Case 3:17-cv-00640-AJB-WVG Document 1 Filed 03/29/17 PageID.

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1 TREVOR Q. CODDINGTON, PH.D. (CSB NO. 243042)

trevorcoddington@sandiegoiplaw.com
2 JAMES V. FAZIO, III (CSB NO. 183353)
jamesfazio@sandiegoiplaw.com
3 SAN DIEGO IP LAW GROUP LLP
12526 High Bluff Drive, Suite 300
4 San Diego, CA 92130
Telephone: (858) 792-3446
5 Facsimile: (858) 408-4422
6 Attorneys for Plaintiff,
NUKI, INC.
7

8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

9 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10

11 NUKI, INC., a California corporation, '17CV0640 AJB WVG

CASE NO. ________________
12 Plaintiff, COMPLAINT FOR PATENT
INFRINGEMENT
13 vs.
14 MARSHALLS OF CA, LLC; a DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
Massachusetts corporation;
15 MARSHALLS OF MA, INC., a
Massachusetts corporation; THE TJX
16 COMPANIES, INC., a Delaware
corporation; and DOES 1-10, inclusive,
17
Defendants.
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Case 3:17-cv-00640-AJB-WVG Document 1 Filed 03/29/17 PageID.2 Page 2 of 7

1 Plaintiff Nuki, Inc. (Nuki) hereby complains of Defendants Marshalls of

2 CA, LLC and Marshalls of MA, Inc. (collectively Marshalls), and The TJX
3 Companies, Inc. (TJX) (collectively, the Defendants) and alleges as follows:
4 NATURE OF THE ACTION
5 1. This is an action for design patent infringement under the patent laws
6 of the United States, 35 U.S.C. 271, et seq.
7 THE PARTIES
8 2. Nuki is a California corporation with its principal place of business
9 located at 12702 Via Cortina Way, Suite 203, Del Mar, California 92014.
10 3. Upon information and belief, Marshalls of CA, LLC and Marshalls of
11 MA, Inc. are corporations organized and existing under the laws of the State of
12 Delaware, each with its principal place of business located at 770 Cochituate Road,
13 Framingham, Massachusetts 01701. Marshalls has numerous established
14 department stores located in this District.
15 4. Upon information and belief, TJX is a corporation organized and
16 existing under the laws of the State of Delaware with its principal place of business
17 located at 770 Cochituate Road, Framingham, Massachusetts 01701. TJX is the
18 parent corporation for Marshalls, as well as other department stores such as
19 Homegoods and T.J. Maxx.
20 5. Nuki is ignorant of the true names and capacities of the parties sued
21 herein as DOES 1 through 10, inclusive, whether individual, corporate or
22 otherwise, and therefore sues these defendants by such fictitious names. Nuki will
23 seek leave to amend the complaint to assert their true names and capacities when
24 they have been ascertained. Nuki is informed and believes and based thereon
25 alleges that all defendants sued herein as DOES 1 through 10 are in some manner
26 responsible for the acts and omissions alleged herein.
27 ///
28 ///
-1-
COMPLAINT
Case 3:17-cv-00640-AJB-WVG Document 1 Filed 03/29/17 PageID.3 Page 3 of 7

1 JURISDICTION AND VENUE

2 6. This Court has original and exclusive subject matter jurisdiction over
3 this action under 28 U.S.C. 1331 and 1338(a) because Nukis claim for patent
4 infringement arises under the laws of the United States, 35 U.S.C. 271, et seq.
5 7. This Court has personal jurisdiction over the Defendants because they
6 reside in this District and have a continuous, systematic and substantial presence in
7 this District, because Defendants regularly conduct business and/or solicit business
8 within this District, because Defendants have committed and continue to commit
9 patent infringement in this District, including without limitation by selling
10 infringing products to consumers in this District and by purposefully directing
11 activities at residents of this District, and by placing infringing products into the
12 stream of commerce with the knowledge that such products would be sold in
13 California and this District, which acts form a substantial part of the events giving
14 rise to Nukis claim.
15 8. Venue is proper in this District under 28 U.S.C. 1391 and 1400(b)
16 because the Defendants reside and have a regular and established place of business
17 in this District; the Defendants have committed and continue to commit patent
18 infringement in this District, including without limitation by selling infringing
19 products to consumers in this District; and a substantial part of the events giving
20 rise to Nukis claim occurred in this District. In addition, venue is proper because
21 Nukis principal place of business is in this District and Nuki suffered harm in this
22 District.
23 GENERAL ALLEGATIONS
24 9. Founded in 2010, Nuki designs and sells innovative luggage including
25 a patented front opening hard shell suitcase.
26 10. On December 16, 2014, the United States Patent & Trademark Office
27 duly and lawfully issued U.S. Design Patent No. D719,351, entitled Front
28 Accessible Hard Shell Suitcase (the D351 patent). Nuki is the owner by
-2-
COMPLAINT
Case 3:17-cv-00640-AJB-WVG Document 1 Filed 03/29/17 PageID.4 Page 4 of 7

