Tommy’s Supplies Victory

On November 18, 2021, UKS Shareholders Adam B. Marks and Richard S. Order secured a jury verdict in favor of our clients, Tommy’s Supplies, LLC, Tommy Ringwalt, Jr., and Carol Landry in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut in Hartford.

Tommy’s Supplies is the owner of the STARBRITE trademark for tattoo ink, which was first registered by the United States Patent and Trademark Office to Tommy Ringwalt, Sr. and later assigned to Tommy’s Supplies.

UKS proved that the defendant, Papillon Ink, LLC, infringed the trademark by selling its own tattoo ink and calling it “Starbrite,” thereby causing significant confusion in the marketplace.

Tommy’s Supplies asserted claims for trademark infringement, unfair trade practices, and defamation, and Papillon asserted counterclaims and third-party claims, several of which were dismissed before trial.

Attorney Marks explained to the jury how Papillon had failed to prove that Tommy Ringwalt, Sr. committed a fraud in registering the STARBRITE mark, which was the only way to overcome Tommy’s Supplies’ trademark infringement claim. After only two hours of deliberations, the jury found in favor of Tommy’s Supplies on its claims for trademark infringement, unfair trade practices, and defamation. The jury also found in favor of our clients on all of Papillon’s remaining counterclaims and third-party claims.

In reflecting on the case, Tommy Ringwalt, Jr. said, “I am so grateful to the attorneys at UKS who not only saved our StarBrite brand but also vindicated my father’s name.”