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v.
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
MAKEUP JUNKIE BAGS, LLC,
Defendant.
Plaintiff Southern Grace Apparel, LLC (“Southern Grace”) files this Complaint against
Defendant Makeup Junkie Bags, LLC (“Makeup Junkie” or “Defendant”) for false patent marking
in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 292(a) and (b) and false advertising under 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a) of the
Lanham Act, as well as tortious interference with existing contract and business disparagement
under Texas law. Southern Grace seeks actual, special, exemplary, and treble damages, injunctive
relief, and its reasonable attorney’s fees and costs of suit from Makeup Junkie. In addition, Southern
Grace seeks a declaration that its products do not infringe any patent or federal trademark or trade
PARTIES
1. Plaintiff Southern Grace Apparel, LLC is a limited liability company organized under
the laws of the State of Texas, with an office at 2117 Torin Street, Lewisville, Texas 75056.
2. Defendant Makeup Junkie Bags, LLC is a limited liability company organized under
the laws of the State of Texas with an office at 11133 Interstate 45 S, Suite 320, Conroe, Texas
77302. Defendant can be served with process through its registered agent, Meredith J. Jurica, 12625
3. This is an action for false patent marking arising under the Patent Act, 35 U.S.C. §
292(a) and (b), false advertising under 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a) (Section 43 of the Lanham Act), for
tortious interference with contract and business disparagement under Texas law, and for declaratory
judgment.
4. The Court has original jurisdiction over the subject matter of this Complaint under
the Lanham Act pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1121(a) and 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1338(a), and 1355, and
under the Patent Act pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1338(a), and 1355. Original jurisdiction over
this action for declaratory judgment arises under 35 U.S.C. § 271 and 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1338(a),
and 1355. The Court has supplemental jurisdiction over the Texas state-law claims in this action
under 28 U.S.C. § 1367 because these claims arise out of the same transactions and occurrences
and are so related to Southern Grace’s federal patent, Lanham Act, and declaratory judgment claims
5. The Court has personal jurisdiction over Makeup Junkie because it regularly
transacts business in Texas and this action is based upon Makeup Junkie’s commercial activities
carried on in Texas and in this judicial district. Makeup Junkie’s activities have had a substantial,
direct, and reasonably foreseeable effect on business and commerce in this district, in Texas, and on
interstate commerce. Makeup Junkie sells and offers to sell its products in Texas and in this district,
including the falsely marked products that are the subject of this action and the statements the
subject of these claims were made and/or directed to customers in this district. As a consequence,
Makeup Junkie has purposefully availed itself of the laws of the State of Texas and exercising personal
substantial part of the events giving rise to the claims of this action occurred in this district and
Makeup Junkie is subject to personal jurisdiction in this district. As set forth in more detail below
and incorporated herein, Makeup Junkie has sold, offered for sale, and marketed its products to
citizens of this state and this district, through brick and mortar retail stores as well as active websites
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
7. Southern Grace is in the business of designing, marketing, and selling women’s and
girl’s clothing and accessories, including its Versi Bag line of double zipper multi-use bags and
clutches. Southern Grace has invested significant resources in developing, marketing, and selling its
Versi Bags.
Makeup Junkie’s bags are substantially different from Southern Grace’s Versi Bag collection, in
that the Makeup Junkie bags have a single zipper that closes to the right with a
removable/interchangeable tassel. The Makeup Junkie bags also consist of a single large
compartment only, utilize the same (single) fabric front and back with no trim, and come in multiple
sizes. Southern Grace’s Versi Bags, on the other hand, include double zippers that close to the
left with a permanent tassel. The Versi Bags also include two compartments—a smaller
compartment on top and a larger compartment on the bottom—and at least two types of fabric and
various trimmings on each bag. As shown below, these products look markedly different:
9. On or about April 24, 2019, Meredith Jurica of Makeup Junkie contacted Adeel
“Alex” Mitha, President of Southern Grace, to complain that the Versi Bags were “in violation of
her patent.” Mr. Mitha expressed that he was unaware of any patent related to the Makeup Junkie
product and requested that Ms. Jurica provide him with additional information so that he could
better understand the specific nature of her claim. Ms. Jurica then admitted that she does not have
a patent, but that she has a design patent application that is pending. Mr. Mitha nevertheless
requested that she send over a copy of her patent application, as he was unable to locate any pending
application through the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”). Mr. Mitha
provided his email address so that Ms. Jurica could send the information via email and the
10. Later that same day, Mr. Mitha sent a follow up text to Ms. Jurica advising her that
he would be unavailable for a few days due to a family vacation and asking that she follow up with
him via email or text so that they could resolve her concerns. Ms. Jurica responded tersely and said
that she would have her legal team contact Southern Grace.