1 assignment of the D351 patent, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.

2 11. On information and belief, the Defendants are and have been using,
3 selling, offering for sale, importing and/or selling after importation one or more
4 front opening, i.e., top lid opening, hard shell suitcases that infringe the D351
5 patent, including without limitation Mia Toro branded Profonidita and/or Tasca
6 hard shell suitcases, and other front opening hard shell suitcases (the Accused
7 Products).
8 12. The Accused Products are available for purchase from Marshalls
9 department stores.
10 13. Defendants use, sell, offer for sale, import and/or sell after importation
11 into the United States front opening hard shell suitcases, including without
12 limitation the Accused Products, that infringe Nukis patent rights.
13 CLAIM FOR RELIEF
14 (Infringement of U.S. Design Patent No. D719,351)
15 (35 U.S.C. 271)
16 14. Nuki repeats, realleges, and incorporates by reference the preceding
17 allegations above as though set forth fully herein.
18 15. Defendants, by and through their agents, officers, directors, resellers,
19 retailers, employees and servants, have been and are currently willfully and
20 intentionally infringing the D351 patent by using, offering to sell, selling,
21 importing into the United States, and/or selling after importation into the United
22 States the Accused Products, which embody the design covered by the D351
23 patent.
24 16. Defendants acts of infringement were undertaken without permission
25 or license from Nuki.
26 17. As the side-by-side comparison below reveals, Defendants have
27 infringed Nukis patented front opening design (shown left) in the Accused
28 Products (shown right).
-3-
COMPLAINT
Case 3:17-cv-00640-AJB-WVG Document 1 Filed 03/29/17 PageID.5 Page 5 of 7

1
The D351 Patent Mia Toro
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16 18. Defendants infringement of the D351 patent will continue unless

17 enjoined by this Court.
18 19. By reason of the foregoing infringing acts, Nuki has been damaged,
19 continues to be damaged, and is entitled to Defendants total profits in accordance
20 with 28 U.S.C. 289 in an amount to be determined at trial. In addition, pursuant
21 to 35 U.S.C. 284, Nuki is entitled to enhanced and treble damages against
22 Defendants together with interest at the maximum legal rate and costs as fixed by
23 the Court.
24 20. In addition, Nuki is entitled to reasonable attorneys fees incurred in
25 this action under 35 U.S.C. 285.
26 21. Because of the aforesaid infringing acts, Nuki has suffered and
27 continues to suffer great and irreparable injury for which there is no adequate
28 remedy at law.
-4-
COMPLAINT
Case 3:17-cv-00640-AJB-WVG Document 1 Filed 03/29/17 PageID.6 Page 6 of 7

1 PRAYER FOR RELIEF

2 WHEREFORE, Nuki prays for judgment against Defendants as follows:
3 (a) An Order adjudging Defendants to have infringed the D351 patent
4 under 35 U.S.C. 271;
5 (b) An Order adjudging Defendants to have willfully infringed the D351
6 patent under 35 U.S.C. 271;
7 (c) A permanent injunction under 35 U.S.C. 283 enjoining Defendants,
8 their officers, directors, agents, servants, resellers, retailers, employees and
9 attorneys, and those persons acting in concert or participation with them, from
10 infringing the D351 patent in violation of 35 U.S.C. 271;
11 (d) An award to Nuki of Defendants total profits in accordance with 35
12 U.S.C. 289, and that Defendants pay to Nuki all damages suffered by Nuki;
13 (e) An order for a trebling of damages and/or enhanced damages due to
14 Defendants willful infringement under 35 U.S.C. 284;
15 (f) An Order adjudicating that this is an exceptional case;
16 (g) An award to Nuki of all attorneys fees and costs incurred by Nuki in
17 connection with this action under 35 U.S.C. 285; and
18 (h) For such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.
19 Dated: March 29, 2017 SAN DIEGO IP LAW GROUP LLP
20

