Beckett Collectibles has sued two people who were arrested and charged in January with producing counterfeit memorabilia.
Beckett filed the lawsuit with the Eastern District of Texas on Monday, alleging Wendell Gidden-Rogers and Lisa Skolnick were operating a fraudulent memorabilia scheme by producing and selling counterfeit items that included fake authentication stickers from Beckett, PSA, JSA and Fanatics.
Gidden-Rodgers and Skolnick were arrested Jan. 15, when a police search warrant found thousands of items believed to be counterfeit in a McKinney, Texas, residence. Both were charged with trademark counterfeiting, a third-degree felony that carries a fine of $30,000 to $150,000.
According to the lawsuit, Gidden-Rodgers and Skolnick would allegedly forge athlete signatures and place a fake authentication sticker on each item that matched a corresponding serial number found in Beckett’s database, making the items appear legitimate.
In a press release, the Collin County Sheriff's Department said the search uncovered “a significant amount of evidence supporting the investigation.”
Fake certificates of authenticity and a Ghostwriter autopen machine were among the items discovered.
“Beckett is exploring all legal avenues against the alleged counterfeiters from McKinney, Texas,” Beckett said in a statement to cllct. “It is important that all collectors can pursue the items they want with confidence in their authenticity. To do this better, Beckett is taking all measures to fortify and protect its brand wherever it’s found in the hobby.
"We hope that by taking action we set a precedent for other players to do the same and protect our industry, customers, and community”
According to the lawsuit, Beckett alleges Gidden-Rodgers and Skolnick infringed Beckett’s various trademarks by selling fake items with counterfeit Beckett marks and seals of authenticity, defamed the company by publishing a false statement of fact when selling the fraudulent items, and created an unfair competitive advantage by selling forged items without being burdened by the typical expenses incurred by Beckett.
Beckett claims it is entitled to recover actual damages, consequential damages, exemplary damages, court costs and pre- and post-judgement interest because the company has sustained irreparable harm.
Beckett has requested Gidden-Rogers and Skolnick be prohibited from selling any items from the scheme and prevented from selling any items that feature Beckett marks.
Ben Burrows is a reporter and editor for cllct.