throbber
BULKY
`
`DOCUMENT
`
`(FILE
`
`GES)
`
`
`
`‘Proceeding No.
`
`192062507
`
`
`
`lFihng Date
`
`| 12/28/2015
`
`‘
`
`|
`
`
`
`iPartklofl 1]
`
`
`
`
`
`‘ 92062507 \
`
`

`

`EDGE.108N
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`BEFORE THE TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`TTAB
`
`TTAB
`
`Edge Systems LLC,
`
`Petitioner,
`
`V.
`
`Rafael N. Aguila DBA Edge Systems,
`
`Respondent.
`
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`)
`
`Cancellation No.: 92062507
`
`Registration No.: 4,768,710
`
`Mark: ACTIV-4
`
`l hereby certify that this correspondence
`and all marked attachments are being
`deposited with the United States Postal
`Service as first-class mail in an envelope
`addressed to: U.S. Patent and Trademark
`Office, P.O. Box 1451 Alexandria, VA
`22313-1451, on
`
`December 23, 2015
`(Date)
`
`/LXK/
`Lauren Keller Katzenellenbogen
`
`PETITIONER'S OPPOSITION TO RESPONDENT'S
`MOTION FOR SUSPENSION OF PROCEEDINGS
`
`Edge Systems, LLC ("Petitioner"), by and through its undersigned counsel, hereby
`
`opposes Respondent's Motion for Suspension of Proceedings on the grounds that the civil action
`
`filed by Petitioners against Rafael N. Aguila d/b/a/ Edge Systems ("Respondent") does not
`
`involve Registration No. 4,768,710. Thus, Respondent has not shown good cause to suspend the
`
`present proceeding and the Motion to Suspend should be denied.
`
`FACTUAL BACKGROUND
`
`On November 26, 2014, Petitioner filed a Complaint against Respondent alleging, inter
`
`alia, infringement of a number of Petitioner's patents and trademarks, in the U.S. District Court
`
`for the Southern District of Florida ("the Complaint"). Mot., Ex. A. The case was assigned Case
`
`No. 14-24517-CIV-MOORE/MCALILEY ("the Florida Action"). Respondent had not yet even
`
`-1-
`
`111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`12-28-2015
`
`u s Patent & TMOfC/ TM Mall Rcpt Dt • 22
`
`

`

`applied for the registration at issue in this proceeding when Petitioner filed its Complaint in the
`
`Florida Action. Petition for Cancellation, Ex. B.
`
`On December 1, 2014, after being served with the Complaint in the Florida Action,
`
`Respondent submitted an application for federal registration of the mark ACTIV-4. 1 Petition for
`
`Cancellation, Ex. B. This application issued as Registration No. 4,768,710 ("the Registration"),
`
`the registration at issue in this proceeding, on July 7, 2015 - eight months after the Florida
`
`Action was filed. Id Accordingly, none of the claims, defenses, or counterclaims in the Florida
`
`Action relates to Respondent's Registration at issue here.
`
`On August 4, 2015 Respondent filed a Motion m the Florida Action to Amend
`
`Defendant's Answer and Counterclaims seeking to add claims for infringement of Respondent's
`
`Registration. Ex. 1 at 58-59, ili1132-141. However, on October 8, 2015, the Southern District of
`
`Florida issued an order denying Respondent's Motion to Amend. Ex. 2. Further, on October 26,
`
`2015, the Southern District of Florida also dismissed Defendant's affirmative defense of prior
`
`use of Petitioner's various trademarks, including of the ACTIV-4 mark. See Ex. 3 at 15 (raising
`
`affirmative defense of prior use); Ex. 4 at 12-15 (order dismissing affirmative defense of prior
`
`use). Thus, the court in the Florida Action has already rejected Respondent's attempt to raise
`
`issues relating to Respondent's Registration in the Florida Action. See Mot. at Ex. A; Ex. 2.
`
`Respondent may assert that there are overlapping issues because in the Florida Action
`
`Petitioner brought claims for infringement of Petitioner's common law rights in the mark
`
`ACTIV-4, a mark identical to Respondent's mark at issue in this proceeding. However,
`
`Respondent did not even file the application that led to issuance of Respondent's Registration for
`
`the mark until after Petitioner filed and served the Complaint in the Florida Action. Thus, as
`
`1 Respondent was served with the Complaint in the Florida Action on December 2, 2014 rather
`than December 19, 2014 as asserted in Respondent's motion. See Mot. at 1.
`
`-2-
`
`

