Opinion
Case No. 21-cv-60790-BLOOM/Valle
04-14-2021
LOUIS VUITTON MALLETIER, Plaintiff, v. AAALVSALE.COM, et al., Defendants.
SEALED ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF'S EX PARTE MOTION TO AUTHORIZE ALTERNATE SERVICE OF PROCESS
THIS CAUSE is before the Court upon Plaintiff, Louis Vuitton Malletier's ("Plaintiff") Ex Parte Motion for Order Authorizing Alternate Service of Process on Defendants Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(f)(3), ECF No. [7] ("Motion"). In its Complaint, Plaintiff sets forth claims against Defendants for (1) trademark counterfeiting and infringement, (2) false designation of origin, (3) cybersquatting, (4) common law unfair competition, and (5) common law trademark infringement. See ECF No. [1]. More specifically, Plaintiff alleges that Defendants promote, sell, offer for sale, and distribute goods bearing counterfeits and confusingly similar imitations of Plaintiff's trademarks, thereby infringing Plaintiff's trademarks. Id. Plaintiff contends that Defendants are accomplishing these infringement activities through various fully interactive, commercial Internet websites under their domain names identified on Schedule "A" hereto (the "Subject Domain Names").
Plaintiff contends that Defendants operate via the Internet and utilize electronic means as reliable forms of contact. See ECF No. [7], at 2-5. According to Plaintiff, it has good cause to believe that Defendants are all residents of the People's Republic of China ("China"), Republic of Korea ("Korea"), Netherlands, Philippines, Russian Federation ("Russia"), Singapore, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ("United Kingdom"), or other foreign jurisdictions, and/or redistribute products from sources in those locations. Id. at 11. Plaintiff further contends that Defendants have at least one operational form of electronic contact, demonstrating that this means of contact is not just effective, but the most reliable means of communicating with Defendants. Id. at 3-5. Consequently, Plaintiff asserts that e-mail, including onsite contact, is the most reliable means of providing Defendants with notice of this action. Id. at 9.
Rule 4(f)(3) allows a district court to order an alternate method for service to be effected upon foreign defendants, provided that it is not prohibited by international agreement, and is reasonably calculated to give notice to the defendants. See Brookshire Bros. v. Chiquita Brands Int'l, Inc., No. 05-CIV-21962, 2007 WL 1577771, at *2 (S.D. Fla. May 31, 2007) ("[D]istrict courts have found broad discretion under Rule 4(f)(3) to authorize other methods of service that are consistent with due process and are not prohibited by international agreements." (citing Prewitt Enters., Inc. v. Org. of Petroleum Exporting Countries, 353 F.3d 916, 921, 927 (11th Cir. 2003))); Rio Props., Inc. v. Rio Int'l Interlink, 284 F.3d 1007, 1015 (9th Cir. 2002). The plain language of Rule 4(f)(3) reflects that the decision to issue an order allowing alternate means of service lies within the discretion of the district court.
Service by e-mail is not prohibited under international agreement in this case. Although the United States, China, Korea, Netherlands, Philippines, Russia, Spain, Turkey, and United Kingdom are signatories to the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Extra-Judicial Documents in Civil and Commercial Matters (the "Hague Convention"), the Hague Convention does not specifically preclude service of process via e-mail or by posting on a designated website. Where a signatory nation has objected to the alternative means of service provided by the Hague Convention, that objection is expressly limited to those means and does not represent an objection to other forms of service, such e-mail or website posting. Stat Med. Devices, Inc. v. HTL-Strefa, Inc., No. 15-cv-20590, 2015 WL 5320947, at *1 (S.D. Fla. Sept. 14, 2015) (noting that an objection to the alternative forms of service set forth in the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters, Nov. 15, 1965, 658 U.N.T.S. 16, is limited to the specific forms of service objected to). A court acting under Rule 4(f)(3), therefore, remains free to order alternative means of service where a signatory nation has not expressly objected to those means. See Gurung v. Malhotra, 279 F.R.D. 215, 219 (S.D.N.Y. 2011). Accordingly, service by e-mail or internet communication does not violate an international agreement.
Singapore is not a signatory to the Hague Convention. See ECF No. [7] at 12.
China, Korea, Netherlands, Philippines, Russia, Spain, Turkey, and United Kingdom have not expressly objected to service via e-mail or website posting. See ECF No. [7-3].
