horseshoe Bay Resort Sales Co. v. Lake Lyndon B. Johnson Improvement Carp., 53 S.W.3d 799, 806 (Tex.App. 2001). For essentially the same reasons, we conclude that the district court’s finding of trademark dilution was not plain error.

With respect to the injunctive relief, the order enjoining the use of the name Pop-A-Car-Open and requiring destruction of materials bearing the Pop-A-Car-Open name are well within the scope of injunctive relief allowed. See 15 U.S.C. §§ 1116, 1118; Tex. Bus. & Comm.Code § 16.26(c). As to cancellation of telephone numbers for Pop-A-Car-Open, we find no obvious error in light of existing law. The district court did not commit plain error in its order of injunctive relief.

Finally, Martinez contends that the district court erred in awarding $29,816 in profits to SFA. Martinez bore the burden of proving that his infringement did not result in his financial benefit. See Mishakawa Rubber & Woolen Mfg. Co. v. S.S. Kresge Co., 316 U.S. 203, 207, 62 S.Ct. 1022, 86 L.Ed. 1381 (1942). Martinez’ eonclusory allegations that he cannot isolate the profits associated with Pop-A-Car-Open from those of his other business is insufficient to defeat summary judgment. See Little v. Liquid Air Corp., 37 F.3d 1069, 1075 (5th Cir. 1994) (en banc).

For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

*

Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.

Reference

Full Case Name
SYSTEM FORWARD AMERICA, INC., Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Adam C. MARTINEZ, Doing Business as Pop-A-Car-Open, Defendant-Appellant
Status
Unpublished