IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS

SHERMAN DIVISION

Case Number: 4:23-cv-00266

GS HOLISTIC, LLC, 

Plaintiff,

v.

SERANE LLC d/b/a SMOKE JOINT, RICK 

ALI, FARHAN LADIWALA, and TARIQ S 

ALI,

Defendants.

___________________________________/

COMPLAINT FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF AND DAMAGES

The Plaintiff, GS HOLISTIC, LLC (hereinafter referred to as “GS”), by and through its

undersigned counsel, hereby files this, its Complaint against the Defendants, SERANE LLC d/b/a

SMOKE JOINT, RICK ALI, FARHAN LADIWALA, and TARIQ S ALI (hereinafter collectively 

referred to as the “OWNERS”), and alleges, as follows:

Jurisdictional Allegations

1. This is a civil action against the Defendants for trademark infringement, 

counterfeiting, and false designation of origin and unfair competition, under the Lanham Act (15 

U.S.C. § 1051 et. seq.).

2. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over the claims in this action that relate 

to trademark infringement, counterfeiting, and false designation of origin and unfair competition 

pursuant to the provisions of 15 U.S.C. § 1121 and 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a)

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Venue

3. Venue is proper in this district under 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b) in that the Defendants

reside in this district and the cause of action occurred in this district.

Parties

4. GS HOLISTIC, LLC is a Delaware Limited Liability Corporation that has its 

principal place of business at 7162 Beverly Boulevard, #207, Los Angeles, California 90036. GS 

is the registered owner of the Stündenglass trademarks. 

5. SERANE LLC d/b/a SMOKE JOINT (hereinafter referred to as “SMOKE JOINT”) 

is a Texas limited liability company that was formed in Texas and has its principal place of 

business at 3065 N Josey Ln Suite 60, Carrollton, TX 75007. SMOKE JOINT is a citizen of Texas. 

6. RICK ALI is a resident of Carrollton, Texas, and is sui juris. RICK ALI is a citizen 

of Texas.

7. FARHAN LADIWALA is a resident of Dallas, Texas, and is sui juris. FARHAN 

LADIWALA is a citizen of Texas.

8. TARIQ S ALI is a resident of The Colony, Texas, and is sui juris. TARIQ S ALI

is a citizen of Texas

Facts Common to All Counts

The History of The Stündenglass Brand. 

9. Since 2020, GS has marketed and sold products using the well-known trademark 

“Stündenglass.” The Stündenglass branded products, such as glass infusers and accessories related 

thereto, are widely recognized nationally and internationally. Indeed, the Stündenglass brand is 

one of the leading companies in the industry, known for high quality and innovation of products. 

10. For approximately two years, GS has worked to distinguish the Stündenglass brand 

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as the premier manufacturer of glass infusers by emphasizing the brand’s unwavering use of 

quality materials and focusing on scientific principles which facilitate a superior smoking 

experience. Stündenglass branded products embody a painstaking attention to detail, which is 

evident in many facets of authentic Stündenglass branded products. It is precisely because of the 

unyielding quest for quality and unsurpassed innovation that Stündenglass branded products have 

a significant following and appreciation amongst consumers in the United States and 

internationally.

11. As a result of the continuous and extensive use of the trademark 

“STÜNDENGLASS,” GS was granted both valid and subsisting federal statutory and common 

law rights to the Stündenglass trademark. 

12. GS is the rightful owner of United States trademarks, which are registered on the 

Principal Register and have become incontestable within the meaning of Section 15 of the Lanham 

Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1065. The following is a list of GS’s federally registered trademarks:

a. U.S. Trademark Registration Number 6,633,884 for the standard character

mark “Stündenglass” in association with goods further identified in registration in 

international class 011.

b. U.S. Trademark Registration Number 6,174,292 for the design plus words 

mark “S” and its logo in association with goods further identified in the registration in 

international class 034.

c. U.S. Trademark Registration Number 6,174,291 for the standard character

mark “Stündenglass” in association with goods further identified in registration in 

international class 034.

13. The above U.S. registrations are valid, subsisting and in full force and effect. 

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The Stündenglass Brand in the United States. 

14. GS has used the Stündenglass Marks in commerce throughout the United States,

continuously, since 2020, in connection with the manufacturing of glass infusers and accessories.