21 By: /s/Trevor Coddington

TREVOR Q. CODDINGTON, PH.D.
22 JAMES V. FAZIO, III
23
Attorneys for Plaintiff,
24 NUKI, INC.
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-5-
COMPLAINT
Case 3:17-cv-00640-AJB-WVG Document 1 Filed 03/29/17 PageID.7 Page 7 of 7

1 DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL

2 Pursuant to Rule 38 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Nuki hereby
3 demands a trial by jury of all issues so triable.
4 Dated: March 29, 2017 SAN DIEGO IP LAW GROUP LLP
5

6 By: /s/Trevor Coddington

TREVOR Q. CODDINGTON, PH.D.
7 JAMES V. FAZIO, III
8 Attorneys for Plaintiff,
NUKI, INC.
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-6-
COMPLAINT
 Case 3:17-cv-00640-AJB-WVG Document 1-1 Filed 03/29/17 PageID.8 Page 1 of 1
JS 44 (Rev. 08/16) CIVIL COVER SHEET
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

NlJKI, INC., a California corporation,
(b) County of Residence of First Listed Plaintiff
(EXCEPT IN U.S. PLAINTIFF CASES)
MARSHALLS OF CA, LLC; a Massachusetts corporation;
MARSHALLS OF MA, INC., a Massachusetts corporation; THE TJX
COMPANIES, INC., a Delaware corporation; and DOES 1-10, incl.
San Diego County, CA County of Residence of First Listed Defendant
(JN U.S. PLAINTIFF CASES ONLY)
NOTE: IN LAND CONDEMNATION CASES, USE THE LOCATION OF
THE 1RACT OF LAND INVOLVED.

( C) Attom~s (Firm Name, Address, and Telephone Number) Attorneys (If Known)
San Diego IP Law Group LLP
12526 High Bluff Drive, Suite 300
'17CV0640 AJB WVG
San Diego, CA 92130

II. BASIS OF JURISDICTION (Ptacean "X" in One Box Only) III. CITIZENSHIP OF PRINCIPAL PARTIES (Place an "X" in one Box for Plaintiff
0 I U.S. Government ~ 3 Federal Question
Plaintiff (U.S. Government Not a Party)

0 2 U.S. Government 0 4 Diversity

Defendant (Indicate Citizenship ofParties in Item III)

