Andre Agassi sues over sandal

MINNEAPOLIS – A trademark lawsuit by tennis player Andre Agassi alleges that Target Corp sold a sandal using his name without his permission.

Agassi Enterprises Inc claims it told Target in June that the sandals violated its trademark on the retired tennis player’s name. On June 27, Target attorneys told Agassi Enterprises that it had removed the name from the sandals, according to the lawsuit.But Agassi’s company said it found the men’s brown flip-flops at two Target stores and online at Amazon.com in August and September.Target spokeswoman Amy von Walter said Monday that the continued use of the Agassi name was an oversight, and that it was trying to relabel all of the sandals when Agassi Enterprises found the offending footwear.”It may have been missed in a few stores, which prompted this lawsuit,” she said.Target runs more than 1 500 stores across the United States.She said the sandals were never marketed under Agassi’s name, and that the name does not appear on the sandal itself.The lawsuit filed Friday in federal court in Las Vegas claims that Target has sold 52 589 pairs of the sandals for estimated sales of US$661 184.The lawsuit seeks triple damages because the infringement “was of an intentional, wilful and wanton nature,” as well as punitive damages.Agassi retired last year, having won eight Grand Slam titles.Nampa-APOn June 27, Target attorneys told Agassi Enterprises that it had removed the name from the sandals, according to the lawsuit.But Agassi’s company said it found the men’s brown flip-flops at two Target stores and online at Amazon.com in August and September.Target spokeswoman Amy von Walter said Monday that the continued use of the Agassi name was an oversight, and that it was trying to relabel all of the sandals when Agassi Enterprises found the offending footwear.”It may have been missed in a few stores, which prompted this lawsuit,” she said.Target runs more than 1 500 stores across the United States.She said the sandals were never marketed under Agassi’s name, and that the name does not appear on the sandal itself.The lawsuit filed Friday in federal court in Las Vegas claims that Target has sold 52 589 pairs of the sandals for estimated sales of US$661 184.The lawsuit seeks triple damages because the infringement “was of an intentional, wilful and wanton nature,” as well as punitive damages.Agassi retired last year, having won eight Grand Slam titles.Nampa-AP