Rule 4(f)(3) was "adopted in order to provide flexibility and discretion to the federal courts in dealing with questions of alternative methods of service of process in foreign countries." In re Int'l Telemedia Assoc., Inc., 245 B.R. 713 (Bankr. N.D. Ga. 2000). What constitutes appropriate service varies depending on the circumstances of the case and turns on the court's determination of whether the alternative method is reasonably calculated to apprise the parties of the pendency of the action and afford them an opportunity to present their objections. Philip Morris USA, Inc. v. Veles Ltd., No. 06 CV 2988(GBD), 2007 WL 725412, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 12, 2007).
Here, the Court finds that Plaintiff has shown good cause for leave to allow service of the Summonses, Complaint, and all future filings in this matter upon each Defendant via e-mail and via posting on a designated website.
Accordingly, after careful review of the Motion, the evidence submitted in support of the Motion, and the applicable law, it is ORDERED AND ADJUDGED as follows:
1. Plaintiff's Motion, ECF No. [7], is GRANTED;
2. Plaintiff shall serve the Summonses, Complaint, and all filings in this matter upon Defendants via e-mail by providing the address to Plaintiff's designated serving notice website to Defendants via the e-mail addresses provided by each Defendant as part of the domain registration records for each of their respective domain names, including service via registrar, or directly on the Internet website operating under each of their respective corresponding domain names, including customer service e-mail addresses and onsite contact forms. See attached Schedule "A" which lists Defendants by Defendant number and associated means of contact.
3. Plaintiff shall serve Defendants via website posting by posting a copy of the Summonses, Complaint, and all filings and discovery in this matter on the Plaintiff's Website appearing at http://servingnotice.com/Ls37a2/index.html.
DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Miami, Florida, on April 14, 2021.
/s/ _________
BETH BLOOM
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE Copies to: Counsel of Record.
SCHEDULE "A"
DEFENDANTS BY NUMBER , SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME,
AND MEANS OF CONTACT
Defendant Number Defendant / Domain Name Means of Contact 1 aaalvsale.com salestores666@gmail.com shayewmallory23@gmail.com 2 bestlvbag.com support@bestlvbag.com 3 fakeslouisvuitton.com millerlisa105@gmail.com 4 gotlouisvuitton.com service@gotlouisvuitton.com 5 louis-sa.com Luxury@supports.vip 6 louistore.ru louisvuitton.magazin@yandex.ru 7 louisvuitton24.com ffmallstore@gmail.com 8 louisvuittonbagmall.com service@louisvuittonbagmall.com 9 louisvuittonboutique.vip service@louisvuittondeal.vip 10 louisvuittoncity.com ffmallstore@gmail.com 11 louisvuittondeal.vip macic@akalili.com 12 louisvuittonfemme.com ffmallstore@gmail.com 13 louisvuittonhk.com ffmallstore@gmail.com 14 louisvuittonid.com support@clientvip.biz sales@stylego.shop 15 louisvuitton-id.com sales@stylego.shop support@clientvip.biz 16 louisvuittonid.shop sales@stylego.shop support@clientvip.biz 17 louisvuitton-id.shop sales@stylego.shop support@clientvip.biz 18 louisvuittonmalaysia.shop service@supportcustomers.shop 19 louisvuittonmode.com ffmallstore@gmail.com 20 louisvuittonn.online support@clientvip.biz 21 louisvuittonn.vip service@supportcustomers.shop 22 louisvuitton-ph.com sales@stylego.shop support@clientvip.biz 23 louisvuitton-ph.store louisvuitton@akalili.com 23 louisvuittons.today louisvuitton@akalili.com 23 louisvuittonsg.live louisvuitton@akalili.com 23 louisvuittonsg.world louisvuitton@akalili.com 23 louisvuittonshop.today louisvuitton@akalili.com 23 louisvuittonph.shop louisvuitton@akalili.com 24 louisvuittonphpp.com support@louisvuittonphpp.com 25 louisvuittonppi.com support@louisvuittonppi.com support@likeviaa.com 26 louisvuittonpro.com https://louisvuittonpro.com/contact_us.html 27 louisvuittonpurse.net service@louisvuittonpurseshop.com 6 28 louisvuittonreplicabags.org louisvuittonreplicabagsVIP@gmail.com 29 louisvuittons.shop sales@stylego.shop support@clientvip.biz 30 louisvuitton-sg.com support@clientvip.biz 31 louisvuitton-sgp.com support@clientvip.biz 32 louisvuittonshop.live service@louisvuittondeal.vip 33 louisvuittonshopping.live customerservice68p@gmail.com 34 louisvuittonsolde.com ffmallstore@gmail.com 35 louisvuittonsuperdiscount.shop louisvuitton@akalili.com 36 louisvuittonter.com support@louisvuittonter.com luxurygy@dernm.com 37 louisvuittonv.vip sales@stylego.shop support@clientvip.biz 38 louisvuittonvillage.com ffmallstore@gmail.com 39 lvecv.com