Case 3:14-cv-01574-JAH-JLB Document 1 Filed 07/01/14 Page 1 of 7

1 SHEPPARD MULLIN RICHTER & HAMPTON LLP

2

A Limited Liability Partnership

Including Professional Corporations

3 MICHAEL MURPHY (Cal. Bar No. 234695)

mmurphy@sheppardmullin.com

4 Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

12275 El Camino Real, Suite 200

5 San Diego, California 92130

Telephone: (858) 720-8900

(858) 509-3691

6 Facsimile:

7 Attorney for Plaintiff

PRESTIGE FLAG MFG. CO., INC.

8
9
10

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

11

FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

12
13 PRESTIGE FLAG MFG. CO., INC.,

Case No. ___'14CV1574 JAH JLB

14

COMPLAINT FOR PATENT

INFRINGEMENT

a California corporation,

15

Plaintiff,
v.

DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL

16

STANDARD GOLF CO,

17 an Iowa corporation, and DOES 110,
inclusive,
18

Defendants.

19
20
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22
23
24
25
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27
28
-1SMRH:426167200.1

COMPLAINT

Case 3:14-cv-01574-JAH-JLB Document 1 Filed 07/01/14 Page 2 of 7

Plaintiff Prestige Flag Mfg. Co., Inc. (Prestige) complains and allege as

2 follows against Defendant Standard Golf Co. (Standard).

3
4
5

THE PARTIES
1.

Plaintiff is a California corporation, having a principal place of

6 business at 591 Camino De La Reina # 917, San Diego, California 92108.

7

2.

On information and belief, Defendant Standard is an Iowa corporation,

8 having a principal place of business at 6620 Nordic Drive, P.O. Box 68, Cedar Falls,
9 Iowa 50613.
10

3.

The true names, identities and capacities, whether individual, associate,

11 corporate or otherwise, of Defendants DOES 1 to 10, inclusive, and each of them

12 (the DOE Defendants), are unknown to Prestige at this time, who therefore sues
13 the DOE Defendants by such fictitious names. When the true names and capacities
14 or participation of the DOE Defendants are ascertained, Prestige will amend this
15 complaint to assert the true names, identities and capacities. Prestige is informed
16 and believes and thereon alleges that each of the DOE Defendants sued herein is
17 responsible for the wrongful acts alleged herein, and is therefore liable to Prestige in
18 some manner for the events and happenings alleged in this complaint. Prestige is
19 informed and believes and thereon alleges that at all times herein mentioned, the
20 DOE Defendants were and are doing business and/or residing in this District.
21
22
23

NATURE OF THE ACTION

4.

This is a civil action against Defendant for infringement of United

24 States Design Patent No. D564,405 (the D405 Patent) arising under the patent
25 laws of the United States, Title 35 of the United States Code.
26
27
28
-2SMRH:426167200.1

COMPLAINT

Case 3:14-cv-01574-JAH-JLB Document 1 Filed 07/01/14 Page 3 of 7

1
2

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

5.

This Court has subject matter jurisdiction of this action under 28 U.S.C.

3 1331 (federal question) and 28 U.S.C. 1338(a) (any Act of Congress relating to
4 patents).
5

6.

This Court has specific and general personal jurisdiction over

6 Defendant pursuant to due process and/or the California Long Arm Statute because
7 Defendant has committed and continues to commit acts of infringement in violation
8 of 35 U.S.C. 271(a), (b), and (c), and places infringing products into the stream
9 of commerce, with the knowledge or understanding that such products are sold in
10 the State of California, including in this judicial district. Defendants acts caused
11 and are causing injury to Prestige within this judicial district. Upon information and
12 belief, Defendant derives substantial revenue from the sale of infringing products
13 within this judicial district, expects its actions to have consequences within this
14 judicial district, and derives substantial revenue from interstate and international
15 commerce.
16

7.