15. The Stündenglass Marks are distinctive to both the consuming public and the 

Plaintiff’s trade. GS’s Stündenglass branded products are made from superior materials. The 

superiority of Stündenglass branded products is not only readily apparent to consumers, but to 

industry professionals as well. 

16. The Stündenglass Trademarks are exclusive to GS and appear clearly on GS’s 

Stündenglass Products, as well as on the packaging and advertisements related to the products. GS 

has expended substantial time, money, and other resources in developing, advertising, and 

otherwise promoting and protecting these Trademarks. As a result, products bearing GS’s 

Stündenglass Trademarks are widely recognized and exclusively associated by consumers, the 

public, and the trade as being high-quality products sourced from GS. 

17. GS’s Stündenglass Products have become some of the most popular of their kind 

in the world and have also been the subject of extensive unsolicited publicity resulting from their 

high-quality and innovative designs. Because of these and other factors, the GS brand, the 

Stündenglass brand, and GS’s Stündenglass Trademarks are famous throughout the United States.

18. Since 2020, GS has worked to build significant goodwill in the Stündenglass brand 

in the United States. GS has spent substantial time, money, and effort in developing consumer 

recognition and awareness of the Stündenglass brand, via point of purchase materials, displays, 

through their websites, attending industry trade shows, and through social media promotion. 

19. In fact, the Stündenglass Products have been praised and recognized by numerous 

online publications, as well as publications directed to the general public.

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20. Due to the high quality of the brand and products, GS has collaborated with 

numerous celebrities and companies to create collaborations for the Stündenglass products.

21. GS sells its products under the Stündenglass Marks to authorized stores in the 

United States, including in Texas. GS has approximately 3,000 authorized stores in the United 

States selling its products. As such, Stündenglass branded products reach a vast array of 

consumers throughout the country. 

22. It is because of the recognized quality and innovation associated with the 

Stündenglass Marks that consumers are willing to pay higher prices for genuine Stündenglass

products. For example, a Stündenglass brand glass infuser is priced at $599.95, while a nonStündenglass branded product is also being sold for up to $600, with a range of $199 to $600.

23. It is exactly because of their higher sales value that Stündenglass branded products 

are targeted by counterfeiters. These unscrupulous people and entities tarnish the Stündenglass

brand by unlawfully selling glass infusers that have identical, or nearly identical, versions of the 

Stündenglass Marks affixed to products that are made with inferior materials and technology, 

thereby leading to significant illegitimate profits by store owners, such as the Defendants in the 

instant case.

24. In essence, the Defendants mislead consumers by selling in their stores low grade 

products that free ride on the goodwill of the Stündenglass brand, and in turn, the Defendants reap 

substantial ill-begotten profits. The Defendants’ offering for sale of counterfeit Stündenglass

products contributes to the complete flooding of the marketplace with Stündenglass counterfeit 

products, which results in lost sales and damages to GS and irreparable harm to the Stündenglass 

brand’s image. 

25. Unfortunately, the current U.S. marketplace is saturated with counterfeit 

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Stündenglass products – just like those the OWNERS, through their store, SMOKE JOINT, are 

offering for sale. As such, GS has been forced to scrupulously enforce its rights in order to protect 

the Stündenglass Marks against infringement. By exercising its Enforcement Rights, GS has 

proactively and successfully policed the unauthorized use of the Stündenglass Marks and/or 

counterfeit Stündenglass branded products nationwide. GS has had to bear great expense to seek 

out and investigate suspected counterfeiters in their attempt to clean up the marketplace.

Defendants’ Offering for Sale Counterfeit Goods

26. The Defendants have, and they continue to, offer for sale counterfeit Stündenglass 

products with the Stündenglass trademark and without the consent of GS. In fact, they offer 

counterfeit glass infusers bearing imitations of the Stündenglass Trademarks that were not made 

or authorized by GS. These are hereinafter the “Counterfeit Goods”. 

27. Nevertheless, the Defendants have and continue to offer for sale in commerce the 

Counterfeit Goods, specifically, the Defendants offer for sale reproductions, counterfeits, copies 

and/or colorable imitations of one or more of the Stündenglass Marks (hereinafter the “Infringing 

Marks”), detailed above.

28. The Defendants have, without the consent of GS, continued to offer for sale in their 

store, the Counterfeit Goods bearing the Infringing Marks, bearing the likeness of the Stündenglass 

Trademarks in the United States. 

