Baltimore Luggage Co. v. Samsonite Corp.

OPINION

NIEMEYER, District Judge.

This case presents the question whether rulings on trademark issues made by the International Trade Commission (“ITC”) under 19 U.S.C. §§ 1332 and 1337 are to be given preclusive effect in this litigation under the doctrine of res judicata or collateral estoppel.

When Baltimore Luggage Company introduced a new line of molded luggage, Samsonite contended that the new line infringed Samsonite’s trademark rights. Baltimore Luggage initiated this declaratory judgment action and Samsonite initiated an action before the ITC. With respect to some of the issues that…