`

`discussed above, the invalidity of Respondent's Registration, the subject of this proceeding, is
`
`not at issue and will not be decided in the Florida Action. Respondent seeks to suspend this
`
`proceeding only to delay the cancellation of his fraudulently obtained Registration. Thus,
`
`suspending this proceeding would be highly prejudicial to Petitioner.
`
`THIS PROCEEDING SHOULD NOT BE SUSPENDED
`
`A Trademark Trial and Appeal Board ("Board") proceeding may be suspended if "a party
`
`or parties to a pending case are engaged in a civil action ... which may have a bearing on the
`
`case." 37 C.F.R. § 2.117(a). Suspension of a Board proceeding pending the final determination
`
`of another proceeding is solely within the discretion of the Board. Jodi Kristopher Inc. v. Int 'l
`
`Seaway Trading Corp., 91U.S.P.Q.2d1957, 1959 (T.T.A.B. 2009). See also TBMP § 510.02(a)
`
`"All motions to suspend, regardless of circumstances, ... are subject to the ' good cause'
`
`standard." Id.; see also TBMP § 510.03(a) ("[T]he Board generally will not approve a motion or
`
`stipulation to suspend filed after answer and before the discovery conference without a sufficient
`
`showing of good cause."). "[B]oth the permissive language of Trademark Rule 2.117(a) ... and
`
`the explicit provisions of Trademark Rule 2.117(b) make clear that suspension is not the
`
`necessary result in all cases."
`
`Id. (citing Boyds Collection Ltd. v. Herrington & Co., 65
`
`U.S.P.Q.2d 2017, 2018 (T.T.A.B. 2003)).
`
`Here, suspension is not appropriate because Respondent has not shown good cause for
`
`the suspension. See id.; TBMP § 510.03(a). The Florida Action is unrelated to this proceeding
`
`because Respondent's Registration did not issue until eight months after the Florida Action was
`
`filed. Thus, none of the claims, defenses, or counterclaims in the Florida Action relates to
`
`Respondent's Registration. Moreover, the District Court has already dismissed Respondent's
`
`affirmative defense of prior use of the ACTIV-4 mark and rejected Respondent's attempt to add
`
`-3-
`
`

`

`claims relating to this Registration. Thus, the validity of Respondent's Registration No.
`
`4,768,710will not be decided in the Florida Action.
`
`Because the Florida Action is unrelated to this cancellation proceeding and will have no
`
`bearing on the present cancellation proceeding, Respondent has failed to meet his burden to
`
`show good cause for suspension of this proceeding. See Jodi Kristopher, 91 U.S.P.Q.2d at 1959;
`
`TBMP § 510.03(a).
`
`Moreover, suspension of this cancellation proceeding would unduly prejudice Petitioner
`
`because it would needlessly delay this proceeding and the cancellation of Respondent's invalid
`
`Registration. As discussed above, the invalidity of Respondent's Registration is not even at issue
`
`in the Florida Action and will not be decided in that action. If this action is suspended, Petitioner
`
`will be forced to wait until after the Florida Action is decided before even this action is allowed
`
`to progress, and before Petitioner is allowed to pursue the relief it seeks here. Accordingly,
`
`Respondent's motion should be denied to avoid delay and prejudice to Petitioner.
`
`CONCLUSION
`
`For the reasons set forth above, Petitioner respectfully requests that the Board deny the
`
`Motion for Suspension of Proceedings and continue this cancellation proceeding.
`
`Dated: December 23, 2015
`
`By:
`
`/LXK/
`Lauren Keller Katzenellenbogen
`Ali S. Razai
`Joy Wang
`2040 Main Street, 14th Floor
`Irvine, CA 92614
`(949) 760-0404
`efiling@knobbe.com
`Attorney for Petitioner,
`Edge Systems LLC
`
`-4-
`
`

