First Wisconsin National Bank of Milwaukee v. Wichman

This action was brought by the plaintiffs, First Wisconsin National Bank of Milwaukee and First Wisconsin Bankshares Corporation, to enjoin Gerald E. Wichman from, using the words, “First Wisconsin,” in the name of his home building company. The plaintiffs relied on the common law tort of infringement. Although defendant Wichman acknowledges that the *57words, “First Wisconsin,” have acquired a secondary meaning which associates them with plaintiffs’ enterprises, he argues that, additionally, it must be proved that the alleged infringer acted with a fraudulent intent and also proved that the…