U.S. Court rules against Lewmar

Southport, Conn., Oct. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Dax Labs LLC today announced that the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut has denied three summary judgment motions of marine manufacturer Lewmar, Inc. in a trademark infringement and unfair trade practices case.

Lewmar claimed in its motions that it did not breach the covenant of good faith and fair dealing when it manufactured an imitation of a patented sailboat winch handle known as the “OneTouch®,” and took other actions designed to deprive Dax Labs LLC of the benefits of a 2006 licensing agreement with Lewmar to manufacture and sell Dax’s award-winning winch handle.

In rejecting all three of Lewmar’s motions, the Court cited evidence supporting Dax’s claims that Lewmar engaged in intentional bad faith conduct, including the manufacture of a competing winch handle known as “LiteTouch.”

Trial on the remaining issues in the case is currently scheduled to begin later this year. Donald J. Steiner et al. v. Lewmar, Inc. et al., 3:09CV1976(DJS).

Dax Labs LLC and Donald J. Steiner are represented by Lucas Bagnell Varga LLC in Southport, Connecticut. Lewmar Inc. is represented by St. Onge Steward Johnston and Reens LLC in Stamford, Connecticut.

Dax Labs, LLC has its headquarters in Norwalk, Connecticut. Dax manufactures, primarily in composite, non-metallic materials, the DAME award-winning OneTouch sailboat winch handle which Dax founder Donald J. Steiner had patented on October 3, 2006 (US 7,114,705).

Lewmar, Inc. designs, manufactures, and distributes marine equipment to the sailboat and powerboat building industries in the United States. It offers winches, hatches, port lights, deck hardware, anchoring and windlass products, thrusters, and steering gear products, as well as flush hatches, including round flush hatches for power boaters, and for mounting in molded deck recesses on sailboats. The company is based in Guilford, Connecticut. Lewmar, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Lewmar Marine plc.