Court Opinion

ID: 9468048
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 02:02:53.633635+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:40:39.269818
License: Public Domain

O’KELLEY, District Judge,
dissenting:
I must respectfully dissent from the majority’s opinion reversing the district court. I would affirm the district judge. To do *320otherwise requires this court to review the evidence and find the facts differently than the trial court. The evidence supports the trial court’s findings and conclusions. A reading of the majority opinion can lead but to one conclusion. That is that factually, not legally, this court finds that the appellant’s name is not likely to be confused with the appellee’s name and registered service mark. As a matter of law that conclusion cannot be reached. As a matter of fact, either conclusion might be reached, and I might agree more with the majority in this case. However, that is not my role on appellate review, for there is sufficient evidence to support the findings and conclusions of the factfinder, and the appellate judge should not substitute his opinion of the evidence for that of the trial judge. Roemer v. Maryland Public Works Bd., 426 U.S. 736, 758, 96 S.Ct. 2337, 2350, 49 L.Ed. 179 (1976). The question of confusion as to the bank’s name is a factual matter, and the findings on that issue should not be reversed unless clearly erroneous. Fed.R.Civ.P. 52(a); Scott v. Moore, 640 F.2d 708 (5th Cir. 1981); Matter of Crist, 632 F.2d 1226 (5th Cir. 1980).
I would therefore affirm the trial judge for the reasons stated in his opinion and order dated August 15, 1978.