LOS ANGELES – A Florida auto club alleges a Lynwood business is using its marks to advertise its services without permission.
American Automobile Association Inc. filed a complaint on Nov. 17 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against Ruiz Towing, Salvador Alfaro, also known as Salvador A. Ruiz, and Does 1 through 10 alleging service mark infringement.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that the defendants publicly display plaintiff's AAA mark to advertise their services. The plaintiff alleges that the defendants are not affiliated with it and continue to use its marks despite cease and desist letters.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks enjoin the defendants from further infringing plaintiff's mark, order the defendants to destroy all infringing marks, award damages to the plaintiff in an amount of more than $500,000, punitive damages, all legal fees and any other relief as the court deems just. It is represented by Michael Adams and Proud Usahacharoenporn of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Costa Mesa.
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California Case number 2:16-cv-08587-CBM-FFM