Professional Documents
Culture Documents
PARTIES
is a Minnesota corporation and has a principal place of business at 9900 Bren Road East,
2. The identity and location Defendant John Doe a/k/a “dwight coppes” are
unknown at this time. UnitedHealth has filed a Motion for Expedited Discovery that will
allow it to obtain the information necessary to ascertain the identity of Defendant John
Doe.
competition under the Trademark Act of 1946, as amended, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1051 et seq.
(“Lanham Act”), and for trademark infringement, dilution, unfair competition, violations
Case 0:09-cv-02274-DWF-RLE Document 1 Filed 08/28/09 Page 2 of 18
of the Minnesota Deceptive Trade Practice Act, unjust enrichment under the law of
Minnesota and other states where the Defendant is conducting his illegal activities, and
4. This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this action under 15
U.S.C. § 1121, 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338 (a) and (b), and has supplemental jurisdiction
interactive Internet site and has intentionally directed advertising and information through
6. The injury from Doe’s unlawful acts are being felt primarily in this judicial
business of providing insurance and health-related services. Over time, such services
have included, but are not limited to, health care cost management services, managed
health care services, insurance services, administration services for health care benefit
plans, underwriting and claims administration for health and life insurance, pharmacy and
medical management, behavioral health services, dental and vision services and
providing its customers with information about various health care providers.
Comprised of a highly diversified family of companies offering services in the health and
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9. Since at least as early as July 24, 1984, UnitedHealth has continuously used
services.
11. The UNITEDHEALTH Marks are valid and subsisting and have been used
continuously by UnitedHealth since the date of first use set forth in the referenced
registrations.
13. As a result of the long use and promotion of the UNITEDHEALTH Marks
UnitedHealth, to distinguish UnitedHealth and its products and services from those of
other businesses, and to distinguish the source or origin of UnitedHealth’s products and
consumers throughout the United States widely recognize and associate the
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UNITEDHEALTH Marks, UnitedHealth has acquired valuable common law rights in the
15. The UNITEDHEALTH Marks have become famous due to their extensive
16. UnitedHealth operates several Internet sites related to its services which
17. On information and belief, Defendant, using the alias “dwight coppes,”
information and belief, Defendant is using this alias to hide his identity from
UnitedHealth. For example, Defendant lists a shopping mall in Quebec, Canada as his
18. On or about August 25, 2009, UnitedHealth learned that Defendant is using
consumers in violation of federal and state law. Copies of the printed pages of
into believing that Defendant’s site is affiliated with UnitedHealth. For example,
Defendant’s site prominently features the name and mark “United Health Care” and
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UnitedHealth immediately contacted Homestead and demanded that the site be disabled.
Homestead agreed that the site violated its Terms of Service and has disabled the site.
hereto as Exhibit C.
21. UnitedHealth is aware of at least one consumer who has been defrauded by
Defendant through an electronic funds transfer, and has reason to believe that Defendant
has defrauded others. Defendant also quotes prices in, and accepts, United States dollars
22. The “United Health Care” name and mark, the “healthcare-united.biz”
domain name and Internet site, and all associated uses by Defendant are hereafter referred
Defendant undertook these actions with the intent of confusing consumers, so that he
could trade on and receive the benefit of the goodwill built up by UnitedHealth at great
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25. The use of the Infringing Marks by Defendant constitutes use of spurious
UNITEDHEALTH Marks.
26. Defendant is using the Infringing Marks in commerce in the United States,
27. Defendant began utilizing the Infringing Marks long after UnitedHealth’s
began use of the UNITEDHEALTH Marks, and long after the UNITEDHEALTH Marks
became famous.
28. The use of the Infringing Marks by Defendant in the manner described
above is likely to cause confusion, to cause mistake, and/or to deceive customers and
29. On information and belief, use of the Infringing Marks by Defendant has
31. Use of the Infringing Marks by Defendant in the manner described above
falsely indicates to the purchasing public that the goods and/or website of Defendant
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to UnitedHealth.
32. Use of the Infringing Marks by Defendant in the manner described above
falsely designates the origin of the goods and/or website of Defendant, and falsely and
misleadingly describes and represents material facts with respect to the goods, websites
33. Use of the Infringing Marks by Defendant in the manner described above
enables Defendant to trade on and receive the benefit of goodwill in those marks, which
UnitedHealth has built up at great labor and expense over many years. Use of the
Infringing Marks by Defendant in the manner described above also enables Defendant to
gain acceptance for his goods and/or website, not solely on his own merits, but on the
34. Use of the Infringing Marks by Defendant in the manner described above
35. Use of the Infringing Marks by Defendant in the manner described above
removes from UnitedHealth the ability to control the nature and quality of products
provided under those marks and places the valuable reputation and goodwill of
and to the public and, unless restrained by this Court, will continue to cause irreparable
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injury to UnitedHealth and to the public. There is no adequate remedy at law for this
injury.
37. UnitedHealth repeats the allegations above as if fully set forth herein.
39. The actions by Defendant described herein have been willful and in bad
faith making this an exceptional case within the meaning of 15 U.S.C. § 1117(a).
currently unknown.
41. UnitedHealth repeats the allegations above as if fully set forth herein.
currently unknown.
44. UnitedHealth repeats the allegations above as if fully set forth herein.
violation of Sections 34(d) and 35(c) of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1116(d), 1117(c).
