Master Craft Trademark Lawsuit Comes to an End for Lack of Standing
It is never a good sign when the court's opinion begins "This troubled matter comes before the Court . . . " but that is what happened in Master Craft Tool Co., LLC v. Stanley Works, 2007 WL 2008685 (D. Minn. 7/6/07).
Master Craft filed suit against Stanley Works on behalf of other plaintiffs. Prior to the lawsuit, the other plaintiffs assigned to Master Craft their right to file suit against Stanley. The lawsuit was filed in 2004. The other plaintiffs terminated the contract in July 2005, but Master Craft dismissed the claims with prejudice in October 2005. The other plaintiffs wanted to revoke the dismissal and proceed with the litigation.
The court refused, noting that standing must be determined at the beginning of the lawsuit. Steger v. Franco, 228 F.3d 889, 892 (8th Cir. 2000). Thus, the other plaintiffs lost their standing when the lawsuit was filed. The later termination of their agreement with Master Craft had no effect on standing.
