HOUSTON – A New Orleans-based rapper has pursued legal action after his name and image were allegedly used without his permission, recent Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas records show.
Byron Thomas, professionally known as DJ Mannie Fresh, filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Active Park, LLC; Prospect Park; Moheed Mertins; Steven Rogers; Jonathan Reitzel; and Robert Wright on Dec. 8.
“The defendants’ malicious actions have caused irreparable injury and public embarrassment to the plaintiff’s reputation as a businessman, along with his character, and the integrity of the plaintiff’s pending trademark,” the suit says.
Thomas, whom court documents state is “half of the brains” of Cash Money Records, asserts the respondents used his likeness and name on print and social media to promote an event of theirs earlier this year.
The plaintiff demanded the defendants scrub his name and picture to no avail.
“When (the plaintiff) requested the removal of his name, the defendant became angry, refused to remove the plaintiff’s name, and refused to compensate him for the false advertisement,” the original petition says.
Thomas claims he suffered public humiliation and embarrassment.
Consequently, he seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
Attorney Roxell Richards of the Roxell Richards Law Firm in Houston is representing the plaintiff.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas Case No. 4:17-CV-3711