`

`CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
`
`I hereby certify that I served copies of the foregoing PETITIONER'S OPPOSITION
`TO RESPONDENT'S MOTION FOR SUSPENSION OF PROCEEDINGS upon
`Respondent's counsel ofrecord by depositing a copy thereof in the United States Mail, first-class
`postage prepaid, on December 23, 2015, addressed as.follows:
`
`Rafael N. Aguila
`5338 SW 57th A venue
`South Miami, FLORIDA 33155
`UNITED STATES
`
`Natalie B. Rodriguez
`
`22254047
`121015
`
`-5-
`
`

`

`EXHIBIT 1
`EXHIBIT 1
`
`

`

`Case 1:14-cv-24517-KMM Document 135 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/04/2015 Page 1of114
`
`AUG O 3 2015
`
`STEVEN M LMIM9~~
`CLERK IJ S. OfS'f. eT~
`S. 0 . qf fl,.A =MIAMI
`
`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
`MIAMI DIVISION
`
`CASE NO. 1:14-CIV-24517-KMM/MCALILEY
`
`EDGE SYSTEMS, LLC, and
`AXIA MEDSCIENCES, LLC,
`
`Plaintiffs,
`
`V.
`
`Rafael Newton Aguila, a/k/a Ralph Aguila,
`an individual, d/b/a Hydradermabrasion Systems,
`
`Defendant.
`
`Rafael Newton Aguila, a/k/a Ralph Aguila,
`an individual, d/b/a Hydradermabrasion Systems,
`
`Counter-Plaintiff,
`
`V.
`
`EDGE SYSTEMS, LLC;
`AXJA MEDSClENCES, LLC;
`WESTON PRESIDIO SERVICE COMPANY, LLC;
`V ALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS INTERNATIONAL, INC. ;
`THE RITZ-CARL TON HOTEL COMP ANY, LLC,
`
`Counter-Defendants.
`
`MOTION TO AMEND DEFENDANT'S ANSWER AND COUNTERCLAJMS,
`AND TO JOIN ADDITIONAL PARTIES
`
`Defendant/Counter-Plaintiff, Rafael Newton Aguila ("Aguila") requests that the Court
`
`allow leave for him to amend his answer and counterclaims and to join additional parties for the
`
`following reasons:
`
`1. According to this Court's Scheduling Order (D.E. 104), "all motions to amend the pleadings
`
`or to join additional parties must be filed by the later of forty-five ( 45) days after the date of
`
`entry of this Order, or forty-five (45) days after the first responsive pleading by the last
`
`

`

`Case 1:14-cv-24517-KMM Document 135 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/04/2015 Page 2of114
`
`responding defendant". Because Aguila filed his answer on June 18, 2015 as D.E. 116, the
`
`final date to amend the pleadings or to join additional parties is today, August 3, 2015 .
`
`2. Aguila's second amended answer and counterclaims is attached as Exhibit A along with this
`
`motion.
`
`3. Allowingjoinder and the amended counterclaims would serve the interests of judicial
`
`economy. Aguila is requesting to join pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P . Rule 20 the following
`
`counterclaim defendants: WESTON PRESIDIO SERVICE COMPANY, LLC; V ALEANT
`
`PHARMACEUTICALS INTERNATIONAL, INC. ; and THE RITZ-CARL TON HOTEL
`
`COMP ANY, LLC.
`
`4. Aguila is requesting to add two new counts to his counterclaims. First, is "Count XV" fo r
`
`TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT pursuant to 3 5 U.S.C. § 1114(1) against all counterclaim
`
`defendants. Aguila owns the registered US. trademarks for Activ-4 (USPTO Reg. No.
`
`4, 768, 710), Beta-HD (USPTO Reg. No. 4, 768, 711 ), Antiox-6 (US PTO Reg. No. 4, 768, 712),
`
`and DermaBuilder (USPTO Reg. No. 4,772,995). These trademarks are all being infringed
`
`by all of the counterclaim defendants.
`
`5. The second new count is "COUNT XVI" for FALSE DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN pursuant
`
`to 35 U.S.C. § l 125(a) against all counterclaim defendants. Aguila owns the registered U.S .
`
`trademarks for Activ-4 (USPTO Reg. No. 4, 768, 710), Beta-HD (USPTO Reg. No.
`
`4, 768, 711 ), Antiox-6 (USPTO Reg. No. 4, 768, 712), and DermaBuilder (USPTO Reg. No.
`
`4,772,995). These trademarks are all being infringed by all of the counterclaim defendants.
`
`6. Aguila satisfies the requirements of Rule 20(a) because he seeks relief based on the same
`
`series of transactions and occurrences giving ri se to his trademark infringement claims.
`
`Whether a claim falls within the same series of transactions or occurrences depends on their
`
`logical relationship. Alexander v. Fulton Cnty., Ga., 207 F.3d 1303, 1323 (11th Cir.2000),
`
`overruled on other grounds by Manders v. Lee, 338 F.3d 1304 (1 lth Cir.2003). Although
`
`Rule 20(a) only requires that plaintiffs have any question of law or fact in common, here, the
`
`2
`
`