IV NATURE OF SUIT (Place an "X" in One Box Only)
I CONTRACT
0 II 0 Iosurance
0 120 Marine
0 130 Miller Act
0 140 Negotiable Iostnunent
0 150 Recovery of Overpayment
& Enforcement of Judgment
0 151 Medicare Act
0 152 Recovery of Defaulted
Student Loans
(Excludes Veterans)
0 153 Recovery of Overpayment
of Veteran's Benefits
0 160 Stockholders' Suits
0 190 Other Contract
0 195 Contract Product Liability
0 196 Franchise
I ... REA PROPERTY
0 210 Land Condemnation
0 220 F oreclosnre
0 230 Rent Lease & Ejectment
0 240 Torts to Land
0 245 Tort Product Liability
0 290 All Other Real Property
. TORTS
PERSONAL INJURY
0 310 Airplane
0 315 Airplane Product
Liability
0 320 Assault, Libel &
Slander
0 330 Federal Employers'
Liability
0 340 Marine
0 345 Marine Product
Liability
0 350 Motor Vehicle
0 355 Motor Vehicle
Product Liability
0 360 Other Personal
Injury
0 362 Personal Injury -
Medical Malnractice
CIVIL RIGHTS
0 440 Other Civil Rights
0 441 Voting
0 442 Employment
0 443 Housing/
Accommodations
0 445 Amer. w/Disabilities -
Employment
0 446 Amer. w/Disabilities -
Other
0 448 Education
Click here for Nature of Suit Code Descriptions
FORFEITURE/PENALTY BANKRUPTCY OTwR STATUTES I
PERSONAL INJURY 0 625 Drug Related Seizure 0 422 Appeal 28 USC 158 0 375 False Claims Act
0 365 Personal Injury - of Property 21 USC 881 0 423 Withdrawal 0 376 Qui Tam (31 USC
Product Liability 0 690 Other 28 USC 157 3729(a))
0 367 Health Care/ 0 400 State Reapportionment
Pharmaceutical PROPERTY RIGHTS 0 410 Antitrust
Personal Injury 0 820 Copyrights 0 430 Banks and Banking
Product Liability ~ 830 Patent 0 450 Commerce
0 368 Asbestos Personal 0 840 Trademark 0 460 Deportation
lojury Product 0 470 Racketeer Influenced and
Liability LAK...~ '"" " .. m 'L S};C URITY ., Corrupt Organizations
PERSONAL PROPERTY 0 710 Fair Labor Standards 0 861 HIA (1395ff) 0 480 Consumer Credit
0 370 Other Fraud Act 0 862 Black Lung (923) 0 490 Cable/Sat TV
0 371 Truth in Lending 0 720 Labor/Management 0 863 DIWC/DIWW (405(g)) 0 850 Securities/Commodities/
0 380 Other Personal Relations 0 864 SS!D Title XVI Exchange
Property Damage 0 740 Railway Labor Act 0 865 RSI (405(g)) 0 890 Other Statutory Actions
0 385 Property Damage 0 751 Family and Medical 0 891 Agricultural Acts
Product Liability Leave Act 0 893 Environmental Matters
0 790 Other Labor Litigation 0 895 Freedom of Information
PRISONER PETITIONS 0 791 Employee Retirement FEDERAL TAX SUITS Act
Habeas Corpus: Income Security Act 0 870 Taxes (U.S. Plaintiff 0 896 Arbitration
0 463 Alien Detainee or Defendant) 0 899 Administrative Procednre
0 510 Motions to Vacate 0 871 IRS-Third Party Act/Review or Appeal of
Sentence 26 use7609 Agency Decision
0 530 General 0 950 Constitutionality of
0 535 Death Penalty IMMIGRATION State Statutes
Other: 0 462 Naturalization Application
0 540 Mandamus & Other 0 465 Other Immigration
0 550 Civil Rights Actions
0 555 Prison Condition
0 560 Civil Detainee -
Conditions of
Confinement

V. ORIGIN (Place an "X" in One Box Only)

i:i( I Original 0 2 Removed from 0 3 Remanded from 0 4 Reinstated or 0 5 Transferred from 0 6 Multidistrict 0 8 Multidistrict
Proceeding State Court Appellate Court Reopened Another District Litigation - Litigation -
(specifo) Transfer Direct File
Cite the U.S. Civil Statute under which you are filing (Do not cite jurisdictional statutes unless diversity):
35 U.S.C. 271
VI. CAUSE OF ACTION 1-B-n-.e-fd - e - s c _ n _ p _ t i - o n _ o _ f _ c - a u s - e : - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
lnfringement of US Design Patent No. 0719,351
VII. REQUESTED IN 0 CHECK IF THIS IS A CLASS ACTION DEMAND$ CHECK YES only if demanded in complaint:
COMPLAINT: UNDER RULE 23, F.R.Cv.P. JURY DEMAND: 0 Yes i:i(No
VIII. RELATED CASE(S)
(See instructions):
IF ANY
DATE
03/29/2017
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY

RECEIPT# AMOUNT APPL YING IFP JUDGE MAG.JUDGE

Case 3:17-cv-00640-AJB-WVG Document 1-2 Filed 03/29/17 PageID.9 Page 1 of 8

EXHIBIT A
Case 3:17-cv-00640-AJB-WVG Document 1-2 Filed 03/29/17 PageID.10 Page 2 of 8
Illlll llllllll Ill lllll llllll llll lllll lllll 111111111111111111111111111111111
USOOD719351S

