Facts

Kaloud Inc. sued Shisha Land Wholesale Inc. involving allegedly fake hookahs.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS:
Plaintiff manufactured hookahs and sold them online. Plaintiff allegedly hired an investigator to purchase 20 hookahs from defendant's store. Defendant was a wholesaler of hookahs. Plaintiff accused defendant of selling knockoffs of plaintiff's hookahs, including its "Lotus" hookah, constituting trademark infringement and violation of the Lanham Act.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS:
Defendant denied selling knockoffs, maintaining all hookahs sold were genuine.

Result

The judge found that the subject hookahs were knockoffs, infringing Kahloud's trademarks. The jury then found that the infringement was willful and that damages totaled $2 million in statutory damages, including $400,000 for each infringed trademark. The verdict was reduced to $1.2 million post-trial.

Other Information

FILING DATE: May 15, 2015.