A lawsuit has been filed accusing a local smoke shop of selling counterfeit goods, potentially tarnishing the reputation of a renowned brand. On October 4, 2024, GS Holistic, LLC filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Old Town Smoke Mart LLC, doing business as American Vapor Shop, and its owner Viqhar Mohammed.
The plaintiff, GS Holistic, LLC, is a Delaware-based company known for its Stiindenglass branded products. Since 2020, GS has marketed and sold these products under well-known trademarks that are recognized both nationally and internationally. The company alleges that the defendants have been selling counterfeit versions of their products at their retail location in Chicago. According to the complaint, an investigator from GS purchased a counterfeit Gravity Infuser from American Vapor Shop on October 1, 2022. This product was sold at $330.74 and bore fake Stiindenglass marks without authentic packaging or serial numbers.
GS claims that the defendants' actions constitute trademark infringement and counterfeiting under the Lanham Act (15 U.S.C. § 1051 et seq.). The lawsuit highlights how such activities mislead consumers into buying low-quality imitations that damage GS's reputation and dilute its brand value. "The Defendants not only reap ill-begotten profits but damage GS’s reputation by associating GS’s name with low-quality goods," states the complaint.
The plaintiff seeks several forms of relief from the court. They request statutory damages under federal law for trademark infringement and false designation of origin. Additionally, they seek disgorgement of profits made by the defendants through these illegal sales and treble damages due to willful misconduct. An injunction is also sought to prevent further sale or distribution of counterfeit products by Old Town Smoke Mart LLC.
Representing GS Holistic is attorney Ryan S. Fojo from The Ticktin Law Group based in Chicago. The case has been assigned Case ID: 1:24-cv-09494 in front of judges yet to be named.