Texas Truck Equipment Manufacturer Wins $2.1 Million in Trademark Infringement Case

Feb. 15, 2008
BrandFX Body Company has been granted a $2.1 million judgment against Astoria Industries of Iowa that includes trade dress infringement, misappropriation of design, and false advertising. The jury verdict was decided on January 15, and final verdict was delivered on February 7.

BrandFX Body Company has been granted a $2.1 million judgment against Astoria Industries of Iowa that includes trade dress infringement, misappropriation of design, and false advertising.

The jury verdict was decided on January 15, and final verdict was delivered on February 7.

"The evidence was clear as the courts have shown, the judgment addressed Astoria's encroachment of BrandFX service body designs, which are a culmination of more than 20 years of research and development," said Lee Finley, owner of BrandFX Body Company.

Finley began in the truck body industry in 1969 selling truck-mounted equipment, including fiberglass bodies to B.C. Hydro and other western Canadian utilities. After years of frustration with the existing body manufacturers, he began designing a new fiberglass body in 1979.

After four years of testing in the harsh western Canadian environment, Finley established manufacturing in 1984 in Swea City, Iowa.

BrandFX currently manufactures lightweight utility truck equipment for the utility and contractor markets. The company currently operates over 600,000 square feet of manufacturing space and employs more than 450 people.