c12) United States Design Patent (10) Patent No.: US D719,351 S

Hailwood (45) Date of Patent: ** Dec. 16, 2014

(54) FRONT ACCESSIBLE HARD SHELL D639,555 S * 612011 Moon ............................ D3/279
SUITCASE 8,083,040 B2 * 12/2011 Chiang 190/119
8,118,145 Bl 2/2012 Hamamy et al.
D666,414 S * 9/2012 Giovannoni ................... D3/279
(71) Applicant: Terrence Hailwood, Del Mar, CA (US) D681,324 S 5/2013 Mohr
8,453,813 B2 * 612013 Lai. 190/110
(72) Inventor: Terrence Hailwood, Del Mar, CA (US) D714,057 s * 912014 Hou ............................... D3/279
2011/0186396 Al * 8/2011 Sheikh . 190/111
(**) Term: 14 Years 2012/0012431 Al* 1/2012 Hamilton . 190/18 A
2014/0110204 Al * 412014 Wu 190/18 A
(21) Appl. No.: 29/456,661 * cited by examiner

(22) Filed: Jun. 2, 2013 Primary Examiner - Jennifer Rivard

(51) LOC (10) Cl. ................................................ 03-01 Assistant Examiner - April Rivas
(52) U.S. Cl. (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm -Andrew Alia, Esq.
USPC ............................................. D3/279; D3/289
(57) CLAIM
( 58) Field of Classification Search
The ornamental design for a front accessible hard shell suit-
CPC ............ A45C 7/00; A45C 5/14; A45C 13/28;
case, as shown and described.
A45C 5/03
USPC .......... D3/273, 276, 279, 289, 301, 283, 272, DESCRIPTION
D3/278, 274, 281, 321, 902; 190/18 A,
190/100-127; 206/286-287.1 FIG. 1 is a front view of a front accessible hard shell suitcase
See application file for complete search history. in a closed configuration in accordance with the claimed
design;
(56) References Cited
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1;
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS FIG. 3 is a right rear perspective view of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a left rear perspective view of FIG. 1;
5,215,318 A * 6/1993 Capraro ......................... 280/1.5 FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of FIG. 1;
D422,409 s * 412000 Klenner et al. ................ D3/279 FIG. 6 is a right side elevation view of FIG. 1;
D428,698 s * 8/2000 Cheng ............................ D3/279 FIG. 7 is a left side elevation view of FIG. 1;
D432,298 s 10/2000 Markowitz
D438,005 s * 2/2001 Tiramani et al. ............... D3/279 FIG. 8 is a left perspective view of FIG. 1 shown in a hori-
D462,169 s * 912002 Giovanni ....................... D3/279 zontal position; and,
D491,359 s 6/2004 Oh FIG. 9 is perspective view of FIG. 8 shown in an open con-
D547,065 s * 7/2007 Fenton et al. .................. D3/321 figuration .
D547,549 s * 7/2007 Johansson et al. ............. D3/276 The broken lines illustrate portions of the front accessible
7,451,861 B2 1112008 Bhavnani
D582,673 s * 12/2008 Mangano ....................... D3/279 hard shell suitcase and form no part of the claimed design.
7,500,547 B2 3/2009 Bettua et al.
D630,850 s * 1/2011 Gifford .......................... D3/279 1 Claim, 6 Drawing Sheets

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Case 3:17-cv-00640-AJB-WVG Document 1-2 Filed 03/29/17 PageID.11 Page 3 of 8

U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 2014 Sheet 1of6 US D719,351 S

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Case 3:17-cv-00640-AJB-WVG Document 1-2 Filed 03/29/17 PageID.13 Page 5 of 8

Sheet 3 of 6 US D719,351 S
U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 2014

FIG. 4

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Case 3:17-cv-00640-AJB-WVG Document 1-2 Filed 03/29/17 PageID.14 Page 6 of 8

U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 2014 Sheet 4 of 6 US D719,351 S

FIG. 5 FIG. 6 FIG. 7

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Case 3:17-cv-00640-AJB-WVG Document 1-2 Filed 03/29/17 PageID.15 Page 7 of 8

U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 2014 Sheet 5 of 6 US D719,351 S

FIG. 8

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Case 3:17-cv-00640-AJB-WVG Document 1-2 Filed 03/29/17 PageID.16 Page 8 of 8

U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 2014 Sheet 6 of 6 US D719,351 S

FIG. 9

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