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currently unknown.
47. UnitedHealth repeats the allegations above as if fully set forth herein.
currently unknown.
50. UnitedHealth repeats the allegations above as if fully set forth herein.
currently unknown.
53. UnitedHealth repeats the allegations above as if fully set forth herein.
currently unknown.
56. UnitedHealth repeats the allegations above as if fully set forth herein.
57. Defendant have registered, trafficked in, and/or used the “healthcare-
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60. The acts of Defendant complained of herein evidence his bad faith intent to
currently unknown.
63. UnitedHealth repeats the allegations above as if fully set forth herein.
infringement in violation of the common law of Minnesota and other states where
deliberately, and intentionally to divert sales from UnitedHealth and inflict injury on
UnitedHealth.
currently unknown.
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67. UnitedHealth repeats the allegations above as if fully set forth herein.
Minn. Stat. § 333.285, and the anti-dilution laws of the other states in which Defendant
currently unknown.
70. UnitedHealth repeats the allegations above as if fully set forth herein.
violation of the common law of Minnesota and other states where Defendant is
currently unknown.
73. UnitedHealth repeats the allegations above as if fully set forth herein.
violation of the common law of Minnesota and other states where Defendant is
currently unknown.
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76. UnitedHealth repeats the allegations above as if fully set forth herein.
deceptive trade practices, in violation of the Minnesota Deceptive Trade Practice Act,
currently unknown.
79. UnitedHealth repeats the allegations above as if fully set forth herein.
currently unknown.
82. UnitedHealth repeats the allegations above as if fully set forth herein.
by this Court, Defendant will cause irreparable injury to UnitedHealth for which there is
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follows:
(a) From using the Infringing Marks, or the UNITEDHEALTH Marks (or any
other word, mark, name, domain name, or other designation which depicts,
services of any kind bearing or affiliated in any way with the Infringing
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Marks, including, but not limited to, health care cost management services,
for health care benefit plans, underwriting and claims administration for
(e) From committing any acts or making any statements calculated, or the
(f) From committing any acts or making any statements calculated, or the
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(g) From conspiring with, aiding, assisting or abetting any other person or
2. Consistent with paragraph (1) above, Defendant will remove all content
from any Internet site, and remove from sale or display, and recall, any and all
membership cards, products, catalogs, advertisements, and any other items bearing
word or words confusingly similar thereto. Defendant will also submit to the Court and
serve upon UnitedHealth within 30 days after the entry and service of an injunction, a
written report detailing: (a) the number of hits to the www.healthcare-united.biz Internet
site (the “Infringing Site”); (b) the number of people who submitted the form on the
“Check out” page of the Infringing Site; (c) the identity of every person who submitted
the form on the “Check out” page of the Infringing Site; (d) the identify of every person
Infringing Site; (e) the number of membership cards issued by Defendant; (f) the amount
and source of all money collected by Defendant with information submitted through the
Infringing Site; (g) the number of membership cards issued by Defendant; (h) the identity
of every person to whom Defendant issued a membership card; (i) the number of
products (including services), catalogs, advertisements, and any other items produced,
sold, or distributed by Defendant or others under his control bearing the “healthcare-
united.biz,” the Infringing Marks, the UNITEDHEALTH Marks, or any word or words
confusingly similar thereto; (j) the number of products (including services), catalogs,
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advertisements, and any other items removed in response to the removal and recall; (k)
the number of products, catalogs, advertisements, and any other items Defendant received
in response to the removal and recall; (l) the amount of such all products, catalogs,
advertisements, and other items in inventory; and (m) the physical location of all such
products, catalogs, advertisements, and any other items received in response to the
of destruction of, any and all products, labels, signs, prints, advertisements, signage,
packages, wrappers, catalogs, internet web pages, and any other materials in its
similar thereto (or any variation thereof, whether alone or in combination with any other
word(s) or element(s)).
injunction, submit to the Court and serve upon UnitedHealth a list of all domain names
Marks, or any word or words confusingly similar thereto. Defendant will then be
required to transfer to UnitedHealth all such identified domain names, including without
limitation “healthcare-united.biz”;
UnitedHealth within thirty (30) days after the entry and service on Defendant of an
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injunction, a report in writing and under oath setting forth in detail the manner and form
activities of Defendant;
from the activities complained of herein, and that such profits be paid over to
UnitedHealth, increased as the Court finds to be just under the circumstances of this case;
Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1117, in connection with its Federal Cybersquatting claim;
Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1117, in connection with its Federal Trademark Counterfeiting
claim.
11. Defendant be required to account for and pay over to UnitedHealth any
benefit and unjust enrichment obtained at UnitedHealth’s expense from his wrongful
actions;
12. UnitedHealth be awarded its costs and fees related to this action, including
14. UnitedHealth be granted such other and further relief, at law or in equity, as
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s/Laura J. Borst
Timothy M. Kenny (No. 247716)
Laura J. Borst (No. 032548X)
FULBRIGHT & JAWORSKI L.L.P.
2100 IDS Center
80 South Eighth Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402-2112
(612) 321 2800
(612) 321 2288 – Facsimile
Richard J. Groos
C. Ashley Callahan
FULBRIGHT & JAWORSKI L.L.P.
600 Congress Avenue
Suite 1900
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 474-5201
(512) 536-4598– Facsimile
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