Brennan's Inc. v. Dickie Brennan & Co.

KING, Chief Judge:

The plaintiffs, owners of a famous New Orleans restaurant that bears their family name, brought trademark and contract claims against certain relatives who operated other restaurants that used the family name in ways that allegedly caused confusion in the marketplace. The district court ruled that the two contracts that are the basis of the breach-of-contract claims barred the plaintiffs from pursuing trademark-related claims. The remaining claims proceeded to trial, and the jury returned a verdict in the plaintiffs’ favor on one of their contract claims. Both sides *359appeal,…