Baton Rouge-based Central Title & Closing Co. LLC is suing Lafayette-based Central Title LLC for trademark infringement.
According to the lawsuit filed with the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana on Nov. 19, CTCC, a title company, has operated in East Baton Rouge Parish since 2005 under the trade names “Central Title & Closing” and “Central Title & Closing Co.”
CT, also a title company, has been in operation since before CTCC’s formation, though the company originally served only the Lafayette market. CT recently expanded into East Baton Rouge Parish under the trade name “Central Title.”
That expansion has brought the two companies into direct competition for the first time.
CTCC alleges that CT’s use of the trade name “Central Title” in East Baton Rouge Parish has diluted its brand and led to customer confusion, as CT’s recent activities—including targeting customers in areas long served by CTCC—are “likely to mislead” customers about the affiliation or origin of the services CT is offering.
CTCC is seeking an injunction prohibiting CT from using the trade name “Central Title” or confusingly similar variants thereof in East Baton Rouge Parish and other parishes in which CTCC operates.
CTCC is also seeking compensation for losses incurred as a result of CT’s use of the trade name “Central Title” in East Baton Rouge Parish and reimbursement for legal costs, as well as any additional relief the court deems appropriate.
Representatives from Central Title were unable to be reached for comment before this morning’s publication deadline.