29. The marks affixed to the Counterfeit Goods that the Defendants have offered for 

sale are spurious marks which are identical with, or substantially indistinguishable from, the 

Stündenglass Trademarks. The marks on the Counterfeit Goods are in fact counterfeit marks as 

defined in 15 U.S.C. § 1116(d).

30. In the ongoing investigation into the sales of counterfeit products bearing the 

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Stündenglass Marks, SMOKE JOINT offered for sale Counterfeit Goods. 

31. Specifically, on March 7, 2023, GS’s investigator attended SMOKE JOINT’s 

location, which was open to the public, and observed that it had an excess of Glass Infusers which 

displayed the Stündenglass Trademarks. The investigator purchased a Glass Infuser with a 

Stündenglass Mark affixed to it, from SMOKE JOINT, for a cost of $432.99, charged to the 

account of GS’s investigator, and it was a Counterfeit product in that it displayed the Infringing 

Marks. 

32. The OWNERS authorized, directed, and/or participated in SMOKE JOINT’s offer 

for sale, in commerce, of the Counterfeit Goods. The OWNERS’ acts were a moving, active, and 

conscious force behind SMOKE JOINT’s infringement of the Stündenglass Trademarks. 

33. The Defendants’ use of the counterfeit Stündenglass Trademarks began after the 

registration of the Stündenglass Trademarks. Neither GS, nor any of its authorized agents, have 

consented to the Defendants’ use of the Stündenglass Trademarks, or any use of reproductions, 

counterfeits, copies and/or colorable imitations thereof. 

34. The unauthorized offering for sale by SMOKE JOINT, under the authority, 

direction and/or participation of the OWNERS, of the Counterfeit Goods was an unlawful act in 

violation of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1114 and 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a). 

35. The offer for sale by the Defendants of the Counterfeit Goods bearing the Infringing 

Marks has caused GS to suffer losses and is likely to cause damage to the goodwill and reputation 

associated with the Stündenglass Trademarks, which are owned by GS.

36. SMOKE JOINT’s use of the Stündenglass Marks includes displaying to offer for 

sale unauthorized copies of Counterfeit Stündenglass branded products. SMOKE JOINT’s 

offering to sell the Stündenglass counterfeit products, bearing the Infringing Marks in this manner,

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was, and is, likely to cause confusion or to cause mistake and/or deceive consumers who purchase 

the Counterfeit Goods.

37. SMOKE JOINT used images and names identical to or confusingly similar to the 

Stündenglass Marks, to confuse customers and aid in the promotion and sales of Counterfeit Goods 

under the Infringing Marks. 

38. The Infringing Marks affixed to the Counterfeit Goods that SMOKE JOINT has 

distributed, provided, marketed, advertised, promoted, offered for sale, and/or sold, is confusingly 

identical or similar to the Stündenglass Marks that GS affixes to its Glass Infusers.

39. The Glass Infusers that SMOKE JOINT sells and offers for sale under the 

Infringing Marks are made of substantially inferior materials and inferior technology as compared 

to genuine Stündenglass brand products. 

40. SMOKE JOINT has distributed, provided, marketed, advertised, promoted, offered 

for sale, and sold its water pipes under the Infringing Mark through its retail convenience store. 

41. SMOKE JOINT has marketed, advertised, and promoted its Counterfeit Goods

under the Infringing Marks through point of purchase displays, and/or its website, and/or via social 

media promotion. 

42. SMOKE JOINT and the OWNERS’ infringing acts as alleged herein have caused 

and are likely to cause confusion, mistake, and deception among the relevant consuming public as 

to the source or origin of the Counterfeit Goods sold by SMOKE JOINT, and are likely to deceive, 

and have deceived, the relevant consuming public into mistakenly believing that the Counterfeit 

Goods sold by SMOKE JOINT originate from, and are associated or affiliated with, or otherwise 

authorized by GS.

43. SMOKE JOINT and OWNERS’ acts are willful with the deliberate intent to trade 

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on the goodwill of the Stündenglass Marks, cause confusion and deception in the marketplace, and 

divert potential sales of the Plaintiff’s glass infusers to SMOKE JOINT.

44. SMOKE JOINT and OWNERS’ acts are causing and, unless restrained, will 

continue to cause damage and immediate irreparable harm to GS, the Stündenglass Marks, and to 

its valuable reputation and goodwill with the consuming public for which GS has no adequate 

remedy at law. 

