After four years of litigation, United States District Judge Kenneth M. Karas has dismissed most of Rockland Exposition Incorporated's (REI) complaint against the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ), AASP/NJ board members Tom Elder, Thomas Greco, Glenn Villacari, and Thomas Greco Publishing.
Like this article? Sign up to receive our weekly news blasts here.REI filed suit in 2008 after the association elected not to renew their management contract with REI and its president David McCarey and moved AASP/NJ’s NORTHEAST show back to New Jersey.
In an 87-page opinion issued Sept. 14, Judge Karas dismissed REI's most significant claim – that AASP/NJ and the other defendants infringed on REI's claimed rights in the trademark "NORTHEAST." Therefore, REI's demands on this count for injunctive relief and damages failed, according to the association. The court also dismissed REI's claims for trademark infringement, dilution and unfair competition under New York law.
The court dismissed REI's claims for false and deceptive advertising, trade libel and disparagement; REI's claims for tortious interference with prospective business advantage; and REI's claims for tortious interference with contract with respect to AASP/NJ, Thomas Greco and Thomas Greco Publishing, the association said.
“We are extremely happy that this is over,” said AASP/NJ President Jeff McDowell. “It has been a long, painful experience that has taken its toll on many of the dedicated volunteers who serve our association, and we are proud that we took a stand to make sure justice was served. There are many people to thank, especially board members Brian Vesley and Joe Amato. Brian has spent countless hours of his own time making sure that AASP/NJ’s interests were being looked after from day one. Joe went way beyond the call of duty to make sure we were protected from an insurance standpoint. I don’t know where we’d be without those two individuals. Our association and our industry are indebted to them.”
AASP/NJ’s 36th NORTHEAST 2013 takes place March 8 to 10, 2013, at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, N.J.
For more information about Northeast 2013 visit www.aaspnjnortheast.com. For more information on AASP/NJ visit www.aaspnj.org.