11. Also on the same day, Ms. Jurica posted publicly in the Boutique Hub group on
Facebook, of which Southern Grace was a member, displaying a picture of Southern Grace’s Versi
Bags and disparaging “the owner” as not only “knocking off” her product, but falsely representing
that Southern Grace “refused” to “respect” her pending design patent or trade dress:
12. Multiple retailers that work with Southern Grace (or had worked with them up to
the date of this post) saw Ms. Jurica’s public allegations, believed them to be true, and responded
13. Upon seeing the public post in the Boutique Hub and the comments from several of
Southern Grace’s customers, Mr. Mitha once again reached out to Ms. Jurica. He noted that Ms.
Jurica’s post did not accurately reflect his discussion with her and once again requested that she
provide him with a copy of any pending patent related to her products.
14. Upon information and belief, on this same date, Ms. Jurica also communicated her
15. By her own admission, Ms. Jurica also communicated with Buc-ees, with whom
Southern Grace had entered into a purchase order for a large number of the Versi Bags:
16. The next day, Southern Grace received an email from Buc-ees cancelling the purchase
order for its Versi Bags, resulting in a projected annual loss to Southern Grace of more than
$100,000.00.
17. In reality, Makeup Junkie currently does not have a design patent for its products.
Rather, upon information and belief, Makeup Junkie has a pending design patent application that
has been rejected by the USPTO. Similarly, Makeup Junkie’s two trademark applications have
received final rejection by the USPTO and its trade dress application has also received a rejection, if
extensive marketing campaign on nationally televised programs, in the general media, on the
Internet, and through Social Media, Makeup Junkie has repeatedly advertised that its products are
“patented” when, in fact, they are not. For example, in online marketing provided to Shark Tank, a
nationally syndicated program on ABC, Makeup Junkie represented an allegedly storied “baptism
by fire” into the industry where she was “swindled and robbed” despite the fact that her products
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and in nationwide articles and interviews specific to her products:
20. The purpose of the false marking statute, 35 U.S.C. § 292, is to ensure that the public
receives accurate notice of patent rights. Federal patent policy recognizes an important public interest
in permitting full and free competition in the use of ideas that are, in reality, a part of the public
domain. False patent marking, including representing through advertisement that a product is
covered by a patent when a patent application is merely pending or has been rejected, is a serious
problem. Acts of false marking deter innovation and stifle competition in the marketplace.
21. If an article that is within the public domain is falsely marked or advertised, potential
competitors may be dissuaded from entering the same market. Moreover and importantly, false
marking misleads the public into believing that a patentee controls the article in question (as well as
like articles) and places the burden of determination on the public, rather than the manufacturer or
seller of the article, and increases the cost to the public of ascertaining whether a patentee in fact
controls the intellectual property as advertised. False marking may also create a misleading
impression that the falsely marked product is somehow superior to others, as articles bearing the
22. On information and belief, Makeup Junkie regularly reviews the text, including the
23. Makeup Junkie’s false marking and false advertising of its products has injured
Southern Grace, including but not limited to stifling competition in a market in which Southern
Grace currently competes, diverting Southern Grace’s sales, and causing Southern Grace to lose
COUNT I
PATENT FALSE MARKING UNDER 35 U.S.C. § 292
24. Southern Grace repeats and realleges the allegations contained in the preceding
25. Makeup Junkie’s acts committed in interstate commerce constitute patent false
marking in violation of Section 292(a) of the Patent Act, 35 U.S.C. § 292. Makeup Junkie has used
the terms “patent” and “patent pending” in advertising in connection with unpatented articles in
order to import that the same is patented, when in fact it is not patented.