45. As a proximate result of the unfair advantage accruing to OWNERS and SMOKE 

JOINT’s business from deceptively trading on GS’s advertising, sales, and consumer recognition, 

the OWNERS and SMOKE JOINT have made and will continue to make substantial profits and 

gains to which they are not in law or equity entitled. 

46. The injuries and damages sustained by GS has been directly and proximately 

caused by SMOKE JOINT and the OWNERS’ wrongful advertisement, promotion, distribution, 

sale and offers for sale of their goods bearing infringements or counterfeits of the Stündenglass 

Marks. 

47. Through such business activities, the OWNERS and SMOKE JOINT purposefully 

derived direct benefits from their interstate commerce activities by targeting foreseeable 

purchasers in the State of Texas, and in doing so, have knowingly harmed GS. 

48. Furthermore, the sale and distribution of Counterfeit Goods by SMOKE JOINT has 

infringed upon the above-identified federally registered trademarks. 

49. The spurious marks or designations used by SMOKE JOINT in interstate 

commerce are identical with, or substantially indistinguishable from, the Stündenglass Marks on 

goods covered by the Stündenglass Marks. Such use therefore creates a false affiliation between

SMOKE JOINT, GS, and the Stündenglass Marks. 

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50. Due to the actions of the OWNERS and SMOKE JOINT, GS has been forced to 

retain the undersigned counsel and pay the costs of bringing an action forward. The OWNERS 

and SMOKE JOINT should be responsible for paying GS’s reasonable costs of the action. 

51. The OWNERS and SMOKE JOINT’s acts have damaged, and will continue to 

damage GS, and GS has no adequate remedy at law. 

52. Moreover, SMOKE JOINT and the OWNERS’s wrongful acts will continue unless 

enjoined by the Court. Accordingly, the OWNERS and SMOKE JOINT must be restrained and 

enjoined from any further counterfeiting or infringement of the Stündenglass Marks.

Count One

Federal Trademark Counterfeiting and Infringement, 15 U.S.C. § 1114

53. The Plaintiff avers Paragraphs 1 through 52, which are stated above and incorporate 

the allegations therein, as though they are fully restated in this Count by reference.

54. GS owns the federally registered Stündenglass Trademarks, as set forth in more 

detail in the foregoing paragraphs. 

55. The Defendants, without authorization from GS, have used in commerce a spurious 

designation that id identical with, or substantially indistinguishable from, the Stündenglass

Trademarks on the same goods covered by the Stündenglass Trademarks. 

56. The Defendants’ unauthorized use of counterfeit marks of the registered 

Stündenglass Trademarks on and in connection with the Defendants’ offer for sale in commerce is 

likely to cause confusion or mistake in the minds of the public.

57. The Defendants’ conduct as alleged herein is willful and intended to cause 

confusion, mistake, or deception as to the affiliation, connection, or association of the Defendants, 

with GS or the Stündenglass Trademarks. 

58. The Defendants’ acts constitute willful trademark infringement in violation of 

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Section 32 of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1114. 

59. The Defendants’ actions constitute the use by the Defendants of one or more 

“counterfeit mark(s)” as defined in 15 U.S.C. § 1116(d)(1)(B). 

60. The Defendants’ use in commerce of the counterfeit Stündenglass Trademarks has 

resulted in lost profits and business to GS, which are difficult to determine. The Defendants have 

also, by selling counterfeit Stündenglass products, caused considerable damage to the goodwill of 

the Stündenglass Trademarks, and diminished the brand recognition of the Stündenglass

Trademarks by introducing counterfeit products into the marketplace.

61. By reason of the foregoing, the Plaintiff is entitled to, among other relief, injunctive 

relief, an award of statutory damages, and costs of the action under Sections 34 and 35 of the 

Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1116, 1117, together with prejudgment and post-judgment interest. 

Count Two

Federal False Designation of Origin and Unfair Competition, 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a)

62. The Plaintiff avers Paragraphs 1 through 52, which are stated above and incorporate 

the allegations therein, as though they are fully restated and incorporated in this Count by 

reference.

63. GS owns the federally registered Stündenglass Trademarks, as set forth in more 

detail in the foregoing paragraphs. 

64. The Defendants, without authorization from GS, have used in commerce spurious 

designations that are identical with, or substantially indistinguishable from, the Stündenglass

Trademarks on the same goods covered by the Stündenglass Trademarks. 

