LOS ANGELES – A Santa Fe Springs business alleges a competitor took its text and photographs to promote its business.
Cali Raised LED and Blake Hamar filed a complaint on Sept. 8 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against the Mama Rago LLC, doing business as Rago Fabrication, Melissa Rago, Mario Rago and Does 1-20 citing trade libel, defamation, unfair competition, copyright infringement and other counts.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs and defendants initially had a business relationship in which the defendants manufactured mounting brackets for the plaintiff's lights. In June, the defendants relocated to another state and the plaintiff found a new supplier, according to the suit. The suit states that after the move, Melissa Rago posted false and libelous statements about the plaintiffs' business online. The plaintiffs allege the defendants now operate a competing business and its website contains text and photos from the plaintiffs' website.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek damages, punitive damages, injunctive relief, declare that the defendants does not own any valid trademarks, all legal fees and any other relief the court grants. They are represented by Caroline H. Mankey of Sedgwick LLP in Los Angeles.
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California Case number 2:16-cv-06750-DSF-PJW