26. Makeup Junkie’s false marking was done for the purpose of deceiving, and with the
intent to deceive, the public because the patent markings were and are misrepresentations regarding
27. Upon information and belief, Makeup Junkie knew that its products were falsely
marked.
28. Upon information and belief, Makeup Junkie’s false marking was done with bad
faith and malice or reckless indifference to Southern Grace and consumers’ interests.
29. Makeup Junkie’s bad faith false marking of its products makes this an exceptional
30. Makeup Junkie continues to falsely mark its products and, unless enjoined by this
31. Southern Grace has suffered a competitive injury as a result of this violation and is
entitled to recover damages to adequately compensate for the injury. Therefore, Southern Grace is
entitled to recover from Makeup Junkie compensatory damages, including sales lost by Southern
Grace as a result of Makeup Junkie’s false marking, injunctive relief, a finding of “exceptional case,”
COUNT II
FALSE ADVERTISING UNDER 15 U.S.C. § 1125(A)
(SECTION 43(A) OF THE LANHAM ACT)
32. Southern Grace repeats and realleges the allegations contained in the preceding
33. Makeup Junkie has, in contravention of 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a)(1) made false and
misleading descriptions of fact regarding its products and in advertising its products as being
“patented” or “patent pending” when in fact they are not. These statements are false on their face.
34. The false and misleading descriptions of fact by Makeup Junkie actually deceived or
35. The false and misleading descriptions of fact by Makeup Junkie were material, and
likely to influence the purchasing decisions of consumers, including consumers who would consider
36. Makeup Junkie has caused its falsely advertised goods to enter into interstate
37. Southern Grace has and continues to incur damage as a result of the false and
misleading descriptions of fact made by Defendant, including but not limited to a loss of goodwill
and lost or diverted sales based on consumers’ concerns that Southern Grace’s products somehow
infringe patent protections claimed by Makeup Junkie that, in fact, do not exist.
38. Makeup Junkie’s false or misleading representations of fact were done with bad faith
39. Makeup Junkie’s bad faith false or misleading representations of fact regarding the
patented status of its products make this an exceptional case within the meaning of 15 U.S.C. §
regarding the patented status of its products and will continue to do so unless enjoined by this Court
41. Southern Grace is entitled to an award of Makeup Junkie’s profits due to sales of the
falsely or misleadingly represented products, any damages sustained by Southern Grace, and the
COUNT III
TORTIOUS INTERFERENCE WITH EXISTING CONTRACT
(TEXAS LAW)
42. Southern Grace repeats and realleges the allegations contained in the preceding
43. On information and belief, Makeup Junkie intentionally and willfully interfered with
an existing purchase order between Southern Grace and Buc-ees, by falsely claiming that Southern
Grace’s Versi Bags somehow violate or infringe upon patent protections in Makeup Junkie’s
products that do not exist. On information and belief, as a result of Makeup Junkie’s interference,
44. Makeup Junkie’s acts constitute a willful and intentional act of interference with an
existing contract between Southern Grace and Buc-ees. Makeup Junkie’s interference proximately
caused Southern Grace’s loss more than $100,000.00 in annual revenue from the pending purchase
45. Southern Grace has been damaged by Makeup Junkie’s actions and is entitled to
recover all actual and exemplary damages caused by Makeup Junkie’s tortious interference with an
existing contract.
COUNT IV
BUSINESS DISPARAGEMENT
(TEXAS LAW)
46. Southern Grace repeats and realleges the allegations contained in the preceding
47. As set forth above, Makeup Junkie has acted with malice and without privilege by
publishing false and disparaging information about Southern Grace. Due to Makeup Junkie’s
actions, Southern Grace has suffered damages by being removed from a trade organization and
losing its relationship with a large account, Buc-ees. Southern Grace is entitled to recover its actual,
COUNT V
DECLARATORY JUDGMENT OF NON-INFRINGEMENT
(35 U.S.C. § 271, 15 U.S.C. 1125)
48. Southern Grace repeats and realleges the allegations contained in the preceding
49. Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 57, Southern Grace seeks and is entitled to a declaratory
judgment that the design, marketing, sale, and offering for sale of its Versi Bags in the United
States by Southern Grace did not and does not infringe any design or utility patent or federally
registered trademark or trade dress owned by Makeup Junkie pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 271 and 15
U.S.C. § 1114.
