Jacuzzi Brands Sued for Theft of Trade Secrets by Former Supplier

Spa Builders Support Group, Inc., a privately held manufacturer of instrumentation controls and parts to the spa, hot tub and pool marketplace, this week sued Jacuzzi Brands, Inc., (NYSE: JJZ"; Revnues: 1.23 Bil.) and Sundance Spas, Inc., a Jacuzzi subsidiary which manufactures and distributes spas and hot tubs, for trademark infringement, theft of trade secrets, unfair competition, and conspiracy in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Corona, CA (PRWEB) April 23, 2004 -- Spa Builders Support Group, Inc., a privately held manufacturer of instrumentation controls and parts to the spa, hot tub and pool marketplace, this week sued Jacuzzi Brands, Inc., (NYSE: JJZ"; Revnues: 1.23 Bil.) and Sundance Spas, Inc., a Jacuzzi subsidiary which manufactures and distributes spas and hot tubs, for trademark infringement, theft of trade secrets, unfair competition, and conspiracy in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

The suit alleges that Spa Builders formerly was a supplier of proprietary electronic controls to Sundance and that Jacuzzi and Sundance stopped doing business with Spa Builders and copied Spa Builders controls including Spa Builders trademarks. Further it alleges, Sundance and Jacuzzi began using and selling the copied products as their own.

Spa Builders alleges that the defendants engaged in a systematic effort to pirate" Spa Builders trade secrets and confidential information and includes an allegation that a Sundance director of manufacturing ordered" company engineers to copy" the Spa Builders products.

According to Virgina Lawyer magazine, the rocket docket" of the Eastern District of Virginia is a magnet for intellectual property litigation because cases filed there reach judgment within 6 to 8 months of filing. The lawsuit claims at least $10 million in actual damages and seeks punitive damages for the intentional piracy of Spa Builders products. Spa Builders is represented by Attorneys William Levin and Edward O Connor of the firm of Levin & OConnor in Laguna Beach, California.

Contact Information:

Inquiries to Spa Builders:        

Frank Edward Harrigan III, Esq.            

General Counsel.            

(909) 445-0441 tel.

Levin & Hawes                    

(949) 497-7676

Contact: Edward OConnor

To obtain copy of complaint:

Fax request to (909) 494 - 5464

Inquiries to Jacuzzi:

Jacuzzi Brands, Inc.

777 S. Flagler Drive, Suite 1108 West

West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Phone: (561) 514-3838

David Clarke, CEO

Donald C. Devine, President

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