65. The Defendants’ unauthorized use of counterfeit marks of the registered 

Stündenglass Trademarks on and in connection with the Defendants’ offers for sale in commerce 

is likely to cause confusion or mistake in the minds of the public.

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66. The Defendants’ unauthorized use in commerce of the Stündenglass Trademarks as 

alleged herein constitutes use of a false designation of origin and misleading description and 

representation of fact in violation of Section 43(a) of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a).

67. The Defendants’ conduct as alleged herein is willful and is intended to, and is likely 

to, cause confusion, mistake, or deception as to the affiliation, connection, or association of the 

Defendants, with GS or the Stündenglass Trademarks. 

68. The Defendants’ conduct as alleged herein is causing immediate and irreparable 

harm and injury to GS, and to the goodwill and reputation of the Stündenglass Trademarks. 

Moreover, it will continue to cause damage to GS and confuse the public unless enjoined by this 

Court. 

69. GS has no adequate remedy at law.

70. By reason of the foregoing, the Plaintiff is entitled to, among other relief, injunctive 

relief, an award of statutory damages, and costs of the action under Sections 34 and 35 of the 

Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1116, 1117, together with prejudgment and post-judgment interest. 

Prayer For Relief

WHEREFORE, the Plaintiff, GS HOLISTIC, LLC, respectfully requests the following 

relief against the Defendants, as follows:

1. With regard to Plaintiff’s Count I for trademark infringement:

a. Disgorgement of profits under 15 U.S.C. § 1117(a);

b. Treble damages under 15 U.S.C. § 1117(b); 

c. Statutory damages under 15 U.S.C. § 1117(c);

d. Costs of suit; and

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e. Joint and several liability for the OWNERS, and other officers, and directors, 

for the knowing participation in the counterfeiting activities of SERANE LLC

2. With regard to Plaintiff’s Count II for false designation and unfair competition:

a. Disgorgement of profits under 15 U.S.C. § 1117(a);

b. Treble damages under 15 U.S.C. § 1117(b); 

c. Statutory damages under 15 U.S.C. § 1117(c);

d. Costs of suit; and

e. Joint and several liability for the OWNERS, and other officers, and directors, 

for the knowing participation in the counterfeiting activities of SERANE LLC.

3. Preliminarily and permanently enjoining SERANE LLC and its agents, employees, 

officers, directors, owners, representatives, successor companies, related companies, and all 

persons acting in concert or participation with it from:

a. The import, export, making, manufacture, reproduction, assembly, use, 

acquisition, purchase, offer, sale, transfer, brokerage, consignment, 

distribution, storage, shipment licensing, development, display, delivery, 

marketing, advertising or promotion of the counterfeit Stündenglass product 

identified in the Complaint and any other unauthorized Stündenglass product, 

counterfeit, copy or colorful imitation thereof;

4. Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1116(a), directing SERANE LLC to file with the Court and 

serve on the Plaintiff’s within thirty (30) days after issuance of an injunction, a report in writing 

and under oath setting forth in detail the manner and form in which SERANE LLC has complied 

with the injunction;

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5. For an order from the Court requiring that the Defendants provide complete 

accountings and for equitable relief, including that the Defendants disgorge and return or pay their 

ill-gotten gains obtained from the illegal transactions entered into and/or pay restitution, including 

the amount of monies that should have been paid if the Defendants had complied with their legal 

obligations, or as equity requires;

6. For an order from the Court that an asset freeze or constructive trust be imposed on 

all monies and profits in the SERANE LLC’s possession, which rightfully belong to the Plaintiff;

7. Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1118 requiring that the Defendants and all others acting 

under the Defendants’ authority, at its cost, be required to deliver up to the Plaintiff for destruction 

all products, accessories, labels, signs, prints, packages, wrappers, receptacles, advertisements, and 

other material in their possession, custody or control bearing any of the Stündenglass Trademarks.

8. For any other and further relief as the Court may deem just and equitable.

Date: March 29, 2023

Respectfully Submitted,

/s/ Sanjay K. Minocha

Sanjay K. Minocha

Texas Bar # 24065763

Minocha Law Firm PLLC

3300 Oak Lawn Avenue

Suite 700

Dallas, Texas 75219

Serv604@LegalBrains.com

Telephone: 561-232-2222

Attorney for the Plaintiff

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