50. On information and belief, Makeup Junkie has made false representations that
Southern Grace has infringed a design patent and/or registered trademarks and/or registered trade
dress that do not exist and that Makeup Junkie knows have not been issued by the USPTO such
that there can be no infringement of any design or utility patent or registered trademark or registered
trade dress.
51. Makeup Junkie’s activities render this case an exceptional one and Southern Grace
is entitled to an award of its reasonable attorney’s fees under 35 U.S.C. § 285 and 15 U.S.C. § 1117.
52. Southern Grace repeats and realleges the allegations contained in the preceding
53. On information and belief, Makeup Junkie, unless enjoined, will continue to falsely
mark and/or advertise its products as “patented” when they are not. Such acts violate the Patent
Act, the Lanham Act, and Texas law. See 35 U.S.C. § 285; 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a).
54. Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 283 and 15 U.S.C. § 1116, these actions entitle Southern
Grace to a preliminary injunction and, upon hearing, permanent injunction enjoining Makeup
Junkie, its officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys, and all those persons in active concert
(i) further falsely marking or advertising that Makeup Junkie’s goods are
(ii) stating that Southern Grace or its products infringe patents or federally
55. For these actions, there is no adequate remedy at law. Further, Southern Grace is
substantially likely to prevail on the merits of these claims. The injury to Southern Grace greatly
outweighs any injury to Makeup Junkie that the requested injunction may cause. The balance of
hardships tips strongly in favor of Southern Grace. Finally, the injunction will not disserve the public
interest. Therefore, Southern Grace is entitled to preliminary and permanent injunctive relief
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff Southern Grace Apparel, LLC requests that this Court enter
A. Granting injunctive relief enjoining Makeup Junkie and its officers, agents,
employees, and all persons or entities in active concert or participation with it, from further false
marketing materials;
C. Awarding Southern Grace its actual, special, and exemplary damages adequate to
compensate Southern Grace for Makeup Junkie’s acts of false marking, false advertising, business
D. Awarding Southern Grace the profits earned by Makeup Junkie from sales of its
1117;
F. Increasing the amount of damages awarded to Southern Grace under the Lanham
Act and the Patent Act to three times the amount found or assessed by this Court because of the
willful nature of Makeup Junkie’s actions, pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1117 and/or 35 U.S.C. § 285;
G. Entering judgment that Southern Grace has not infringed any design or utility patent
or federally registered trademark or federally registered trade dress owned by Makeup Junkie;
H. Awarding to Southern Grace its reasonable attorney’s fees and costs incurred in this
action;
J. Granting such other and further relief as this Court may deem just and proper.
(b) County of Residence of First Listed Plaintiff County of Residence of First Listed Defendant Montgomery Co., TX
(EXCEPT IN U.S. PLAINTIFF CASES) (IN U.S. PLAINTIFF CASES ONLY)
NOTE: IN LAND CONDEMNATION CASES, USE THE LOCATION OF
THE TRACT OF LAND INVOLVED.
(c) Attorneys (Firm Name, Address, and Telephone Number) Attorneys (If Known)
Darin M. Klemchuk, Klemchuk LLP, 8150 N. Central Expressway, 10th Floor,
Dallas, Texas 75206; 214-367-6000
II. BASIS OF JURISDICTION (Place an “X” in One Box Only) III. CITIZENSHIP OF PRINCIPAL PARTIES (Place an “X” in One Box for Plaintiff
(For Diversity Cases Only) and One Box for Defendant)
’ 1 U.S. Government ’ 3 Federal Question PTF DEF PTF DEF
Plaintiff (U.S. Government Not a Party) Citizen of This State ’ 1 ’ 1 Incorporated or Principal Place ’ 4 ’ 4
of Business In This State
’ 2 U.S. Government ’ 4 Diversity Citizen of Another State ’ 2 ’ 2 Incorporated and Principal Place ’ 5 ’ 5
Defendant (Indicate Citizenship of Parties in Item III) of Business In Another State
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