`

`Case 1:14-cv-24517-KMM Document 135 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/04/2015 Page 3 of 114
`
`questions of law and fact are nearly identical. Accordingly, Aguila meets Rule 20(a)'s
`
`requirements for permissive joinder.
`
`7_ Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 20(a)(2) describes the requirements for permissive joinder of
`
`defendants. It provides persons may be joined as defendants if: "(A) any right to relief is
`
`asserted against them jointly, severally, or in the alternative with respect to or arising out of
`
`the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences; and (B) any
`
`question of law or fact common to all defendants will arise in the action." This rule is
`
`designed "to promote trial convenience and expedite the resolution of lawsuits, thereby
`
`eliminating unnecessary lawsuits." Alexander, 207 F.3d at 1324. "Under the Rules, the
`
`impulse is toward entertaining the broadest possible scope of action consistent with fairness
`
`to the parties; joinder of claims, parties and remedies is strongly encouraged _" United Mine
`
`Workers v. Gibbs, 383 U.S . 715, 724, 86 S.Ct 1130, 16 L.Ed.2d 218 (1966).
`
`8_ Moreover, the Court may consider principles of fundamental fairness in assessing permissive
`
`joinder. These principles are encompassed, in part, by Rule 1 of the Federal Rules of Civil
`
`Procedure which requires the "just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of every action
`
`and proceeding."
`
`9. Aguila has a keen interest in proceeding against numerous Counter-Defendants in one
`
`lawsuit to reduce the costs of protecting its trademarks by avoiding multiple filing fees _ The
`
`facts in Aguila' s counterclaim satisfy the "same transaction, occurrence, or series of
`
`transactions or occurrences" requirement for permissive joinder. Moreover, severing
`
`Defendants promotes efficiency as set forth above. For these reasons, the Court find s
`
`misjoinder.
`
`10. Under Rule 20, a plaintiff is free to refuse or join proper parties: parties by whom or against
`
`whom claims arise from the same transaction or occurrence and will raise at least one
`
`common question of law or fact Fed.R.Civ.P_ 20(a)( l); Moore's Federal Practice - -- Civil§
`
`19.02(2)(b) (2009).
`
`3
`
`

`

`Case 1:14-cv-24517-KMM Document 135 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/04/2015 Page 4 of 114
`
`11 . A decision whether to grant leave to amend is within the discretion of the district court.
`
`Farnan v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178, 182 (1962). However, the Supreme Court has put some limits
`
`on this discretion by emphasizing Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15( a), which provides that
`
`leave to amend "shall be freely given when justice so requires." Id. There must be a
`
`"justifying reason" for a court to deny leave to amend because the Supreme Court has held
`
`that "this mandate is to be heeded." Id.; see also Halliburton & Assoc. v. Henderson, Few &
`
`Co., 774 F.2d 441, 443 (11th Cir. 1985) ("substantial reason" to deny leave to amend is
`
`needed).
`
`12. In Grayson v. Kmart Corp., the Supreme Court indicated that in deciding whether to grant
`
`leave to amend, the Court may consider the following factors : undue delay, bad faith or
`
`dilatory motive, repeated failure to cure deficiencies by previously permitted amendments,
`
`undue prejudice to the opposing party, and the futility of the amendment. 79 F.3d 1096, 1109
`
`(11th Cir. 1996).
`
`13 . In addition, "Rules 18, 20, and 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure permit the most
`
`liberal joinder of parties, claims, and remedies in civil actions." (quoting 28 U. S C. § 1441
`
`(reviser's note)).
`
`WHEREFORE, Aguila requests that this court grant his motion to amend his answers and
`
`counterclaims, and to join the three additional parties.
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`August 3, 2015
`
`Telephone: +49 7472 941 9465
`
`4
`
`

