Professional Documents
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Juvalips, LLC,
) Civil Action No: TBD
Plaintiff, )
v. )
)
Shenzhen Mexi Technology )
Co., Limited, )
)
Defendant. )
)
)
Plaintiff states the following for its Complaint against Shenzhen Mexi Technology
1. This is an action for injunctive relief and damages arising from Mexi’s patent
infringement and unfair competition in violation of the laws of the United States.
PARTIES
the State of Minnesota with its principal place of business at 3472 88th Avenue Northeast,
Circle Pines, MN 55014-4109. Juvalips’ products are sold and offered for sale
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(actions arising under the laws of the United States) and 28 U.S.C. § 1338(a) and (b)
5. This Court has personal jurisdiction over Mexi. Mexi makes its products,
including the infringing products described in this Complaint, available for purchase by
persons in this District through commercial websites accessible to and directed towards
belief, Mexi is subject to personal jurisdiction in this District and has conducted acts of
patent infringement in this District. Further, under 28 U.S.C. §1391(c)(3), a defendant not
FACTS
7. Brett Nelson, Juvalips’ CEO, applied for a patent on the design for a lip suction
device on April 7, 2016. That application resulted in U.S. Design Patent No. D819,222,
which issued on May 29, 2018 (“the ‘222 patent”) and is attached as Exhibit A. Figure 1
of the ‘222 patent above depicts one view of the claimed design.
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9. Figure 6 of the ‘222 Patent, below, depicts a second view of the claimed
design.
10. Figure 7 of the ‘222 Patent, below, depicts a third view of the claimed
design.
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11. By virtue of assignment, Juvalips is the owner of all right, title, and interest
to the ‘222 patent and has been since the ‘222 patent issued.
12. Juvalips has commercialized the lip suction device design depicted in the ‘222
patent through direct sales under the Juvalips name. Thousands of Juvalips’ patented lip
suction devices are now in use in the U.S. and around the world.
13. Mexi has offered for sale, sold, and continues to sell in the United States
products with a design covered by the ‘222 patent. These infringing products, which have
a shape, color scheme and overall appearance plainly copied from Juvalips’ own lip
plumper device, include the “Lip Plumper Device” (“Mexi Lip Plumper”) shown in the
following Illustration A. This illustration (taken from a Mexi online product listing)
Illustration A
14. Mexi Lip Plumpers have been offered for sale in Minnesota via online
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15. On information and belief, the Mexi Lip Plumper is being sold by other sellers
16. Juvalips has not authorized or licensed Mexi (nor any of Mexi’s agents,
officers, or affiliates) to offer to sell or sell products with a design covered by the ‘222
17. Mexi has infringed and continues to infringe the ‘222 patent by selling and/or
18. Unauthorized sales of products covered by the ‘222 Patent cause direct
19. On May 31, 2018, Juvalips mailed, via Priority Mail, a letter to the office
address of Mexi expressing its patent infringement concerns and demanding that Mexi
cease all such conduct. Juvalips provided a copy of the ‘222 Patent with the demand
letter. Mexi has denied infringement and has not ceased sales.
20. Mexi has utilized numerous false and misleading advertising claims regarding
safety and performance in the sale of its Mexi Lip Plumpers. Mexi has made the following
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• “Strictly passed all the testing like CE, ROHS and FDA, these international
standards to ensure every our customer feel free to use it.” (Amazon
product page);
• “….this product has passed strict testing with all the certificate like: CE,
ROHS, FCC, FDA and etc. It is the most basic thing to keep safety for our
21. On information and belief, the Mexitop Lip Plumpers have not been the
subject of any FDA or CE mark testing or certifications. On further information and belief,
there are no FDA or CE certification standards for motorized lip plumpers. The
representation that the Mexitop Lip Plumper product has passed FDA or CE product
testing requirements is, on information and belief, an egregious false statement on product
22. Mexi has also made the following safety claims about its product:
• “Intelligent Pause & Shut Off Function Design for Safety, Easy to Use with
LED Lights Indication. Unlike other full lips device, you have to go
through all the process to stop the device” (Amazon product page);
• “Do not use the device for more than one or two of the timed 60 second
applications during the first few times you try the device.” (Mexi Product
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• “It is automatically timed and will stop after 20 minutes” (Mexi Product
User Guide).
