Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-arwd-5_07-cv-05009/USCOURTS-arwd-5_07-cv-05009-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 840
Nature of Suit: Trademark
Cause of Action: 15:1114 Trademark Infringement

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

FAYETTEVILLE DIVISION

ROTOWORKS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED PLAINTIFF

v. Civil No. 07-5009

GRASSWORKS USA, LLC;

GRASSWORKS!!! L.L.C.;

ROBERT D. UMBERSON a/k/a/BOBBY 

UMBERSON; and LINDA K. REED DEFENDANTS

O R D E R

Now on this 6th day of March, 2007, come on for consideration

the Motion To Dismiss Defendant Linda K. Reed (document #13) and

the Motion To Dismiss Defendant GrassWorks!!! L.L.C. (document

#14), and from said motions, the responses thereto, the supporting

documentation, and the evidence adduced at a hearing on

plaintiff's Motion For Temporary Injunction on February 20, 2007,

the Court finds and orders as follows:

1. Plaintiff Rotoworks International Limited ("Rotoworks")

alleges that defendants are liable to it for trademark

infringement by counterfeiting and implied passing off, in

violation of 15 U.S.C. §1114(1), and for trade dress and trademark

infringement, in violation of 15 U.S.C. §1125(a). 

Defendant Linda K. Reed moves for dismissal as to her,

claiming that process was insufficient and that the Court does not

have personal jurisdiction over her. Defendant GrassWorks!!!,

L.L.C. ("GrassWorks") moves for dismissal as to it, claiming that

it was not involved in the conduct which forms the gravamen of the

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Complaint.

2. The Court will not unduly belabor Reed's motion. She

offers no suggestion of any basis to question the sufficiency of

process. The contention as to personal jurisdiction is adequately

refuted by Reed's testimony at the hearing, and the documentary

evidence offered both at the hearing and in opposition to the

motion, all of which were to the effect that Reed was the

Marketing Director of GrassWorks USA, LLC, an entity formed by

defendant Bobby Umberson and herself for the purpose of

distributing Rotowiper brand weed wipers all over the United

States. The business has a manufacturing facility near Lincoln,

Arkansas, and Arkansas is in its sales territory. Reed was

involved in arranging for the sale of at least one weed wiper in

the State of Arkansas. Given these facts, the Court finds no

reason to conclude that it lacks personal jurisdiction over Reed.

3. GrassWorks offers the Declaration of Bobby Umberson in

support of its motion. Umberson attempts to explain the confusion

between various legal entities with very similar names. He states

that he has operated a sole proprietorship for cattle grazing

under the name GrassWorks!!! since 1999. He claims to be a

partner in an entity named GrassWorks USA, LLC, formed in 2004 to

sell Rotowipers. He avers that Michelle Thomas is the sole owner

of the entity, GrassWorks!!!, LLC, but at the hearing he testified

that he and Thomas were partners in this entity.

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Adding to the confusion, while Umberson claims that neither

GrassWorks!!! nor GrassWorks!!!, LLC, has ever sold Rotowipers, he

admits that GrassWorks USA, LLC, has "sometimes used the mark

GrassWorks!!!"

The motion to dismiss will be denied. Umberson's Affidavit

suggests that he has no standing to move for the dismissal of

GrassWorks!!!, LLC, because it avers that that entity is wholly

owned by Michelle Thomas. Even if the Court credits Umberson's

testimony that he is involved in GrassWorks!!!, LLC, it is

inclined to agree with Rotoworks that Umberson's Affidavit does

little to clarify the names and usages of names among this

confusing set of artificial entities. It appears that discovery

is needed with regard to the issue. If, at that point, there is

evidence that would justify dismissal of GrassWorks!!!, LLC, the

motion to dismiss may be renewed.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the Motion To Dismiss Defendant

Linda K. Reed (document #13) is denied.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Motion To Dismiss Defendant

GrassWorks!!! L.L.C. (document #14) is denied.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

 /s/ Jimm Larry Hendren 

JIMM LARRY HENDREN

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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