`

`Case 1:14-cv-24517-KMM Document 135 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/04/2015 Page 5 of 114
`
`CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
`
`I HEREBY certify that on August 3, 2014, I conventionally filed the foregoing document with
`the Clerk of the Court. I also certify that the foregoing document is being served this da on all
`counsel of record by U.S. mail and/or e-mail
`
`James A Gale, Esq. (FBN 371726)
`Richard Guerra, Esq. (FBN 689521)
`FELDMAN GALE
`One Biscayne Tower, 30th Floor
`2 South Biscayne Blvd.
`Miami, FL 33131
`Telephone: (305) 358-5001
`Facsimile: (305) 358-3309
`
`Brenton R. Babcock, Esq. (admitted pro hac
`vice)
`Ali S. Razai, Esq. (admitted pro hac vice)
`KNOBBE, MARTENS, OLSON &
`BEAR, LLP
`2040 Main Street, Fourteenth Floor
`Irvine, CA 92614
`Telephone: (949) 760-0404
`Facsimile: (949) 760-9502
`
`Attorneys for Plaintiffs,
`EDGE SYSTEMS LLC and
`AXIA MEDSCIENCES LLC
`
`WESTON PRESIDIO SERVICE
`COMPANY, LLC
`Therese A Mrozek, COO
`One Ferry Building, Suite 350
`San Francisco, CA 94111-4226
`Telephone: (415) 398-0770
`Facsimile: (415) 398-0990
`
`THE RITZ-CARLTON HOTEL
`COMPANY, LLC
`Herve Rumler, COO
`4445 Willard Avenue, Suite 800
`Chevy Chase, MD 20815
`Telephone: 301-547-4700
`Facsimile 801-468-4069
`
`VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS
`INTERNATIONAL, INC.
`400 Somerset Corporate Blvd.
`Bridgewater, NJ 08807
`(866) 246-8245
`
`5
`
`

`

`Case 1:14-cv-24517-KMM Document 135 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/04/2015 Page 6 of 114
`
`EXHIBIT A
`
`(Second Amended Answer and Counterclaims)
`
`6
`
`

`

`Case 1:14-cv-24517-KMM Document 135 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/04/2015 Page 7of114
`
`UNITED STA TES DISTRICT COURT
`SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
`MIAMI DIVISION
`CASE N0.1:14-CIV-24517-KMM/MCALILEY
`
`EDGE SYSTEMS, LLC, and
`AXIA MEDSCIENCES, LLC,
`
`Plaintiffs,
`
`v.
`
`Rafael Newton Aguila, a/k/a Ralph Aguila,
`an individual, d/b/a Hydradermabrasion Systems,
`
`Defendant.
`
`Rafael Newton Aguila, a/k/a Ralph Aguila,
`an individual, d/b/a Hydradermabrasion Systems,
`
`Counter-Plaintiff,
`
`v.
`
`EDGE SYSTEMS, LLC;
`AXIA MEDSCIENCES, LLC;
`WESTON PRESIDIO SERVICE COMPANY, LLC;
`VALEANTPHARMACEUTICALS INTERNATIONAL, INC .;
`THE RITZ-CARL TON HOTEL COMP ANY, LLC,
`
`Counter-Defendants.
`
`I
`
`SECOND AMENDED DEFENDANT/COUNTER-PLAINTIFF'S
`ANSWER, AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES, AND COUNTERCLAIMS
`
`Defendant/Counter-Plaintiff, RAFAEL NEWTON AGUILA ("Aguila"), answer to
`
`Plaintiffs/Counter-Defendants' Original Complaint ("Complaint") is as follows :
`
`

