The Kristoff Galerones Sentido is no more, but that’s just the start of things. Yesterday, M. Tobacos Inc., the Virginia company best known for the Dante brand, filed suit over trademark concerns against Exclusive Cigars (Kristoff), Cigars International and Famous Smoke Shop. The lawsuit stems from the Kristoff Galerones Sentido, which M. Tobacos claims violates the company’s trademark for Sentidos, which was registered in 2012. Last June, Kristoff announced the Sentido line as part of the company’s new Galerones family. Documents obtained by halfwheel show M. Tobacos initiated legal action against Kristoff on Aug. 25, 2014, when it first sent a cease and desist letter. In the complaint filed yesterday at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, M. Tobacos alleges further letters were sent on Oct. 27, Nov. 12, and Nov. 19. Glenn Case, owner of Exclusive Cigars (Kristoff), allegedly contacted an attorney for M. Tobacos, but no resolution was reached. Kristoff’s legal team responded in writing on Nov. 6. An attorney for the company indicated that it had stopped marketing under the Sentido name and that “(Case) has informed us that he has informed his direct customers that he would no longer be producing, selling, shipping or ...
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