Nike filed a federal lawsuit among five individuals, including three
former employees, accusing them of stealing and selling sample and
promotional basketball shoes, according to a report in The Oregonian.
The
former employees being sued are Kyle K. Yamaguchi, Tung W. Ho and
Denise W.C. Yee. Yamaguchi's wife, Shu-Chu Yamaguchi, and sneaker
reseller Jason
M. Keatin, were involved in a scheme that stretched from 2006 to 2014,
according to the report.
The complaint filed in U.S. District
Court in Portland on Monday lists trademark infringement, fraud, and
breach of contract among the allegations. It seeks a jury trial and
damages that include profits made from the unauthorized sneaker sales.
Nike
claims it has been suffering “and continues to suffer damages” because
of the alleged thefts and unapproved sales, the lawsuit said.
A
receptionist at Portland-based law firm Garvey Schubert Barer, which is
representing Nike in the case, said the firm is referring all questions
about the lawsuit to the apparel company. Greg Rossiter, a Nike
spokesman, confirmed Monday that the company is filing the lawsuit to
recover losses from the unsanctioned footwear sales.
The Oregonian report is here.
