Long Arm Jurisdiction Upheld Against Churches Using Plaintiff's Men's Ministry Logo

In Mighty Men of God, Inc. v. World Outreach Church of Murfreesboro Tenn., Inc., (MD FL, April 6, 2015), a Florida federal district court ruled that it can exercise personal jurisdiction over two religious organizations in Murfreesboro, Tennessee who were sued by a Florida-based Christian educational service for improperly using its trademark.  Plaintiff offered conferences directed at Christian men using the trademarks "Might Men of God" and "Mighty Men."  Defendants, World Outreach Church and Intend Ministries, organized conferences in Tennessee using the same names. The court held that under Florida's long-arm statute which was used to obtain jurisdiction over defendants, the intentional trademark infringement claims constitute tortious acts within Florida.