GLENVIEW, Ill., July 23,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Last March, Republic Brands and
its affiliates won $1,242,000.00 at
trial against Samad Lakhani and his
distribution company, ZCell & Novelties ("ZCell"). The jury
handed down its verdict following a seven-day trial involving
ZCell's sale of counterfeit rolling papers. Before trial, the court
had found that Lakhani was personally liable for ZCell's sale of
counterfeits using Republic's famous TOP® and
JOB® trademarks.
Following trial, Lakhani and ZCell moved the court to reduce the
$1.2 million award. The court denied
Lakhani and ZCell's request on all grounds.
Last week, ZCell paid the judgment to Republic Brands and
dismissed their appeal of the jury verdict, thus concluding the
lawsuit.
This is just the latest in a series of successful legal actions
by Republic Brands against companies selling counterfeits and their
owners. In March 2022, Republic
Brands won $11 million in damages
against Raj Solomon and Diamond J Wholesale, LLC. Solomon appealed,
including up to the United States Supreme Court, but Republic
Brands's $11 million win was
confirmed. Republic Brands continues to pursue all available
avenues to recover every dollar of these damages from Solomon. In
March 2023, Republic Brands won a
judgment of $1.1 million against
Monty Hudda and Star Importers &
Wholesalers. Like ZCell, Star and Hudda asked the court to reduce
the jury award as excessive (which was denied) and have now
appealed to the Eleventh Circuit. Republic Brands has scored other
major wins against counterfeiters in Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, Illinois, Virginia, and elsewhere, amounting to millions
of dollars in damages.
As the global leader in rolling papers and premium smoking
accessories, Republic Brands takes its responsibility to
consumers—and the industry at large—seriously. "The bad actors
don't stop, so we won't stop—ever," said Republic Brands CEO
Don Levin. "Republic Brands has
proven that it will use all means available under the law to
protect our consumers' trust and our company's reputation," Levin
continued. "On behalf of our consumers and the industry, we
won't quit doing everything within our power to stop those who seek
to profit from selling counterfeit products."
Republic Brands continues its relentless pursuit of
counterfeiters worldwide, working with investigators, law
enforcement agencies, U.S. Customs & Border Patrol, and
Homeland Security to stop the trade of counterfeit rolling papers
through criminal and civil actions. "Protecting consumers from
counterfeit products remains an ongoing priority," Levin promised,
"and we are closing in on some very big operations."
Republic Brands' anti-counterfeiting efforts are led by
Sachin Lele, Republic Brands'
Executive Vice President and General Counsel, and Jessica Roberts, Republic Brands' Senior
Counsel. Republic Brands' trial team is led by Maia Woodhouse of Adams and Reese LLP and Sheldon Zenner of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP.
Republic Brands asks for the public to join in reporting
counterfeit products by emailing
counterfeit@republicbrands.com or calling 1-800-288-8888.
About Republic Brands
The world's leading rolling
company, Republic Brands holds the most extensive portfolio in the
category including OCB®, JOB®, e-z
wider®, DRUM®, Premier®,
Gambler®, and TOP® brands. With a
200-year-old cultural legacy, the family-owned company is known for
innovations such as sustainable bamboo, hemp, and flax fiber papers
and cones, its natural acacia gum, and internationally-recognized
ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 and GMP standards. Republic brings
consumers the best experience from plant to puff by combining
old-world artisan quality with modern sensibilities. With its
wide-reaching distribution network across 120 countries, Republic
Brands operates seven manufacturing facilities across North America and Europe. For more information, please visit
www.republicbrands.com.
Media Contact:
Lisa
Weser
Trailblaze
Lisa@Trailblaze.co
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SOURCE Republic Brands