Potential harm to AMC’s reputation increased urgent need for preliminary relief

Finnegan obtained urgent relief for AMC, which was fighting for its very existence. In addition to stopping Ameriquest’s use of AMC, Finnegan negotiated the assignment of several of Ameriquest’s federal trademark applications and registrations to AMC. AMC Mortgage Corporation is a small mortgage company founded over twenty years ago with the goal of becoming one of the country’s most trustworthy and dependable mortgage companies. In contrast, Ameriquest Mortgage Company was the largest mortgage company in the country and had one of the worst reputations for customer service. Ameriquest began using the mark AMC for mortgages and related services. As a result, and due to Ameriquest’s enormous size and pervasive use of the mark AMC, consumers began associating the mark with Ameriquest instead of AMC. AMC brought an action for trademark infringement, unfair competition, and cybersquatting against Ameriquest and its subsidiaries. Several months into the case, consumer criticism against Ameriquest grew and a potential sale to Citigroup was widely reported in the mainstream media. As a result, the potential harm to AMC’s reputation increased exponentially and preliminary relief became urgent. AMC filed a preliminary injunction motion and, as a result, Ameriquest entered into a Court-approved judgment requiring Ameriquest to cease all use of AMC.