O.A. Cargo, Inc. v. OA Cargo Chicago, No. 12 C 5763, Slip OP. (N.D. Ill. Mar. 13, 2014) (Zagel, J.).
Judge Zagel awarded damages in this Lanham Act case after he and Judge Conlon entered default judgment against the defendants.
Pursuant to its “considerable discretion” to award damages based upon a default judgment, the Court awarded the following damages:
- Expenses incurred in setting up Defendants’ business – $36,826.24
- Franchise fee – $50,000
- Ongoing licensing fees of $8,633.33 per month for 16.5 months – $142,449.95 + $35,612.49 = $178,062.44
- Attorneys’ fees and costs – $35,816.47
- Statutory interest
The Court did not award damages for the entire 26 month period for which plaintiff sought the ongoing licensing fees. The Court held that the evidence did not support the full 26 months. Instead, the evidence supported 16.5 months. The Court awarded damages for 16.5 months. The Court also held that there was evidence that defendants’ conduct was willful. The evidence warranted a 25% increase in the award of ongoing licensing fees, but not the trebling sought by plaintiff. Finally, the Court denied damages based upon plaintiff’s alleged reputational harm because the damages were “insufficiently supported.”