Swap Shop and designer settle

Terms include inspections

How much the Swap Shop’s owners had to pay to settle a lawsuit filed by Louis Vuitton over the sale of designer knockoffs at the flea market is still a mystery.

But some of the terms of the confidential agreement the French luxury brand made with market owners Preston and Betty Henn were revealed in court pa- pers filed in federal court in Fort Lauderdale.

Both sides agreed to settle the civil lawsuit last month on the seventh day of trial. Louis Vuitton had accused the Henns of contributory trademark violations, alleging they routinely turned a blind eye to vendors who sold designer fakes at the flea market on Sunrise Boulevard in Lauderhill.

The Henns admitted no wrongdoing.

They agreed to employ an inspector who will regularly look for knockoffs being sold by vendors and re- port back to the Swap Shop and Louis Vuitton.

The inspector will conduct searches at least four days per month, and Louis Vuitton retained the right to send its own investigators to do unannounced, random searches.

Swap Shop management also agreed to evict and ban traders who are caught selling counterfeit products by no later than June 1. The ban includes alleged infringers who were caught in the past.

Bigger warning signs will be placed at all entrances to the property, cautioning sellers about the criminal and civil penalties for selling knockoffs and market workers will use stricter guidelines to keep track of people suspected of illegal trading.

U.S. District Judge William Zloch agreed to dismiss the lawsuit last week, but either side can go back to court if any disagreement arises about enforcement of the settlement, according to court records. pmcmahon@tribune.com, 954-356-4533 or Twitter @SentinelPaula