Top Tobacco, L.P. et al v. Star Importers & Wholesalers, Inc. et al

  1. May 10, 2024

    Tobacco Wholesaler Must Post $1.4M Bond Pending IP Appeal

    A cigarette rolling paper wholesaler must post a more than $1.4 million bond while the company appeals its portion of a larger $2.3 million verdict for selling counterfeit papers, a Georgia federal judge has ruled.

  2. February 21, 2024

    Judge Won't Strike 'Excessive' $2.3M Tobacco TM Verdict

    A federal judge in Atlanta has said he won't reduce a $2.3 million verdict against two Georgia wholesalers of cigarette rolling paper accused of selling knockoffs, saying the jury's determination on the amount of the damages is "something the court cannot second-guess."

  3. May 16, 2023

    Ga. Wholesalers Say $2M Tobacco TM Verdict Is Excessive

    Two Georgia wholesalers separately asked a Georgia federal court on Monday to amend a $2.3 million damages verdict against them in a counterfeit cigarette rolling papers case, saying it is excessive considering the jury found they did not willingly trade in knockoff papers.

  4. April 03, 2023

    Ga. Wholesalers Barred From Trading Fake Smoke Papers

    Georgia wholesalers on the hook for $2.3 million in statutory damages for trading counterfeit cigarette rolling papers have been permanently barred from further infringing the "Top" and "Job" trademarks owned by several tobacco giants.

  5. March 24, 2023

    Ga. Judge Rolls Back Order In Fake Tobacco Papers Suit

    A Georgia federal judge rescinded Friday his same-day order for two Georgia wholesalers to permanently dissociate from the Top and Job brands of cigarette rolling papers and affiliated products, following a counterfeiting trial in which the companies were slapped with $2.3 million in damages.

  6. March 14, 2023

    Tobacco Cos. Win $2.3M At Fake Rolling Papers Trial

    Federal jurors in Atlanta awarded $2.3 million in statutory damages Tuesday to the companies behind the Top and Job brands of tobacco rolling papers shortly after revealing they couldn't tell the difference between genuine and counterfeit products traded by two Georgia wholesalers.

  7. March 13, 2023

    Tobacco Giants Roll Back Damages Bid In Fake Papers Trial

    The companies behind the Top and Job brands of tobacco rolling papers rescinded during trial closings Monday their push for $18 million in statutory damages against each of two Georgia wholesalers liable for trading counterfeit products, acknowledging that the penalty was "high."

  8. March 06, 2023

    Tobacco Giants' $54M Ask In TM Trial 'Baloney,' Jurors Told

    A push by leading tobacco companies for $54 million in damages from Georgia wholesalers that bought and sold counterfeit cigarette rolling papers is "baloney," defense counsel told jurors during trial openings in Atlanta on Monday.

  9. March 02, 2023

    IP Forecast: Atty's TM Fraud Fight Makes Its Way To Fed. Circ.

    The Federal Circuit will consider for the first time whether the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board was wrong to wipe out a trademark because a lawyer signed a declaration about the mark without reading it. Here's a look at that case — plus all the other major intellectual property matters on deck in the coming week.

  10. March 10, 2022

    Court Rejects Bid For Split Trials In Rolling Papers TM Fight

    A Georgia federal court refused to grant separate trials for two retailers in a fight over the sale of counterfeit "Top Tobacco" cigarette rolling papers, saying Thursday that the allegations have enough in common to proceed together.