Venue is proper within this judicial district under 28 U.S.C. 1391(b)

17 because a substantial portion of the events giving rise to the claims for relief stated
18 in this Complaint arose in this judicial district. Specifically, Defendant has sold
19 infringing products in this district, and committed other acts complained of infra
20 within this district. In addition, venue is proper because Prestiges principal place of
21 business is in this district and Prestige suffered harm in this district.
22
23
24

BACKGROUND FACTS
8.

Plaintiff Prestige offers a line of golf products under the name Smarty 5

25 Reflector. The Smarty 5 Reflector screws into the top of a golf flag stick, and
26 contains five prisms that reflect laser light. Coupled with a range finder (a device
27 that sends laser light toward the Smarty 5 Reflector and receives laser light reflected
28
-3SMRH:426167200.1

COMPLAINT

Case 3:14-cv-01574-JAH-JLB Document 1 Filed 07/01/14 Page 4 of 7

1 back from the Smarty 5 Reflector), the Smarty 5 Reflector enables a golfer to
2 accurately determine the distance between the golfer and the golf flag stick.
3

9.

The innovative design of Prestiges Smarty 5 Reflector is protected

4 through a design patent issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
5 Prestiges design patent covers the ornamental features of the Smarty 5 Reflector,
6 such as its shape and the location and distribution of prisms throughout the device.
7 Prestige owns all right, title, and interest in the asserted design patent, the 405
8 Patent, titled Flagpole Reflector, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit A. The
9 design claimed in the 405 Patent is embodied in Prestiges Smarty 5 Reflector.
10

10.

On information and belief, Defendant Standard is a manufacturer of

11 golf course accessories. Its products are sold by over 250 distributors on six
12 continents, and it manufactures, stores, sells, and distributes many of its products in
13 the United States.
14

11.

On information and belief, Defendant has imported into or sold in the

15 United States its Laser Reflector product, which infringes the 405 Patent.
16 Defendant has not obtained permission from Prestige to use Prestiges design
17 claimed in the 405 Patent. Defendant had many options in developing its Laser
18 Reflector. Defendant chose to infringe Prestiges design patent by making, using,
19 selling or offering for sale, and/or importing its Laser Reflector product during the
20 term of Prestiges patent.
21

12.

On information and belief, the resemblance between Defendants Laser

22 Reflector and the Smarty 5 Reflector (and the design claimed in the 405 Patent) is
23 such as to deceive an ordinary observer, giving such attention as a purchaser usually
24 gives, including inducing the purchaser to purchase one supposing it to be the other.
25 Defendants Laser Reflector has an overall appearance that is substantially the same,
26 in view of the prior art and in the eyes of an ordinary observer, as the Smarty 5
27 Reflector (and the design claimed in the 405 Patent), as demonstrated by the side28 by-side comparison below.
-4SMRH:426167200.1

COMPLAINT

Case 3:14-cv-01574-JAH-JLB Document 1 Filed 07/01/14 Page 5 of 7

Figure 16

D405

Laser Reflector

3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION

21

Infringement of Design Patent

22

13.

Prestige realleges each and every allegation contained in Paragraphs 1

23 through 12, inclusive, of this Complaint, and incorporates them herein by reference
24 as though fully set forth.
25

14.

Under 35 U.S.C. 271(a), Defendant has infringed and continues to

26 infringe, literally or under the doctrine of equivalents, the D405 Patent by making,
27 using, selling, and/or offering to sell in the United States, and/or importing into the
28 United States the Laser Reflector identified in this Complaint, which Laser Reflector
-5SMRH:426167200.1

COMPLAINT

Case 3:14-cv-01574-JAH-JLB Document 1 Filed 07/01/14 Page 6 of 7

1 embodies the design covered by the D405 Patent. Defendant has and continues to
2 infringe the D405 Patent indirectly, under 35 U.S.C. 271(b) and (c), by inducing
3 others to infringe the D405 Patent, and by committing acts that constitute
4 contributory infringement of the D405 Patent.
5

15.

On information and belief, Defendant has gained profits by virtue of its

6 infringement of the D405 Patent.

7

16.

