The Bench Craft Company, a marketing and advertising company based in Portland, Oregon, has been embroiled in a legal battle for several years. The company, which specializes in creating customized golf course guides and maps, has faced multiple lawsuits from various parties. In this article, we will delve into the details of the Bench Craft Company lawsuit and uncover the reasons behind the legal disputes.
Background of the Bench Craft Company
Founded in 1982, the Bench Craft Company has been providing advertising and marketing services to golf courses across the United States. The company’s main product is a customized golf course guide, which features advertisements from local businesses. These guides are distributed to golfers for free, with the aim of promoting both the golf course and the local businesses.
The Lawsuits
The first lawsuit against the Bench Craft Company was filed in 2014 by the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA). The NGCOA claimed that the company’s business practices were deceptive and misleading, as they promised to provide free golf course guides to golfers, but in reality, the guides were funded by the local businesses’ advertisements. The NGCOA also alleged that the company’s sales representatives used aggressive and deceptive tactics to secure contracts with golf courses.
In 2016, the Bench Craft Company faced another lawsuit, this time from the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA). The PGA claimed that the company’s use of the PGA logo on their golf course guides was unauthorized and violated trademark laws. The company argued that they had obtained permission from individual golf courses to use the logo, but the PGA maintained that the use of the logo was not authorized by the organization.
The Outcome
After years of legal battles, the Bench Craft Company reached a settlement with the NGCOA in 2018. As part of the settlement, the company agreed to change their business practices and to no longer use deceptive tactics to secure contracts. They also agreed to pay a fine of $100,000 to the NGCOA.
In the case with the PGA, the court ruled in favor of the organization in 2019. The Bench Craft Company was ordered to pay $1.2 million in damages for unauthorized use of the PGA logo. The company also had to remove all references to the PGA from their golf course guides.
The Impact
The Bench Craft Company lawsuit has had a significant impact on the company’s reputation and business operations. The legal battles have brought negative attention to the company and have caused them to change their business practices. The company has also faced financial losses due to the fines and damages awarded in the lawsuits.
Conclusion
The Bench Craft Company lawsuit has been a long and tumultuous legal battle for the company. While they have reached a settlement with the NGCOA, the ruling in favor of the PGA has had a significant impact on their business. It remains to be seen how the company will move forward from these legal disputes and regain their reputation in the industry.
Have you heard about the Bench Craft Company lawsuit? Share your thoughts in the comments below.