Legal service company files trademark infringement suit

GALVESTON � U.S. Legal Support Inc. has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against U.S. Legal Forms Inc. and USLegal Inc.

The federal suit filed March 1 in the Galveston Division of the Southern District of Texas argues that U.S. Legal Support has maintained exclusive rights over the U.S. Legal trademark since 1996 and accuses U.S. Legal Forms and USLegal of using the trademark without express authorization.

According to the original petition, the plaintiff has the U.S. Legal mark registered for legal services, which it renders "in almost every state and continuously carries on a national marketing campaign."

It also owns various domain names including but not limited to http://www.uslegalsupport.com/, the suit says.

The complainant shows that "each defendant has used the U.S. Legal trademark in connection with products and services in a manner that creates a likelihood of confusion."

"The plaintiff will suffer irreparably harm, damage and injury unless the acts and conduct of each defendant complained... are enjoined because each defendant's continued conduct is likely to cause confusion among costumers and vendors that will result in a loss of costumers, reputation, goodwill, revenue, profits," the suit says.

Consequently, U.S. Legal Support seeks a permanent injunction preventing the defendants from using the allegedly infringed trademarks and domain names as well as unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.

It is represented by attorney Michael G. Locklar of Houston.

The case has been assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt.

Case No. 3:11-cv-00100