Agassi files suit against Target for using name to sell sandals
MINNEAPOLIS — A trademark lawsuit by tennis player Andre Agassi alleges that Target Corp. sold a sandal using his name without his permission.
Agassi Enterprises Inc. claims it told Minneapolis-based Target in June that the sandals violated its trademark on the retired tennis player’s name. On June 27, Target attorneys told Agassi Enterprises it had removed the name from the sandals, according to the lawsuit.
But Agassi’s company said it found the men’s brown flip-flops at two Target stores and online at Amazon.com in August and September.
Target spokeswoman Amy von Walter said Monday that the continued use of the Agassi name was an oversight, and that it was trying to relabel all of the sandals when Agassi Enterprises found the offending footwear.
She said the sandals were never marketed under Agassi’s name, and his name doesn’t appear on the sandal.
The lawsuit filed Friday in federal court in Las Vegas claims Target has sold 52,589 pairs of the sandals for estimated sales of $661,184.
The lawsuit seeks triple damages because the infringement “was of an intentional, willful and wanton nature,” as well as punitive damages.
Agassi retired last year, having won eight Grand Slam titles.
