Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_08-cv-01740/USCOURTS-azd-2_08-cv-01740-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 840
Nature of Suit: Trademark
Cause of Action: 15:1051 Trademark Infringement

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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Best Western International, Inc., an

Arizona non-profit corporation, 

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Niagra River Hotels, Inc., a Canadian

corporation; and Mangat Verma,

Defendants.

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No. CV-08-1740-PHX-DGC

ORDER AND DEFAULT JUDGMENT

Best Western International, Inc. (“Best Western”) is a non-profit corporation

consisting of individually owned hotels that operate under the “Best Western” mark. The

rights and duties of Best Western and its members are created and governed by a membership

agreement, which incorporates by reference certain bylaws and rules and regulations. The

membership agreement permits the Best Western Board of Directors to terminate a member

hotel for failure to meet certain quality and design standards.

Niagra River Hotels, Inc. (“Niagra”) and Mangat Verma owned and operated a hotel

formerly known as the Best Western Fireside Hotel, located in Niagra Falls, Canada. In July

2006, Verma executed a membership agreement with Best Western on behalf of himself and

Niagra. Best Western terminated the membership in June 2008.

Best Western filed a complaint against Verma and Niagra on September 24, 2008,

asserting various state and federal law claims arising from Defendants’ alleged unlawful use

Case 2:08-cv-01740-DGC Document 27 Filed 06/16/09 Page 1 of 3
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of Best Western’s marks and alleged failure to pay monies owed to Best Western. The

complaint asserts the following ten claims: breach of contract, open account, breach of

contract – post termination use of trademarks, federal trademark infringement, federal false

designation of origin and unfair competition, federal trademark dilution under 15 U.S.C. §

1125(e), federal trademark dilution under 15 U.S.C. § 1125(c), unfair competition under

Arizona law, trademark dilution under Arizona law, and common law trademark

infringement. Best Western seeks damages, injunctive relief, and attorneys’ fees and costs.

Dkt. #1.

Best Western has filed a motion for default judgment pursuant to Rule 55(b) of the

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Dkt. #23. Best Western seeks default judgment (1) on

Counts I and II in the amount of $24,251.24 (U.S. Dollars), plus interest at the rate of 1.5%

per month from April 1, 2009, (2) on Count III in the amount of $330,480.00 (U.S. Dollars),

and (3) on Counts IV-X, for Best Western’s reasonable attorney fees and costs in the amount

of $5,6999.05. For reasons that follow, the Court will grant the motion.

Because Defendants’ default has been properly entered under Rule 55(a) (see Dkt.

##17-20), the Court has discretion to grant default judgment against Defendants pursuant to

Rule 55(b). See Aldabe v. Aldabe, 616 F.2d 1089, 1092 (9th Cir. 1980); Draper v. Coombs,

792 F.2d 915, 924 (9th Cir. 1986). Factors the Court should consider in deciding whether

to grant default judgment include (1) the possibility of prejudice to Best Western, (2) the

merits of the claims, (3) the sufficiency of the complaint, (4) the amount of money at stake,

(5) the possibility of a dispute concerning material facts, (6) whether default was due to

excusable neglect, and (7) the policy favoring a decision on the merits. See Eitel v. McCool,

782 F.2d 1470, 1471-72 (9th Cir. 1986).

Having considered Best Western’s motion, which addresses each of the Eitel factors

(see Dkt. #26), and having reviewed the supporting affidavits and documents provided by

Best Western (see Dkt. ##1, 24, 26-2 through 26-5), the Court concludes that the requested

default judgment is appropriate. See Best W. Int’l, Inc. v. Universal Hospitality, Inc.,

No. CV-08-91-PHX-DGC, 2008 WL 20003784 (D. Ariz. May 8, 2008) (granting default

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judgment against former member-hotel).

IT IS ORDERED:

1. Plaintiff Best Western International, Inc.’s motion for default judgment

(Dkt. #26) is granted.

2. Default judgment is entered in favor of Plaintiff and against Defendants on

Counts I and II of the complaint in the amount of $24,251.24 (U.S. Dollars)

plus interest at the rate of 1.5% per month from April 1, 2009 until paid in full.

3. Default judgment is entered in favor of Plaintiff and against Defendants on

Counts III of the complaint in the amount of $330,480.00 (U.S. Dollars).

4. Default judgment is entered in favor of Plaintiff and against Defendants on

Counts IV through X of the complaint with respect to an award of reasonable

attorney fees and costs.

5. Plaintiff is awarded attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of $5,699.05

(U.S. Dollars).

DATED this 16th day of June, 2009.

Case 2:08-cv-01740-DGC Document 27 Filed 06/16/09 Page 3 of 3