Russian Standard Vodka v. Allied Domecq Spirits

• Decision Date: 20 November 2007
• Docket Number: No. 06 Civ. 9915(RLC).,06 Civ. 9915(RLC).
• Citation: 523 F.Supp.2d 376
• Parties: RUSSIAN STANDARD VODKA (USA), INC., and Roust Trading Limited, Plaintiffs, v. ALLIED DOMECQ SPIRITS & WINE USA, INC., Pernod Ricard USA, LLC, S.P.I. Spirits (Syprus) Limited, Defendants.
• Court: U.S. District Court — Southern District of New York

523 F.Supp.2d 376

RUSSIAN STANDARD VODKA (USA), INC., and Roust Trading Limited, Plaintiffs, v. ALLIED DOMECQ SPIRITS & WINE USA, INC., Pernod Ricard USA, LLC, S.P.I. Spirits (Syprus) Limited, Defendants.

No. 06 Civ. 9915(RLC).

United States District Court, S.D. New York.

November 20, 2007.

Jones Day, Atlanta, GA (Anne M. Johnson, of Counsel), for Plaintiffs.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, New York, NY (David H. Berstein, of Counsel), for Defendant.

Covington & Burlig LLP, New York, NY (Bradley J. Nash, of Counsel), for Defendant.

OPINION

ROBERT L. CARTER, District Judge.

Defendants. Pernod Ricard USA, LLC (hereinafter "Pernod Ricard"), and Allied Domecq Spirits & Wines USA, Inc., (hereinafter "Allied Domecq") move to dismiss count one of the complaint, pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1), F.R. Civ. P, and to briefly stay the action pending a resolution of the relevant issues at the National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus (hereinafter "NAD"). Also, defendants S.P.I. Group SA and S.P.I. Spirits' (collectively "S.P.I. defendants") move to dismiss count one of the complaint pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1), F.R. Civ. P., and to dismiss count seven pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), F.R. Civ. P.¹ Because of the overlapping facts and issues involved in the motions, the court has considered the motions together.

The motion to dismiss count one of the complaint is granted as to the S.P.I. groups and denied as to Pernod Ricard and Allied Domecq, and the motion to dismiss count seven of the complaint is granted as to both sets of defendants. The court also orders that the lawsuit be stayed until the completion of the pending investigation at the NAD or for thirty days, whichever is sooner.

BACKGROUND

When a complaint is challenged pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1), F.R. Civ. P., for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, a court must accept the factual allegations made in the complaint as true, drawing reasonable inferences in favor of the plaintiff. See Lunney v. United States, 319 F.3d 550, 554 (2d Cir.2003). However, when adjudicating a motion for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, a district court may resolve disputed factual issues by reference to evidence outside the pleadings, including affidavits. See State Employees Bargaining Agent Coal. v. Rowland, 494 F.3d 71, 75 (2d Cir.2007). The Court has accepted the allegations in plaintiffs' complaint as true, and has also looked at the relevant affidavits for additional clarification where needed.

Plaintiffs, Russian Standard Vodka (USA), Inc., and Roust Trading Limited, filed an initial complaint on October 18, 2006. Thereafter, the complaint was amended on December 4, 2006. In their first amended complaint, plaintiffs seek declaratory judgment from the court that certain statements made, challenging the "Russian" nature of defendants' vodka products, do not violate the Lanham Act or state law (count one). Plaintiffs also assert claims against the defendants for false advertising (counts two and four), false designation of origin (count three), deceptive trade practices (count five), unfair competition (count six), and unjust enrichment (count seven). (See generally, Pls. First Am. Compl.) The asserted basis for federal jurisdiction is federal question and supplemental jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1338, 1367, and 15 U.S.C. § 1121. (Id. at ¶ 7.)

In September 2005, plaintiffs introduced a new vodka product, Imperia vodka, to the United States. (Id. at ¶ 11.) Plaintiffs marketed Imperia vodka by highlighting its Russian heritage, namely by emphasizing that Imperia is distilled in, filtered in, bottled in, labeled in, and sold in Russia, and imported directly from Russia to the United States. (See id. at ¶ 13; see also Pls. Mem. in Opp. to Defs. Pernod Ricard and Allied Domecq's Mot. to Dismiss at 10.) Plaintiffs declared that "Vodka is Russian," to highlight the significance of Imperia's Russian character during their advertising campaign. (See Pls. First Am. Compl. at ¶ 26.)

Pernod Ricard is the marketer and distributor of Stolichnaya (hereinafter "Stoli") vodka products in the United States, and Allied Domecq is the importer of Stoli vodka into the United States. (See Pls. First Am. Compl. at ¶ 15.) S.P.I. defendants manufacture and label Stoli vodka. (Id. at ¶ 14.) Plaintiffs allege that defendants' vodka products "directly compete" with its Imperia vodka, and that a key component of defendants' current advertising and marketing of Stoli in the United States is Stoli's "alleged Russian character." (Id. at ¶ 20.) Plaintiffs allege that "essential processes" in the production of Stoli vodka occur in Riga, Latvia, not Russia, to contradict defendants' claim that Stoli vodka is "Russian." (Id. at ¶ 25.)

