What was filed
Forklift Academy, Inc. v. Houston Forklift & Autos LLC d/b/a Houston Forklift Academy, Delano Mandela Igba, and Does 1 through 10, No. 2:26-cv-11172 (C.D. Cal.), was filed September 25, 2026. Forklift Academy says it is a California corporation based in Chatsworth, California, with a branch in the Houston area. It alleges, on information and belief, that Houston Forklift & Autos LLC is a Texas company offering forklift training in and around Houston and online, and it alleges that Igba is the company's sole member and, on information and belief, directed the conduct at issue. The complaint demands a jury trial.
The mark
USPTO records show U.S. Reg. No. 3,895,740 for FORKLIFT ACADEMY on the Supplemental Register, registered December 21, 2010, to Forklift Academy for training services in the field of forklifts in Class 41, and renewed. The complaint alleges use since at least October 9, 2008, and alleges that the mark has acquired distinctiveness.
What the complaint alleges
The complaint alleges that the defendants use Houston Forklift Academy as an assumed business name, which it alleges on information and belief was registered with the Texas Secretary of State around May 28, 2025, and with the domain houstonforkliftacademy.com, for the same training services in the same Houston market. It alleges that Forklift Academy sent a cease-and-desist letter on March 10, 2026, that the defendant disputed the claims in a March 20 response, and that the use continues.
The counts and relief
The first cause of action is federal service mark infringement under 15 U.S.C. § 1114. The second is federal unfair competition and false designation of origin under 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a). The third and fourth are California common law service mark infringement and unfair competition, and the fifth arises under California Business and Professions Code § 17200. The complaint seeks a permanent injunction, an accounting of profits, enhanced damages, destruction of infringing materials, and fees.