`

`Case 1:14-cv-24517-KMM Document 135 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/04/2015 Page 8 of 114
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`4.
`
`5.
`
`6.
`
`7.
`
`8.
`
`9.
`
`10.
`
`11.
`
`12.
`
`13 .
`
`14.
`
`15.
`
`16.
`
`17.
`
`18.
`
`19.
`
`20.
`
`21 .
`
`22.
`
`23 .
`
`24.
`
`25.
`
`26.
`
`THE PARTIES
`
`The allegations of paragraph l are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 2 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 3 are admitted.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 4 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 5 are denied.
`
`JURISDICTION AND VENUE
`
`The allegations of paragraph 7 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 8 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 9 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 10 are admitted.
`
`GENERAL ALLEGATIONS
`
`The allegations of paragraph 10 are admitted.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 36 are den ied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 12 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 13 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 14 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 15 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 16 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 17 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 18 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 19 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 20 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 21 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 22 are denied .
`
`The allegations of paragraph 23 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 24 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 25 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 26 are denied.
`
`2
`
`

`

`Case 1:14-cv-24517-KMM Document 135 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/04/2015 Page 9 of 114
`
`27.
`
`28 .
`
`29.
`
`30.
`
`31.
`
`32.
`
`33 .
`
`34.
`
`35 .
`
`The allegations of paragraph 27 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 28 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 29 are admitted.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 30 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 31 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 32 are admitted.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 33 are admitted.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 34 are denied.
`
`Aguila admits that Plaintiff Edge Systems has generated over $93 million in revenue over
`
`the last five years. Except as admitted therein, the remaining allegations of paragraph 35 are
`
`denied.
`
`36.
`
`37.
`
`38.
`
`39.
`
`40.
`
`41.
`
`42.
`
`43 .
`
`44 .
`
`45.
`
`46.
`
`47.
`
`48 .
`
`49.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 36 are deni ed.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 37 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 38 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 39 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 40 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 41 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 42 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 43 are deni ed.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 44 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 45 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 46 are admitted.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 47 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 48 are denied.
`
`Aguila admits to applying for a trademark on November 1, 2014. Except as admitted
`
`therein, the remaining allegations of paragraph 49 are denied.
`
`50.
`
`Aguila admits to using the website www-edge-systems.com. Except as admitted therein,
`
`the remaining allegations of paragraph 50 are denied.
`
`51.
`
`52.
`
`53.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 51 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 52 are admitted.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 53 are denied.
`
`3
`
`

`

`Case 1:14-cv-24517-KMM Document 135 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/04/2015 Page 10 of 114
`
`54.
`
`55 .
`
`56.
`
`57.
`
`58.
`
`59.
`
`60.
`
`6 I .
`
`62 .
`
`63.
`
`64.
`
`65.
`
`66.
`
`67.
`
`68.
`
`69.
`
`70.
`
`71 .
`
`72.
`
`73.
`
`74.
`
`75 .
`
`76.
`
`77.
`
`78 .
`
`79.
`
`80.
`
`81.
`
`82.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 54 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 55 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 56 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 57 are admitted.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 58 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 59 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 60 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 61 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 62 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 63 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 64 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 65 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 66 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 67 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 68 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 69 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 70 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 71 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 72 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 73 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 74 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 75 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 76 are denied.
`
`FffiST CLAIM FOR RELIEF INFRlNGEMENT OF THE PATENTS-IN-SUIT
`
`The allegations of paragraph 77 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 78 are admitted.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 79 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 80 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 81 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 82 are denied.
`
`4
`
`

`

`Case 1:14-cv-24517-KMM Document 135 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/04/2015 Page 11of114
`
`83 .
`
`84.
`
`85 .
`
`86.
`
`87.
`
`88 .
`
`89.
`
`90.
`
`91 .
`
`92.
`
`93 .
`
`94.
`
`95 .
`
`96.
`
`97.
`
`98 .
`
`99.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 83 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 84 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 85 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 86 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 87 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 88 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 89 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 90 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 91 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 92 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 93 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 94 are denied.
`
`SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF TRADEMARK lNFRINGEMENT
`
`The allegations of paragraph 95 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 96 are admitted
`
`The allegations of paragraph 97 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 98 are denied.
`
`The allegations of paragraph 99 are denied.
`
`100. The allegations of paragraph 100 are denied.
`
`101. The allegations of paragraph 101 are denied.
`
`102. The allegations of paragraph 102 are denied.
`
`l 03 . The allegations of paragraph 103 are denied.
`
`104. The allegations of paragraph 104 are denied.
`
`105 . The allegations of paragraph 105 are denied .
`
`THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF
`
`FALSE DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN AND UNFAIR COMPETITION
`
`106. The allegations of paragraph 106 are denied.
`
`107. The allegations of paragraph 107 are admitted.
`
`108. The allegations of paragraph 108 are denied.
`
`109. The allegations of paragraph 109 are denied.
`
`5
`
`