https://www.lvecv.com/contact_us.html 40 lvluxurybags.xyz myllvv@yahoo.com 41 replicalvsell.com michelle@designerseller.com 42 replicaslouisvuitton.com reazeemady66@gmail.com 43 luxoii.com corridorasdb@gmail.com https://www.luxoii.com/contact_us.html 43 luxurybag.icu corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 bage.icu corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 bag-shop.online corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 bagsshop.icu corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 batt.shop corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 bbfl.icu corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 blvck.icu corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 finnmilesluxuryhomes.icu corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 funko.icu corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 geox.icu corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 gopro.icu corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 grih.icu corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 jabra.icu corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 jjre.icu corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 kmart.icu corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 leasetoownluxuryhomes.icu corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 lopo.club corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 louisvuittons-milano.icu corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 louisvuittonsoutletonline.icu corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 luxurybrandshop.icu corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 luxury-shop.xyz corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 luxury-shops.icu corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 luxuryskinshop.icu corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 luxury-style.icu corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 lv-online-shop.icu corridorasdb@gmail.com 7 43 maloneluxurymarketing.icu corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 martinluxuryhomes.icu corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 mavi.icu corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 mcmhi.icu corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 mmmz.icu corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 mmxl.icu corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 myluxury.club corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 mytheresa.xyz corridorasdb@gmail.com 43 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brand-kingdom.com https://brand-kingdom.com/contact 59 brandsindustry.net Info@Vipkickz.Com 60 brendof-club.com brendof-club@yandex.ru 61 buildtote.com customercenter@188.com 62 byluxuryshopping.com byluxuryshopping@gmail.com 63 chinaluxurybag.com fantasyluxury@hotmail.com 64 closebags.com feekilkpmn@outlook.com 65 collectbrand.com collectbrand@hotmail.com 66 copy432.com copy432@163.com 67 copymm666.com copymm234@163.com 8 68 costbags.com global@ycsale.com 69 cozaka.com sale@cozaka.com 70 crisandcoco.co https://crisandcoco.co/contact-us/ 71 criticbags.com customercenter@188.com 72 cwen333.com cwen777@163.com 73 deathtote.com customercenter@188.com 74 dependbag.com feekilkpmn@outlook.com 75 desgnrbrands.nl domainabuse@tucows.com noreply@data-protected.net 76 discountretailbag.com sandra268@163.com 77 doubtbags.com feekilkpmn@outlook.com 78 dresstote.com customercenter@188.com 79 ehinoh.com IvesMaxiBlGn@yahoo.com 80 ejfsbag.com IvesMaxiBlGn@yahoo.com customercenter@188.com 81 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sulbags.club feekilkpmn@outlook.com 10 145 tihbags.club feekilkpmn@outlook.com 146 toke333.com toke33388@163.com 147 top-qual.net top_qual@nate.com 147 topqualm.com top_qual@nate.com 147 xn--5-xz0gou.com top_qual@nate.com 147 xn--original-qk40bt8c.com top_qual@nate.com 147 xn--6-xz0gou.com top_qual@nate.com 148 tracob.online tracobshop@qq.com 148 tracob.ru tracobshop@qq.com 149 tutbags.club feekilkpmn@outlook.com 150 typebags.com global@ycsale.com 151 ulebags.club feekilkpmn@outlook.com 152 underbags.com feekilkpmn@outlook.com 153 usalbags.com feekilkpmn@outlook.com 154 usaubags.com global@ycsale.com 154 usfsbags.com global@ycsale.com 154 xmwshjw.com global@ycsale.com 155 uscabags.com feekilkpmn@outlook.com 156 usftbags.com feekilkpmn@outlook.com 157 ushotbag.com feekilkpmn@outlook.com 158 vogueaccent.com support@vogueaccent.com 159 voguebrands.net https://voguebrands.net/index.php?route=inform ation/contact 160 vsnc333.com vsnc234@163.com 161 wabagjp.net wabagjp99@163.com 162 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