LAFAYETTE – Custom homebuilders have filed a suit against a Lake Charles business and homeowners over allegations they created unauthorized blueprints from a house design.
Schumacher Homes of Louisiana Inc. and Schumacher Homes Operations Inc. filed a complaint on March 29 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana against R.E. Washington Construction LLC, Roy Washington, Michael D. Carroll Jr., Angel Carroll and John Doe, citing copyright infringement, unfair competition, conversion and unjust enrichment.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that in March 2000, they suffered and will continue to suffer damages until a decision is rendered in their favor. The plaintiffs hold R.E. Washington Construction LLC, Roy Washington, Michael D. Carroll Jr., Angel Carroll and John Doe responsible because the defendants allegedly directly infringed its Highpoint/Homestead house design and created and distributed blueprints of the Highpoint/Homestead design without authorization. The defendants never sought nor obtained permission to use the copyrighted architectural work and technical drawings, the suit states.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek a permanent injunction prohibiting defendants from infringing the copyrights of Schumacher Homes, compensation for damages in an amount not yet determined but in excess of $25,000, treble and statutory damages, reasonable attorneys' fees and costs and such other and further relief as the court may deem just and proper. They are represented by Tara M. Madison and R. Devin Ricci of Kean Miller LLP in Baton Rouge.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana Case number 2:16-cv-00423