23. Mexi is stating that its product has an “intelligent pause” and then, in the same
user guide, is stating the timed pause and shutoff length is 60 seconds and that the timed
24. On information and belief, the statement that the product has a 60-second
safety pause and shutoff is wholly false. That statement is in a section of text in the Mexi
User Guide that was copied identically from the user guide for Juvalips’ own lip product,
which does have a 60-second safety shutoff. This is an act of copyright infringement that
25. Mexi’s statement that “Unlike other full lips device, you have to go through
all the process to stop the device” is, on information and belief, an effort at a false
statement that the Juvalips lip plumper either does not have a safety pause and shutoff or
that it cannot be stopped manually during operation and must complete a timed cycle. In
either instance, the statement is a grossly false statement that the Juvalips lip plumper is
unsafe for the user and amounts to product disparagement that has directly damaged sales
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COUNT 1:
INFRINGEMENT OF THE
‘222 PATENT
27. Mexi has made, used, sold, offered to sell, or imported into the United States,
28. Mexi will continue to infringe the ‘222 patent unless enjoined by the Court.
29. On information and belief, Mexi’s infringement has been intentional and
willful. Juvalips has placed Mexi on actual notice of the ‘222 Patent and demanded that
Mexi cease further infringement. However, on information and belief, Mexi continues to
30. Due to Mexi’s infringement of the ‘222 patent, Juvalips has suffered, is
entitled to recover damages against Mexi, which may take the form of its lost profits as a
COUNT 2:
UNFAIR COMPETITION UNDER
THE LANHAM ACT, 15 U.S.C. § 1125(b)
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33. Mexi has made numerous false and misleading statements and representations
regarding the nature and characteristics of its Mexi Lip Plumper device as well as the
Juvalips lips plumper device. These include false and misleading statements regarding
34. Mexi’s advertising and promotion of the Mexi Lip Plumper with the false
1125(b).
35. Mexi will continue its acts of false advertising and unfair competition unless
36. On information and belief, Mexi’s acts of false advertising and unfair
37. Mexi’s false advertising and unfair competition have caused and will continue
(“Mexi”) that it has infringed the ‘222 patent in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271(a) by selling
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infringement of the ‘222 patent by Mexi and its agents, servants, employees, officers and
patent infringement that has occurred pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 284, subject to trebling for
including but not limited to fees available under 35 U.S.C. § 285, with prejudgment
interest;
selling or offering to sell the Mexi Lip Plumper with the use of false advertising claims;
unfair competition by Mexi and its agents, servants, employees, officers, affiliates and all
unfair competition that has occurred pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1117(a), including Juvalips’
lost profits and Mexi’s profits, together with prejudgment interest and costs;
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competition that occur between the finding of infringement and unfair competition and
K. Such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper.
JURY DEMAND
By s/Ernest W. Grumbles/
Ernest W. Grumbles (No. 274793)
By s/Joseph S. Lawder/
Joseph S. Lawder (No. 236147)
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Juvalips, LLC,
) Civil Action No: TBD
Plaintiff, )
v. )
)
Shenzhen Mexi Technology )
Co., Limited, )
)
Defendant. )
)
)
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JS 44 (Rev. 06/17) CIVIL
CASE 0:18-cv-01872 COVER
Document 1-2SHEET
Filed 07/03/18 Page 1 of 2
The JS 44 civil cover sheet and the information contained herein neither replace nor supplement the filing and service of pleadings or other papers as required by law, except as
provided by local rules of court. This form, approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States in September 1974, is required for the use of the Clerk of Court for the
purpose of initiating the civil docket sheet. (SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON NEXT PAGE OF THIS FORM.)
