Drizzt
Member
Ill. Rifle Association Must Pay Gun Control Group's Attorneys' Fees
3/26/2003
Press Release
Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence
223 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60606
www.ichv.org
Contact:
Thom Mannard
Phone: 312-341-0939
Chicago, IL - Federal Judge James B. Zagel (Northern District of Illinois) has ordered the Illinois State Rifle Association and two of its executive board members to pay nearly $100,000 in attorneys' fees to lawyers representing the primary Illinois gun control group.
The court decision resulted from an action in the spring of 2002, at which time the defendants in the case incorporated as a non-profit organization using the name of the primary gun control group in Illinois, the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence. After incorporating as the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, the defendants (including the National Rifle Association lobbyist in Illinois who also serves as the second vice-president of the Illinois State Rifle Association), proceeded to issue news releases claiming pro-gun positions in the name of the Illinois Council.
In June of 2002, the real Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence charged the Illinois State Rifle Association and specified board members with infringing upon its trademark rights. On September 13th, 2002, the Illinois State Rifle Association-affiliated defendants "entered into an Agreed Injunctive Order in which [they] agreed to stop using [the Council's] corporate name and other assumed names and also agreed not to dispute [the Council's] claims to trademark rights in these names and trade or service marks registered with the Illinois Secretary of State."
Subsequent to the Agreed Injunctive Order, the real Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence sought payment of its attorneys' fees. The week of March 17th, 2003, Judge Zagel awarded the payment of $98,013 to the plaintiffs' attorneys. It held that the Illinois State Rifle Association shared the responsibility because its second vice-president "present[ed] his plan to [incorporate a group using the named the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence] to the [ISRA] Board and they allowed him to proceed."
"Gun violence is a serious problem," said Thom Mannard, Executive Director of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence. "We hope that the conclusion to this case will give other pro-gun groups pause before they try and assume the good names of groups working to reduce gun violence."
Date of Release: March 24, 2003
http://www.jointogether.org/gv/news/alerts/reader/0,2061,562390,00.html
3/26/2003
Press Release
Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence
223 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60606
www.ichv.org
Contact:
Thom Mannard
Phone: 312-341-0939
Chicago, IL - Federal Judge James B. Zagel (Northern District of Illinois) has ordered the Illinois State Rifle Association and two of its executive board members to pay nearly $100,000 in attorneys' fees to lawyers representing the primary Illinois gun control group.
The court decision resulted from an action in the spring of 2002, at which time the defendants in the case incorporated as a non-profit organization using the name of the primary gun control group in Illinois, the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence. After incorporating as the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, the defendants (including the National Rifle Association lobbyist in Illinois who also serves as the second vice-president of the Illinois State Rifle Association), proceeded to issue news releases claiming pro-gun positions in the name of the Illinois Council.
In June of 2002, the real Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence charged the Illinois State Rifle Association and specified board members with infringing upon its trademark rights. On September 13th, 2002, the Illinois State Rifle Association-affiliated defendants "entered into an Agreed Injunctive Order in which [they] agreed to stop using [the Council's] corporate name and other assumed names and also agreed not to dispute [the Council's] claims to trademark rights in these names and trade or service marks registered with the Illinois Secretary of State."
Subsequent to the Agreed Injunctive Order, the real Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence sought payment of its attorneys' fees. The week of March 17th, 2003, Judge Zagel awarded the payment of $98,013 to the plaintiffs' attorneys. It held that the Illinois State Rifle Association shared the responsibility because its second vice-president "present[ed] his plan to [incorporate a group using the named the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence] to the [ISRA] Board and they allowed him to proceed."
"Gun violence is a serious problem," said Thom Mannard, Executive Director of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence. "We hope that the conclusion to this case will give other pro-gun groups pause before they try and assume the good names of groups working to reduce gun violence."
Date of Release: March 24, 2003
http://www.jointogether.org/gv/news/alerts/reader/0,2061,562390,00.html