CASI - Chili Appreciation Society International - Chili, Charity, & Fun
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CASI Inc. Vs Tolbert Heirs

History of Legal Suit – Use of “Chili Appreciation Society International”

After receiving a letter in July, from the heirs of the late chili author Frank X. Tolbert threating legal action against CASI using the words “Chili Appreciation Society International”, CASI filed a suit on September 1986 against the heirs of Tolbert.  San Antonio, Texas, attorney Ann Livingston said the declaratory judgment filed in state court holds that her client, CASI Inc., owns the trademark to the words -- registered with the state. Meanwhile, Tolbert's heirs claim a federal trademark on the same four words.  "Their (the Tolbert heirs') lawyer wrote us a letter in July threatening to sue us, claiming to have ownership of the trademark," Livingston said.

Dallas attorney Stephen Grimmer said that's true. He said that in October, on behalf of Tolbert's wife, Kathleen; daughter, Kathleen Tolbert Ryan; and son, Frank Jr., "We filed a motion to transfer the case to a Dallas federal court."

The case ended up in the courtroom of Lucius D. Bunton III, Chief Justice of the Western District of Texas.  On April 21, 1988 judgement was made by Judge Bunton and he entered the following findings of facts and judgement in favor of CASI, Inc. :
  • Plaintiff, C.A.S.I. -- Chili Appreciation Society International, Inc (*CASI) is a corporation organized under the laws of the state of Texas.  CASI uses "Chili Appreciation Society International," "C.A.S.I." and "CASI" as service marks to denote services it provides relating to promoting, organizing, and conducting chili making contests and events promoting chili...."
 
  • That the Commissioner of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office shall certify the ownership of this registration in the name of CASI and made the appropriate entries upon the records of the patent and Trademark Office and shall be controlled thereby."

​Judge Bunton states in his Conclusions of Law:
  • "The law is well settled that future use of the marks at the issue in this case by any person or enterprise, other than the Plaintiff will be subject to the requirements of the law relating to secondary meaning and likelihood of confusion..."
  • Judge Bunton's conclusion refers to the Lanham Act : "Section 1125(a) of the Lanham Act, which provides civil liability for using a mark in commerce environment that is "likely to cause confusion" as to the affiliation or connection of the mark with another trademark, or as to the origin or sponsorship of the mark by another person."
CASI is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt organization  of the Internal Revenue Code-EIN-74-2330479  Contributions are deductible under section 170 of the IRS Code. We receive tax-deductible bequests,  transfers or gifts under section 2055, 2106,or 2522. 
© CASI - 2021 Chili Appreciation Society International, Inc.   CLICK ​HERE FOR TERMS OF USE & COPYRIGHT NOTICE
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  • ABOUT CASI
  • COOKOFFS
    • Why A CASI Cookoff?
    • FIND A CASI COOKOFF >
      • EVENT LIST -Next 90 Days
      • CALENDAR SEARCH - By Month
      • LOCATE EVENT-State or Zip
      • FIND A CASI REFEREE
      • CASI POD SEARCH
      • NEW EVENT REGISTRATION
    • GUIDE-1st TIME COOK
    • COOKOFF RESOURCES >
      • CASI Cookoff Forms & Info
      • CASI Organizational Resources & Forms
      • CASI Insurance
  • JOIN CASI / RENEW
  • CHARITY / SCHOLARSHIP
    • CASI SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
    • FUNDRAISING for CASI
    • KIDS COOKING FOR KIDS
    • CASI CHARITY VISION
    • AMAZON SMILE PROGRAM
    • CASI IN ACTION
    • H&R BLOCK - CASI PARTNER
  • HISTORY / FUN
    • BLOG
    • HISTORY
    • RECIPES
    • FUN LINKS
  • MEMBERS ONLY
  • TERLINGUA CHAMPIONSHIP
    • TICC HOME PAGE
    • 2022 WINNERS -RESULTS
    • 2023 JUDGES NEEDED
    • 2023 VENDOR APPLICATION
  • SPONSORSHIP
    • BECOME A SPONSOR
    • MEET OUR TICC SPONSORS
    • FRIENDS OF CASI PROGRAM
  • KRAZY FLATS
  • Licensing
    • CASI BRANDING
  • HELP DESK
    • CONTACT US
    • RECOVER PASSWORD