Webster Financial Corp. v. Webster Capital Finance Inc.

          FINAL JUDGMENT AND PERMANENT INJUNCTION AGAINST DEFENDANTS WEBSTER CAPITAL FINANCE INC., FIFIK PRIVATE LOANS, FIFIK JAN, SAMUEL HOWARD AND ALEX HAMPSOM

          HONORABLE MIRANDA M. DU UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

         Plaintiffs Webster Financial Corporation, Webster Bank, National Association, and Webster Capital Finance, Inc. (collectively, “Webster”) brought the above-captioned lawsuit against Webster Capital Finance Inc., Fifik Private Loans, Fifik Jan, Samuel Howard, Alex Hampsom (collectively, “Defendants”) alleging that Defendants are using Webster's name, reputation, business address, and trademarks to sell counterfeit financial products and services, namely, sham residential loans and loan protection insurance. Specifically, Webster asserts that Defendants are unlawfully utilizing the WEBSTER CAPITAL FINANCE® mark and Plaintiff Webster Capital Finance, Inc.'s registered agent address in Nevada and its Nevada Business ID number, NV20021340400, to deceive consumers into believing that Defendants are Plaintiff Webster Capital Finance, Inc. (hereinafter, the “Infringing Mark”). Webster further asserts that Defendants are using the following email addresses to further their fraudulent conduct: webstercapitalfinance@outlook.com and webstercapitalfinanceinc@gmail.com. Webster also contends that Defendants have misappropriated the likeness of at least two individuals to promote themselves and their fraudulent business and Defendants' unlawful conduct has caused actual consumer confusion.

         As a result of the Defendants' fraudulent scheme, Webster asserted claims against Defendants for federal trademark infringement under 15 U.S.C. §1114, federal common law trademark infringement under 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a)(1)(A), federal common law unfair competition, false designation or origin and false advertising under 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a)(1)(B), federal trademark dilution under 15 U.S.C. § 1125(c), trademark infringement and unfair competition under Nevada common law, trademark dilution in violation of Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 600.435, and violations of Nevada Deceptive Trade Practices Act, Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 598 et seq. Having reviewed the Complaint and file and being otherwise duly and fully advised in the premises, it is hereby

         ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED that:

         1. This Court has jurisdiction over all the parties and all of the claims set forth in Webster's Complaint.

         2. Webster has the right to use and enforce the WEBSTER Marks, including registrations for WEBSTER (Reg. Nos. 3334639 and 3334640) and WEBSTER CAPITAL FINANCE (Reg. No. 3898098).

         3. Webster uses the WEBSTER Marks on and in connection with its financial products and services. The WEBSTER Marks are valid, distinctive, protectable, famous throughout the United States and the State of Nevada, have acquired secondary meaning, and are associated exclusively with Webster.

         4. The Court finds that the conduct set forth in the Complaint constitutes federal trademark infringement under 15 U.S.C. §1114, federal common law trademark infringement under 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a)(1)(A), federal common law unfair competition, false designation or origin and false advertising under 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a)(1)(B), federal trademark dilution under 15 U.S.C. § 1125(c), trademark infringement and unfair competition under Nevada common law, trademark dilution in violation of Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 600.435, and violations of Nevada Deceptive Trade Practices Act, Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 598 et seq., and such conduct has caused substantial and irreparable harm to Webster, and will continue to cause substantial and irreparable harm to Webster unless enjoined.

         5. Webster has suffered damages, including loss of goodwill and damage to its reputation, as a result of Defendants' conduct. On review and consideration of all relevant factors, Webster is entitled to injunctive relief on the claims as set forth in the Complaint.

         6. Final judgment as to liability is hereby entered against Defendants Webster Capital Finance Inc., Fifik Private Loans, Fifik Jan, Samuel Howard, Alex Hampsom, and in favor of Webster Financial Corporation, Webster Bank, National Association, and Webster Capital Finance, Inc. on all of the claims set forth in Webster's Complaint.

         7. The Court grants Plaintiffs six (6) months to conduct post-judgment discovery, including third-party discovery, in order to determine the appropriate amount of damages to be awarded against Defendants. The Court retains jurisdiction over this matter to address any discovery disputes that may arise.

         8. Plaintiffs may file a motion seeking entry of a judgment awarding damages against Defendants and this Court retains jurisdiction to enter a subsequent judgment in favor of Plaintiffs and against Defendants.

         9. Defendants and all of their past and present officers, directors, successors, assigns, parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, related companies, predecessors-in-interest, companies, agents, employees, heirs, personal representatives, beneficiaries, relatives, and all other persons or entities acting or purporting to act for it/him or on its/his behalf, including but not limited to any corporation, partnership, proprietorship or entity of any type that is in any way affiliated or associated with Defendants or Defendants' representatives, agents, assigns, parent entities, employees, independent contractors, associates, servants, affiliated entities, and any and all persons and entities in active concert and participation with Defendants who receive notice of this Order, shall be and hereby are PERMANENTLY ENJOINED from:

a. Infringing the WEBSTER Marks, or any term confusingly similar to WEBSTER and/or ...