`

`Case 1:14-cv-24517-KMM Document 135 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/04/2015 Page 12 of 114
`
`110. The allegations of paragraph 360 are denied.
`
`111. The allegations of paragraph 361 are denied.
`
`112. The allegations of paragraph 362 are denied.
`
`113 . The allegations of paragraph 363 are denied.
`
`114. The allegations of paragraph 364 are denied.
`
`115. The allegations of paragraph 365 are denied.
`
`FOURTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF
`
`FALSE DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN AND UNFAIR COMPETITION
`
`116. The allegations of paragraph 366 are denied.
`
`117. The allegations of paragraph 367 are admitted.
`
`118. The allegations of paragraph 368 are denied.
`
`119. The allegations of paragraph 369 are denied.
`
`FIFTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF
`
`FRAUD ON THE U.S.P.T.O.
`
`120. The allegations of paragraph 120 are denied.
`
`121 . The allegations of paragraph 121 are admitted.
`
`122. The allegations of paragraph 122 are denied.
`
`123 . The allegations of paragraph 123 are denied.
`
`124. The allegations of paragraph 124 are denied.
`
`125. The allegations of paragraph 125 are denied.
`
`126. The allegations of paragraph 126 are denied.
`
`SIXTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF
`
`FALSE DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN AND UNFAIR COMPETITION
`
`127. The allegations of paragraph 127 are denied.
`
`128. The allegations of paragraph 128 are admitted.
`
`129. The allegations of paragraph 129 are denied.
`
`130. The allegations of paragraph 130 are denied.
`
`13 1. The allegations of paragraph 131 are denied.
`
`6
`
`

`

`Case 1:14-cv-24517-KMM Document 135 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/04/2015 Page 13 of 114
`
`GENERAL DENIAL
`
`132.
`
`Except as expressly admitted herein, Aguila denies each and every allegation
`
`contained in Plaintiffs' Complaint.
`
`DEMAND FOR JUDGMENT
`
`133.
`
`Aguila denies that the Plaintiffs are entitled to the relief for which it please in
`
`paragraph 6 of its prayer.
`
`134.
`
`Aguila denies that the Plaintiffs are entitled to the relief for which it please in
`
`paragraph 6 of its prayer.
`
`135.
`
`Aguila denies that the Plaintiffs are entitled to the relief for which it please in
`
`paragraph 6 of its prayer.
`
`136. Aguila denies that the Plaintiffs are entitled to the relief for which it please in paragraph 6
`
`of its prayer.
`
`137. Aguila denies that the Plaintiffs are entitled to the relief for which it please in paragraph 6
`
`of its prayer.
`
`138. Aguila denies that the Plaintiffs are entitled to the relief for which it please in paragraph 6
`
`of its prayer.
`
`139. Aguila denies that this demand should be made;
`
`140. Aguila denies that this demand should be made;
`
`141 . Aguila denies that this demand should be made;
`
`l 42. Aguila denies that this demand should be made;
`
`143 . Aguila denies that this demand should be made;
`
`144. Aguila denies that this demand should be made;
`
`145. Aguila denies that this demand should be made;
`
`146. Aguila denies that this demand should be made;
`
`147. Aguila denies that this demand should be made;
`
`148. Aguila denies that this demand should be made;
`
`149. Aguila denies that this demand should be made;
`
`150. Aguila denies that this demand should be made;
`
`151 . Aguila denies that this demand should be made;
`
`7
`
`