I. (a) PLAINTIFFS DEFENDANTS
Juvalips, LLC Shenzhen Mexi Technology Co., Limited
(b) County of Residence of First Listed Plaintiff Anoka County of Residence of First Listed Defendant
(EXCEPT IN U.S. PLAINTIFF CASES) (IN U.S. PLAINTIFF CASES ONLY)
NOTE: IN LAND CONDEMNATION CASES, USE THE LOCATION OF
THE TRACT OF LAND INVOLVED.
(c) Attorneys (Firm Name, Address, and Telephone Number) Attorneys (If Known)
Ernest W. Grumbles Joseph S. Lawder
Grumbles Law PLLC Lawder Law, PLLC
th
287 6 St. E, Ste. 140 413 Wacouta St., Ste. 250
St. Paul, MN 55101 St. Paul, MN 55101
612-465-8090 651-252-1955
II. BASIS OF JURISDICTION (Place an “X” in One Box Only) III. CITIZENSHIP OF PRINCIPAL PARTIES (Place an “X” in One Box for Plaintiff
(For Diversity Cases Only) and One Box for Defendant)
1 U.S. Government 3 Federal Question PTF DEF PTF DEF
Plaintiff (U.S. Government Not a Party) Citizen of This State 1 1 Incorporated or Principal Place 4 4
of Business In This State
2 U.S. Government 4 Diversity Citizen of Another State 2 2 Incorporated and Principal Place 5 5
Defendant (Indicate Citizenship of Parties in Item III) of Business In Another State
The JS 44 civil cover sheet and the information contained herein neither replaces nor supplements the filings and service of pleading or other papers as
required by law, except as provided by local rules of court. This form, approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States in September 1974, is
required for the use of the Clerk of Court for the purpose of initiating the civil docket sheet. Consequently, a civil cover sheet is submitted to the Clerk of
Court for each civil complaint filed. The attorney filing a case should complete the form as follows:
I.(a) Plaintiffs-Defendants. Enter names (last, first, middle initial) of plaintiff and defendant. If the plaintiff or defendant is a government agency, use
(b) County of Residence. For each civil case filed, except U.S. plaintiff cases, enter the name of the county where the first listed plaintiff resides at the
(c) Attorneys. Enter the firm name, address, telephone number, and attorney of record. If there are several attorneys, list them on an attachment, noting
in this section "(see attachment)".
II. Jurisdiction. The basis of jurisdiction is set forth under Rule 8(a), F.R.Cv.P., which requires that jurisdictions be shown in pleadings. Place an "X"
United States plaintiff. (1) Jurisdiction based on 28 U.S.C. 1345 and 1348. Suits by agencies and officers of the United States are included here.
United States defendant. (2) When the plaintiff is suing the United States, its officers or agencies, place an "X" in this box.
Federal question. (3) This refers to suits under 28 U.S.C. 1331, where jurisdiction arises under the Constitution of the United States, an amendment
Diversity of citizenship. (4) This refers to suits under 28 U.S.C. 1332, where parties are citizens of different states. When Box 4 is checked, the
citizenship of the different parties must be checked. (See Section III below; NOTE: federal question actions take precedence over diversity
cases.)
III. Residence (citizenship) of Principal Parties. This section of the JS 44 is to be completed if diversity of citizenship was indicated above. Mark this
section for each principal party.
IV. Nature of Suit. Place an "X" in the appropriate box. If there are multiple nature of suit codes associated with the case, pick the nature of suit code
that is most applicable. Click here for: Nature of Suit Code Descriptions.
VI. Cause of Action. Report the civil statute directly related to the cause of action and give a brief description of the cause. Do not cite jurisdictional
statutes unless diversity. Example: U.S. Civil Statute: 47 USC 553 Brief Description: Unauthorized reception of cable service
VII. Requested in Complaint. Class Action. Place an "X" in this box if you are filing a class action under Rule 23, F.R.Cv.P.
Demand. In this space enter the actual dollar amount being demanded or indicate other demand, such as a preliminary injunction.
Jury Demand. Check the appropriate box to indicate whether or not a jury is being demanded.
VIII. Related Cases. This section of the JS 44 is used to reference related pending cases, if any. If there are related pending cases, insert the docket
numbers and the corresponding judge names for such cases.
Date and Attorney Signature. Date and sign the civil cover sheet.