Suit: Local shop sold counterfeit rolling papers

TEXARKANA, Texas — A lawsuit filed this month in a Texarkana federal court accuses a local tobacco store of selling counterfeit cigarette rolling papers in violation of a registered trademark.

Republic Technologies and Republic Tobacco filed suit against AWV Inc. doing business as Tobacco Station USA in the Texarkana Division of the Eastern District of Texas. The suit accuses the Tobacco Station of selling rolling papers that appear to be JOB products but which are fakes.

Tobacco Station did not respond to a request for comment. Republic Technologies did not respond to a request for comment through the Florida-based law firm which filed the complaint, The Ticktin Law Group.

“Republic Technologies and its predecessors have used the JOB Trademarks continuously for over 150 years in connection with cigarette rolling papers. By booklets, JOB-brand cigarette rolling papers are the longest-selling cigarette rolling papers in the United States,” the complaint states.

The complaint alleges that Tobacco Station sold multiple products branded with a counterfeit JOB logo on April 28 from the store at 4434 W. Seventh St. A photo of the rolling papers is attached as an exhibit to the complaint along with a receipt.

The complaint alleges the defendants are guilty of infringing on Republic Technologies’ trademark, of violating the Lanham Act and of unfair competition.

Republic Technologies is seeking an injunction that would prevent the sale of products falsely branded with the JOB trademark. Also sought is an order “requiring that the Defendant

and all others acting under the Defendant’s authority, at its cost, be required to deliver up to the Plaintiffs for destruction all products, accessories, labels, signs, prints, packages, wrappers, receptacles, advertisements, and other material in their possession, custody or control bearing any of the JOB Trademarks,” the complaint states.

The plaintiffs also ask for a judgment for actual damages, treble damages and the costs of the lawsuit. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Robert Schroeder III. AWV Inc. doing business as Tobacco Station USA has not filed a response.

Federal court records show Republic filed at least eight other suits against tobacco retailers in other divisions of the Eastern District of Texas at the same time the suit against Tobacco Station was filed.