Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-00502/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-00502-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 15:1125 Trademark Infringement (Lanham Act)

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LA1631484.2 

202970-10196 1 

STIPULATED JUDGMENT AND 

PERMANENT INJUCTION

Loeb & Loeb A Limited Liability Partnership 

Including Professional 

Corporations 

LOEB & LOEB LLP 

DAVID A. GROSSMAN (State Bar No. 211326) 

10100 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 2200 

Los Angeles, California 90067-4164 

Telephone: 310-282-2000 

Facsimile: 310-282-2200 

(dgrossman@loeb.com) 

Attorneys for Plaintiff 

MERRILL LYNCH CREDIT 

CORPORATION, a Delaware 

corporation, MERRILL LYNCH & 

CO. INC., a Delaware corporation 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

MERRILL LYNCH CREDIT 

CORPORATION, a Delaware 

corporation, MERRILL LYNCH & CO. 

INC, a Delaware corporation, 

Plaintiff, 

 v. 

FIRST FOUNDATION MORTGAGE 

GROUP, a California corporation and 

DOES 1 through 10, inclusive, 

Defendant. 

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Case No. 2:07-CV- 00502 (GEB-GGH)

STIPULATED [PROPOSED] 

PERMANENT INJUNCTION AND 

CONSENT JUDGMENT 

Plaintiffs Merrill Lynch Credit Corporation (“MLCC”) and Merrill Lynch & 

Co., Inc. (“Merrill Lynch”) (collectively “Plaintiffs”), and defendant First 

Foundation Mortgage Group (“Defendant”), by and through their counsel, hereby 

jointly request a Consent Judgment and Permanent Injunction as follows: 

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

1. Plaintiffs commenced this action on or about March 14, 2007, alleging 

claims against Defendant for (1) False Designation of Origin under the Lanham Act; 

(2) Unfair Competition Under §17200 of California Business & Professions Code; 

Case 2:07-cv-00502-GEB-GGH Document 12 Filed 09/06/07 Page 1 of 6
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LA1631484.2 

202970-10196 2 

STIPULATED JUDGMENT AND 

PERMANENT INJUCTION

Loeb & Loeb A Limited Liability Partnership 

Including Professional 

Corporations 

(3) Common Law Unfair Competition; (4) False Advertising Under the Lanham 

Act; (5) False Advertising Under California Law; and (6) Dilution. 

2. This action was commenced by Plaintiffs against Defendant based on 

alleged false representations that were made by Defendant’s representatives in 

connection with Defendant’s solicitation of customers for its mortgage business. 

Plaintiffs believe that Defendant’s representatives were contacting MLCC mortgage 

customers and representing to those individuals that Defendant was affiliated with 

MLCC and/or Merrill Lynch and was calling “on behalf of” MLCC. 

3. This Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendant as it is a California 

corporation and operates in this judicial district. 

4. Defendant First Foundation has entered into this Stipulated Permanent 

Injunction and Consent Judgment freely and without coercion and acknowledges 

that it is willing to and prepared to abide by its terms. 

JUDGMENT AND PERMANENT INJUNCTION

5. This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter hereof and over the 

Plaintiffs and Defendant. 

6. The provisions of this Stipulated Permanent Injunction shall be 

applicable to Defendant, its respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions and 

their respective officers, directors, principals, employees, representatives, successors 

and assigns. 

7. Defendant hereby agrees to be permanently enjoined from: 

a. Stating, implying or representing, in any manner (either verbally 

or in writing), that Defendant is associated or affiliated with Plaintiffs or their 

affiliates or subsidiaries; 

b. Stating, implying or representing, in connection with 

Defendant’s solicitation of customers, that Defendant is acting “on behalf of” 

Plaintiffs or with Plaintiffs’ knowledge or approval; 

Case 2:07-cv-00502-GEB-GGH Document 12 Filed 09/06/07 Page 2 of 6
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LA1631484.2 

202970-10196 3 

STIPULATED JUDGMENT AND 

PERMANENT INJUCTION

Loeb & Loeb A Limited Liability Partnership 

Including Professional 

Corporations 

c. Using Plaintiffs’ names or trademarks in a prominent and 

conspicuous manner in connection with solicitations of customers, including, but not 

limited to, the use of boldface and/or large font references to Plaintiffs in 

Defendant’s correspondence with customers or potential customers; and 

d. Engaging in any other activity constituting unfair competition 

with Plaintiffs, constituting an infringement of Plaintiffs’ registered trademarks, or 

constituting false or misleading representations involving Plaintiffs or their affiliated 

entities. 