On information and belief, Prestige has sustained damages as a direct

8 and proximate result of Defendants infringement of the D405 Patent, and, as such,
9 Prestige is entitled to damages pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 284 and/or 289.
10

17.

On information and belief, Prestige will suffer and is suffering

11 irreparable harm from Defendants infringement of the D405 Patent. Prestige has
12 no adequate remedy at law and is, under 35 U.S.C. 283, entitled to an injunction
13 against Defendants continuing infringement of the D405 Patent. Unless enjoined,
14 Defendant will continue its infringing conduct.
15
16

PRAYER

17 WHEREFORE, Prestige prays:

18

(a)

For a judgment that Defendant has infringed one or more claims

19 of Prestiges asserted patent;

20

(b)

An order and judgment preliminarily and permanently enjoining

21 Defendant and its officers, directors, agents, servants, employees, affiliates,

22 attorneys, and all others acting in privity, active concert, or participation with any of
23 them, and their parents, subsidiaries, divisions, successors and assigns, who receive
24 actual notice of the judgment by personal service or otherwise, from further acts of
25 infringement of Prestiges asserted patent;
26

(c)

That Defendant be directed to file with this court, within thirty

27 days after entry of any injunction in this case, a written statement, under oath,
28
-6SMRH:426167200.1

COMPLAINT

Case 3:14-cv-01574-JAH-JLB Document 1 Filed 07/01/14 Page 7 of 7

1 setting forth in detail the manner in which Defendant has complied with the
2 injunction;
3

(d)

A judgment awarding Prestige all damages, in an as yet

4 undetermined amount, adequate to compensate for Defendants infringement of

5 Prestiges asserted patent, and in no event less than a reasonable royalty for
6 Defendants acts of infringement, including all pre-judgment and post-judgment
7 interest at the maximum rate permitted by law;
8

(e)

A judgment awarding Prestige all damages, including treble

9 damages, based on any infringement found to be willful, pursuant to 35 U.S.C.

10 284, together with prejudgment interest;
11

(f)

Costs of suit and reasonable attorneys fees; and

12

(g)

Any other remedy to which Prestige may be entitled under the

13 law, and any other further relief as the Court may deem appropriate.
14

DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL

15
16

Prestige requests a trial by jury on all issues so triable in this action.

Respectfully submitted,

17
18
19 Dated: July 1, 2014
20

SHEPPARD, MULLIN, RICHTER

& HAMPTON LLP

21
22

By

23
24

/s/ Michael Murphy

MICHAEL MURPHY
Attorney for Plaintiff
PRESTIGE FLAG MFG. CO., INC.

25
26
27
28
-7SMRH:426167200.1

COMPLAINT

Case 3:14-cv-01574-JAH-JLB Document 1-1 Filed 07/01/14 Page 1 of 12

EXHIBIT A

Case 3:14-cv-01574-JAH-JLB Document 1-1 Filed 07/01/14 Page 2 of 12

Exhibit A - Page 8

Case 3:14-cv-01574-JAH-JLB Document 1-1 Filed 07/01/14 Page 3 of 12

Exhibit A - Page 9

Case 3:14-cv-01574-JAH-JLB Document 1-1 Filed 07/01/14 Page 4 of 12

Exhibit A - Page 10

Case 3:14-cv-01574-JAH-JLB Document 1-1 Filed 07/01/14 Page 5 of 12

Exhibit A - Page 11

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Exhibit A - Page 12

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Exhibit A - Page 13

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Exhibit A - Page 14

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Exhibit A - Page 15

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Exhibit A - Page 16

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Exhibit A - Page 17

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Exhibit A - Page 18

Case 3:14-cv-01574-JAH-JLB Document 1-2 Filed 07/01/14 Page 1 of 1

CIVIL COVER SHEET

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'14CV1574 JAH JLB

Michael Murphy (SBN 234695)

SHEPPARD MULLIN RICHTER & HAMPTON LLP
12275 El Camino Real, Ste. 200, San Diego, CA 92130 858.720.8900

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