Legal Radar

Ahold to Make Settlement on Waterbury Class Lawsuit

Ahold NV, a Dutch supermarket chain, said it recently agreed to make a $297 million settlement to end a Waterbury class action awaiting in the Connecticut U.S. District Court. This is in regards to the pricing acts of U.S. Foodservice, a former subsidiary of Ahold, during the 1998 to 2005 period.

The deal will close out a legacy lawsuit since 2006 in relation to the U.S. Foodservice. Based on the agreement, the payment will occur in return from claims of all class members regarding the pricing practices.

It’s expected for the court to address the matter in the later part of this year or early next year, and is subject to a likely reduction and/or elimination resulting on compensable sales related to class members electing to opt out of the deal.

Ahold NV indicted it will make a provision record for about 215 million euros in the first quarter of this year. It will also be sending payment funding from its remaining cash balances. Payment is expected to happen later this year or in the early 2015.

Tony Duquette Files Trademark Infringement Suit Against J. Crew

Tony Duquette, Inc., as holder of various intellectual property rights associated with the late designer and artist Tony Duquette, has filed suit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against J. Crew Group, Inc. for trademark infringement and other causes of action.

Tony Duquette, Inc. alleges that J. Crew infringed the Duquette proprietary name and trademarks by producing and marketing a "J. Crew Duquette Factory Leopard Print" sweater. The lawsuit alleges that J. Crew knowingly and willfully used the Duquette trademark without permission or license in connection with a leopard print product because of Tony Duquette's unique association with leopard print in the company's designs and products. Tony Duquette, Inc. has an exclusive licensing arrangement with Jim Thomson, Inc. for a collection of woven and printed textiles including an authorized signature leopard print pattern and with Roubini, Inc. for carpets and tapestries in signature leopard print taken from the Duquette archives. Damages and injunctive relief are sought.

Hutton Wilkinson, President and Creative Director of Tony Duquette, Inc., said, "We filed this claim to ensure our trademarks are used appropriately and only with our permission."

SOURCE Tony Duquette, Inc.