8. Defendant agrees to pay the amount of $1,000.00 to Plaintiffs, which 

amount shall be in the form of a certified check, made payable to Merrill Lynch 

Credit Corporation. This amount must be delivered to Plaintiffs’ counsel within 

fifteen (10) business days of execution of this Agreement. 

9. In exchange for the payment of $1,000.00, Plaintiffs hereby release, 

acquit and discharge Defendant and its current and former agents, attorneys, 

representatives, owners, employees, officers and directors, of and from any and all 

obligations, debts, claims, liabilities, demands, and causes of action that were or 

could have been asserted based on Defendant’s conduct as alleged in the Complaint 

from the beginning of the world to the day of the date of this release. 

RETENTION OF JURISDICTION

10. The Court shall retain jurisdiction over this action for all purposes. 

WHEREFORE, the parties jointly request that the Court grant this 

Stipulation for Consent Judgment and Permanent Injunction and issue an order 

regarding same. 

Case 2:07-cv-00502-GEB-GGH Document 12 Filed 09/06/07 Page 3 of 6
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LA1631484.2 

202970-10196 4 

STIPULATED JUDGMENT AND 

PERMANENT INJUCTION

Loeb & Loeb A Limited Liability Partnership 

Including Professional 

Corporations 

Dated: June __, 2007 MATHENY SEARS LINKERT & LONG, 

LLP 

ARISTIDES G. TZIKAS 

By: 

Aristides G. Tzikas 

Attorneys for Defendant 

Dated: June __, 2007 LOEB & LOEB LLP 

DAVID A. GROSSMAN 

By: 

David Grossman 

Attorneys for Plaintiffs 

Case 2:07-cv-00502-GEB-GGH Document 12 Filed 09/06/07 Page 4 of 6
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LA1631484.2 

202970-10196 5 

STIPULATED JUDGMENT AND 

PERMANENT INJUCTION

Loeb & Loeb A Limited Liability Partnership 

Including Professional 

Corporations 

ORDER

Upon consideration of the Stipulation for Consent Judgment and Permanent 

Injunction filed by Plaintiffs Merrill Lynch Credit Corporation and Merrill Lynch 

& Co., Inc. (collectively “Plaintiffs”), and Defendant First Foundation Mortgage 

Group (“Defendant”), it is hereby ordered, judged and decreed as follows: 

1. The Stipulation for Consent Judgment and Permanent Injunction is 

GRANTED. 

2. Judgment is entered against Defendant and in favor of Plaintiffs. 

3. Defendant, its respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions and 

their respective officers, directors, principals, employees, representatives, 

successors and assigns are hereby permanently enjoined and restrained from: 

a. Stating, implying or representing, in any manner (either verbally 

or in writing), that Defendant is associated or affiliated with Plaintiffs or their 

affiliates or subsidiaries; 

b. Stating, implying or representing, in connection with 

Defendant’s solicitation of customers, that Defendant is acting “on behalf of” 

Plaintiffs or with Plaintiffs’ knowledge or approval; 

c. Using Plaintiffs’ names or trademarks in a prominent and 

conspicuous manner in connection with Defendant’s solicitations of customers, 

including, but not limited to, the use of boldface and/or large font references to 

Plaintiffs in Defendant’s correspondence with customers; and 

d. Engaging in any other activity constituting unfair competition 

with Plaintiffs, constituting an infringement of Plaintiffs’ registered trademarks, or 

constituting false or misleading representations involving Plaintiffs or their affiliated 

entities. 

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LA1631484.2 

202970-10196 6 

STIPULATED JUDGMENT AND 

PERMANENT INJUCTION

Loeb & Loeb A Limited Liability Partnership 

Including Professional 

Corporations 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, JUDGED AND DECREED that the Court 

shall retain jurisdiction over this action for all purposes. 

Dated: September 5, 2007 

Case 2:07-cv-00502-GEB-GGH Document 12 Filed 09/06/07 Page 6 of 6