Specifically, plaintiffs allege that on September 7, 2005, they held a press conference during which plaintiffs stated that Imperia was "a truly authentic Russian vodka of the highest quality." (Id. at ¶ 27.) On October 6, 2005, Allied Domecq sent a letter to plaintiffs, stating that Imperia's publicity campaign implies that Imperia vodka is the only authentically Russian vodka available in the market. (See id. at ¶ 28.) In its letter, Allied Domecq further stated, "Making false statements about a competitor's product constitutes ... unfair competition and false advertising under ... the Federal Trademark Act...." (See Declar. of Besson, Exhibit C.) Nonetheless, after receiving Allied Domecq's letter, plaintiffs publicly claimed that Stoli vodka "is not truly Russian" and "[i]f Stolichnaya vodka comes from Latvia rather than Russia ... they should be proud of their Latvian heritage." (See Pls. First Am. Compl. at ¶ 29.) On April 7, 2006, in response to plaintiffs' assertions, Pernod Ricard issued a press release stating that it would explore its legal remedies regarding plaintiffs' statements concerning the authenticity of Stoli vodka "in due course." (See Declar. of Besson, Exhibit F.) Pernod Ricard subsequently brought a private, nonbinding challenge before the NAD, whose mission is to "review national advertising for truthfulness and accuracy and foster public confidence in the credibility of advertising." (See Def. Mem. in Supp. of Mot. to Dismiss at 5, 7; see also Pls. First Am. Compl. at ¶ 33.) The parties were in the final stages of the NAD investigation, as NAD and Pernod Ricard were awaiting the submission of plaintiffs' sur-reply, when plaintiffs initiated this lawsuit in federal court. (See Defs. Pernod Ricard & Allied Domecq Mem. in Supp. of Mot. to Dismiss at 8.) NAD stopped its investigation when this lawsuit was initiated but has represented that it would resume its investigation if this, action is stayed.

Plaintiffs allege that the foregoing actions by Pernod Ricard and Allied Domecq, including the initiation of a proceeding with NAD, created an "actual controversy" as to Russian Standard's ability to challenge and comment upon the "Russian character" of defendants' vodka products. (See Pls. First Am. Compl. at ¶ 34.) They argue that defendants' Stoli vodka does not possess the attributes that defendants advertise to the public, and that defendants' actions have suppressed their ability to advertise this claim by creating a threat of legal action. (See id.)

Plaintiffs seek the following relief: 1) a declaration of their rights pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2201 that the statements made by them do not violate provisions of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1125, or state law;² 2) damages pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1125 because defendants have allegedly engaged in false advertising by marketing Stoli as a Russian vodka; 3) damages pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1125 for false designation of origin, alleging that defendants misrepresented the origin of their goods; 4) damages for false advertising under New York General Business Law §§ 350 and 350(a); 5) damages for violation of the New York Deceptive Trade Practices Act, New York General Business Law §§ 349(a)-(b), for allegedly deceiving the public; 6) damages for engaging in unfair competition in violation of New York law; and 7) restitution for unjust enrichment because defendants have allegedly unjustly enriched themselves and injured the plaintiffs by marketing Stoli vodka as "Russian."

A. PERNOD RICARD AND ALLIED DOMECQ'S JANUARY 16, 2007 MOTION TO DISMISS AND FOR A VERY BRIEF STAY

Pernod Ricard and Allied Domecq moved on January 16, 2007, for partial dismissal due to lack of subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1), F.R. Civ.P., and for a stay of approximately one month. Defendants argue that plaintiffs' cause of action for declaratory relief fails because there is no threat of litigation over plaintiffs' statements regarding the Russian heritage of Stoli vodka, and thus no actual controversy before this court as required by the Declaratory Judgment Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2201. (See Defs. Pernod Ricard & Allied Domecq's Mem. in Supp. of Mot. to Dismiss at 9.) Defendants further request that the court issue a brief stay of approximately one month to allow the NAD to complete its investigation regarding the authenticity of Stoli vodka. (Id. at 1.) Attached to their memorandum, defendants have submitted an affidavit in which they state that they will not pursue legal action against plaintiffs for their past statements regarding Stoli's authenticity. (See La Jolla Decl.)

Plaintiffs respond that the court should not dismiss count one of the complaint because there is an actual controversy between themselves and defendants, and that the court should not grant a stay because there is no legitimate reason for granting defendants' motion for a brief stay. (See Pls. Memo. in Opp. to Defs. Pernod Ricard & Allied Domecq's Mot. to Dismiss, at 10, 21.) Plaintiffs allege that Pernod Ricard's statements regarding exploring legal remedies and thereafter initiation of an investigation with the NAD created an actual controversy between plaintiffs and the defendants, satisfying the requirement of...