`

`Case 1:14-cv-24517-KMM Document 135 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/04/2015 Page 14of114
`
`152. Aguila denies that this demand should be made·
`'
`153. Aguila denies that this demand should be made·
`'
`154. Aguila denies that this demand should be made;
`
`155. Aguila denies that this demand should be made;
`
`156. Aguila denies that this demand should be made.
`
`DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
`
`157. Defendant demands a trial by jury.
`
`AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES
`
`158. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(c), and without assuming any burden that it
`
`would not otherwise bear, and reserving its right to assert additional defenses, Aguila asserts the
`
`following defenses to Plaintiffs' Original Complaint.
`
`FIRST DEFENSE - NON-INFRINGEMENT
`
`159. Without waiving the right to raise additional bases for alleging non-infringement, Aguila
`
`has not and does not infringe any claim of the Plaintiffs' Patent for at least the reason that one
`
`or more claim limitations are not, and have not been, present in the Aguila' s products. Aguila
`
`does not infringe, and has not infringed, literally or under the doctrine of equivalents; Aguila
`
`does not infringe, and has not infringed, directly, indirectly, jointly, or contributorily; Aguila
`
`does not induce, and has not induced, infringement. As noted above, the limitation of Claim
`
`l of the '620 patent requiring "a skin interface portion of the working end comprising an
`
`abrasive tragment composition secured thereto" means that the actual handpiece used by the
`
`appellees is different from what is mentioned in Claim 1 of the '620 patent. Instead of having
`
`an "abrasive fragment" , the Plaintiffs' handpiece has smooth plastic tips with small ridges.
`
`Therefore, neither the Plaintiffs' nor the Aguila' s handpiece meet every limitation of Claim 1
`
`of the '620 without making any kind of claim construction analysis; (2) construing appellees'
`
`handpiece to contain an "abrasive fragment" when it has no abrasive materials that make
`
`contact with the skin.
`
`8
`
`

`

`Case 1:14-cv-24517-KMM Document 135 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/04/2015 Page 15 of 114
`
`Aguila's handpiece
`
`Plaintiffs' handpiece
`
`U.S. Patent 6,299,620
`
`160. Claim 1 of U.S. Patent 6,299,620 ('" 620 patent") states that it is:
`
`A system for treating surface layers of a patient's skin, comprising: (a)
`an instrument body with a distal working end for engaging a skin
`surface; (b) a skin interface portion of the working end comprising an
`abrasive fragment composition secured thereto; (c) at least one inflow
`aperture in said skin interface in fluid communication with a fluid
`reservoir; and (d) at least one outflow aperture in said skin interface in
`communication with a negative pressurization source.
`
`161. However, Aguila's devices do not infringe on this claim because Aguila's handpieces do
`
`not have "a skin interface portion of the working end comprising an abrasive fragment composition
`
`secured thereto" as taught by the ' 620 patent. In fact, Aguila's handpieces do not have anything in
`
`common with any of the other subsections of found in Claim 1 of the '620 patent. For example,
`
`Aguila' s handpieces do not have any "abrasive fragment composition" that come into contact with
`
`the skin surface.
`
`162.
`
`For example, Aguila would include a metal handpiece with an abrasi ve tip, but for only
`
`dry microdermabrasion, not to use with liquids. The metal handpieces did have diamond fragments
`
`on it to act as an abrasive. For the "wet" microdermabrasion, Aguila would only use the plastic
`
`handpiece with the special plastic tip and no diamond or abrasive material. Similar to the
`
`Hydrafacial MD. See Exhibit J, K, and L. As noted above, the limitation of Claim 1 of the '620
`
`9
`
`

`

`Case 1:14-cv-24517-KMM Document 135 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/04/2015 Page 16 of 114
`
`patent requiring "a skin interface portion of the working end comprising an abrasive fragment
`
`composition secured thereto" means that the actual handpiece used by the appellees is different
`
`from what is mentioned in Claim l of the '620 patent. Instead of having an "abrasive fragment",
`
`the Plaintiffs' handpiece has smooth plastic tips with small ridges. Therefore, neither the Plaintiffs'
`
`nor the Aguila' s handpiece meet every limitation of Claim 1 of the '620 without making any kind
`
`of claim construction analysis; (2) construing appellees' handpiece to contain an "abrasive
`
`fragment" when it has no abrasive materials that make contact with the skin. According to the
`
`Merriam-Webster dictionary, the ordinary meaning of the term "abrasive" is defined as: "a
`
`substance (as emery or pumice) used for abrading, smoothing, or polishing" .
`
`U.S. Patent 8,337,513
`
`163 . Claim 1 of U.S. Patent 8,337,513 ('" 513 patent") states that it is:
`
`A system for treating skin, comprising: a handheld device comprising a main body
`and a working end along a distal end of the main body; an outer periphery extending
`along the distal end of the hand held device; at least one surface

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket