Case ID: f-supp-3d_143/html/1349-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "ELEANOR L. ROSS, District Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

SPRINT NEXTEL CORPORATION and Sprint Communications Company, L.P., Plaintiffs, v. ACE WHOLESALE, INC., Jason Floarea, Eric Mandreger, Dominick Lanore, Tony Archie, Jose Genel, Barney Gunn, Copatrade, Inc., and Moshe Alezra, Defendants.
    Case No. 1:12-cv-02902-JEC.
    United States District Court, N.D. Georgia, Atlanta Division.
    Signed Nov. 5, 2015.
    
      Gail Podolsky, Carlton Fields Jorden Burt, PA, Atlanta, GA, James B. Balding-er, Marvin Derek Harris, Stacey K. Sutton, Carlton Fields Jorden Burt, P.A., West Palm Beach, FL, for Plaintiffs.
    Jason Floarea, West Bloomfield, MI, pro se.
    Tony Archie, Stone Mountain, GA, pro se.
    Copatrade, Inc., Atlanta, GA, pro se.
    Moshe Alezra, Atlanta, GA, pro se.
   JURY TRIAL DEMANDED

ELEANOR L. ROSS, District Judge.

FINAL JUDGMENT AND PERMANENT INJUNCTION AGAINST DEFENDANTS ACE WHOLESALE, INC., AND JASON FLO ARE A

Plaintiffs Sprint Communications Company, L.P. and Sprint Nextel Corporation (“Plaintiffs”) brought the above-captioned lawsuit against Defendants Ace Wholesale, Inc. and Jason Floarea (“Defendants”), alleging that Defendants are engaged in an unlawful enterprise involving the unauthorized and deceptive bulk purchase and resale overseas of ' specially-manufactured wireless telephones designed for use on Sprint’s wireless service, including the Sprint iPhone (collectively, “Sprint Phones” or “Sprint Handsets” or “Phones” or “Handsets”), the theft of Sprint’s subsidy investment in the Phones, the unlawful access of Sprint’s protected computer systems and wireless network, the trafficking of Sprint’s protected and confidential computer passwords, and the willful infringement of Sprint’s trademarks (collectively, the “Bulk Handset Trafficking Scheme” or the “Scheme”).

Defendants and their co-conspirators perpetrate the Bulk Handset Trafficking Scheme by acquiring large quantities of Sprint Phones from Sprint and/or Sprint authorized retailers and dealers, and by soliciting others to purchase Sprint Phones in large quantities for the benefit of Defendants. Defendants and their co-conspirators acquire the Sprint Phones with the knowledge and intent that the Phones will not be used on the Sprint wireless network (as required by the Sprint contracts). Instead, the Phones are trafficked and the vast majority are resold as new overseas where the Phones are not subsidized by wireless carriers (as they are in the United States) and where the Phones are not as readily available. In some cases, Defendants and their co-conspirators acquire the Sprint Phones with the knowledge and intent that the Phones will be computer-hacked. The purpose of this hacking, known as “unlocking,” is to disable software installed in the Phones by the manufacturers at the request and expense of Sprint, which enables the activation of the Sprint Phones exclusively on Sprint’s wireless system. The purpose of the software is to allow Sprint to offer the Phones at a discount to the consumer while protecting Sprint’s subsidy investment in the Phone. The illegally unlocked Phones are trafficked and resold as new by Defendants and their coconspirators, at a premium, under the Sprint trademarks.

Sprint Phones are sold subject to terms and conditions (“Terms and Conditions”) which conspicuously restrict and limit the sale and use of the Phones. These Terms and Conditions are set forth in printed inserts that are packaged with each Phone and are posted on the Plaintiffs’ respective websites. Pursuant to the Terms and Conditions of Sprint’s Phones, purchasers agree, among other things: (a) to pay the monthly service charges and other related fees; (b) to pay an Early Termination Fee (“ETF”) for each line of service that is terminated before the contract term is concluded; (e) to activate the Sprint Phones on the Sprint CDMA network; (d) not to resell the Sprint Phones and related products and services; and (e) not to use the Phones for a purpose that could damage or adversely affect Sprint.

As a result of Defendants’ involvement in the Bulk Handset Trafficking Scheme, Sprint has asserted claims against Defendants for breach of contract, common law unfair competition, tortious interference with business relationships and prospective advantage, civil conspiracy, unjust enrichment, conspiracy to induce breach of contract, federal trademark infringement under 15 U.S.C. § 1114, federal common law trademark infringement and false advertising under 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a)(1)(A) and (B), contributory trademark infringement, deceptive trade practices in violation of O.C.G.A. § 10-1-372 et seq., violations of the Georgia Computer Systems Protection Act, O.C.G.A. § 16-9-93(a), (b), and (e), common law fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, and violations of the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1030, et seq. Based on the respective positions advocated by the parties, and having reviewed the Complaint and file and being otherwise duly and fully advised in the premises, it is hereby

ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED that:

1. This Court has jurisdiction over all the parties and all of the claims set forth in Sprint’s Complaint.

2. The Court finds that Sprint has the right to use and enforce rights in the standard character and stylized Sprint® trademarks (collectively, the “Sprint Marks”), as depicted below:

Sprint

Sprint uses the Sprint Marks on and in connection with its telecommunications products and services. The Sprint Marks .are valid, distinctive, protectable, famous, have acquired secondary meaning, and are exclusively with their respective owners/licensees.

3. The Court finds that the Terms and Conditions and the language in and on the packaging constitute a valid and binding contract enforceable against Defendants. Thé Court finds that (a) failing to pay for monthly service charges; (b) failing to pay ETF fees; (c) failing to activate the Phones on the Sprint wireless network; (d) reselling and exporting the Sprint Phones and related products and services; and (e) using the Phones for a purpose that could damage or adversely affect Sprint, constitute independent breaches of contract for which Sprint is entitled to relief.

4. The Court finds that the conduct set forth in the Complaint constitutes violations of 15 U.S.C. §§ 1114 and 1125(a)(1)(A) and (B) (federal trademark infringement and false advertising). The Court further finds that the conduct also constitutes common law unfair competition, tortious interference with business relationships and prospective advantage, civil conspiracy, unjust enrichment, conspiracy to induce breach of contract, contributory trademark infringement, deceptive trade practices in violation of O.C.G.A. § 10-1-372 et seq., violations of the Georgia Computer Systems Protection Act, O.C.G.A. § 16-9-93(a), (b), and (e), common law fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, and violations of the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1030, et seq.

5. Sprint has suffered damages, including loss of goodwill and damage to its reputation, as a result of Defendants’ conduct. On review and consideration of all relevant factors, Sprint is entitled to damages and injunctive relief on the claims as set forth in the Complaint.

6. Final judgment is hereby entered against Defendants Ace Wholesale, Inc. and Jason Floarea, jointly and severally, and in favor of the Plaintiffs, on all of the claims set forth in Plaintiffs’ Complaint in the principal amount of Twenty Three Million, Seven Thousand, Three Hundred and Fifty Eight Dollars and Zero Cents ($23,-007,358.00), which shall bear interest at the legal rate, for which let execution issue forthwith.

7. Defendants and all of their past and present officers, directors, successors, assigns, parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, related companies, predecessors-in-interest, companies, agents, employees, heirs, personal representatives, beneficiaries, relatives, and all other persons or entities acting or purporting to act for them or on their behalf, including, but not limited to, any corporation, partnership, proprietorship or entity of any type that is in any way affiliated or associated with Defendants or Defendants’ representatives, agents, assigns, parent entities, employees, independent contractors, associates, servants, affiliated entities, and any and all persons and entities in active concert and participation with Defendants who receive notice of this Order, shall be and hereby are PERMANENTLY ENJOINED from:

a. purchasing, selling, unlocking, re-flashing, altering, advertising, soliciting and/or shipping, directly or indirectly, any Sprint Phones;
b. supplying Sprint Phones to or facilitating or in any way assisting other persons or entities who Defendants know or should know are engaged in the purchase or sale of Sprint Phones or hacking, altering, erasing, tampering with, deleting or otherwise disabling the software installed in Sprint Phones;
c. engaging in any of the conduct described in the Complaint as the “Bulk Handset Trafficking Scheme;”
d. supplying Sprint Phones to or facilitating or in any way assisting other persons or entities who Defendants know or should know are engaged in any of the acts prohibited under this Permanent Injunction, including, without limitation, the buying and/or selling of Sprint Phones; and
e. knowingly using the Sprint Marks or any other trademark, service mark, trade name and/or trade dress owned or used by Sprint now or in the future, or that is likely to cause confusion with Sprint’s Marks, without Sprint’s prior written authorization.

8. The purchase, sale or shipment of any Sprint Phones without Sprint’s prior written consent within and/or outside of the continental United States is and shall be deemed a presumptive violation of this permanent injunction.

9. The last known address of Defendant Ace Wholesale, Inc 100 East Big Beaver Road, Suite 905, Troy, Michigan 48083.

10. The last known address of Jason Floarea is 20755 Island Lake Drive, Taylor, Michigan 48180.

11. Defendants waive their right of appeal from the entry of this Final Judgment.

12. The Court retains jurisdiction over this matter and the parties to this action in order to enforce any violation of the terms of this Permanent Injunction by a finding of contempt and an order for payment of compensatory damages to Plaintiffs in an amount of $5,000 for each Sprint Phone that a Defendant is found to have purchased, sold or unlocked in violation of this Injunction. The Court finds that these amounts are compensatory and will serve to compensate Sprint for its losses in the event Defendants violate the terms of this Order.

13. The Court hereby finds, pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 54(b), that there is no just reason for delay and orders that Judgment shall be entered against Defendants as set forth herein.

14. The case shall remain open with respect to the other Defendants, namely Tony Archie, Copatrade, Inc., Moshe Alezra and Barney Gunn.