It's A Grind International sues Twin Cities Espresso and an individual over LIFE'S GRIND coffee branding

What was filed

The complaint is Document 1, filed October 27, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The case is It's A Grind International, LLC v. Gurdeep Bains et al., No. 4:26-cv-12567. The plaintiff demands a jury. The docket shows summonses issued on October 28, 2026.

The parties and the GRIND marks

The plaintiff is It's A Grind International, LLC, a California limited liability company based in San Ramon, California. It alleges it is the successor in interest to Retail Food Group's It's a Grind Coffee Houses brand and that it acquired the GRIND Marks from RFG in early 2025. It asserts four U.S. registrations: No. 8,151,390 for IT'S A GRIND (Classes 30 and 43); No. 8,303,277 for LIFE'S A GRIND WITHOUT OUR COFFEE (Classes 30 and 43); No. 8,151,377 for IT'S A GRIND COFFEE HOUSE and design (Classes 30 and 43); and No. 2,970,338 for HIGH OCTANE (Class 30 coffee goods), plus associated common law rights. USPTO TSDR shows that Nos. 8,151,390 and 8,151,377 registered on February 24, 2026, from applications filed July 23, 2025. The named defendants are Gurdeep Bains, an individual the complaint alleges, on information and belief, operates as LIFE'S GRIND COFFEE HOUSE and LIFE'S A GRIND COFFEE HOUSE from a coffee shop in Galt, California; Twin Cities Espresso Inc., a California corporation the complaint alleges, on information and belief, is associated with that shop; and Does 1-5. It alleges, on information and belief, that the defendants are opening a second shop in Elk Grove, California, and own lifesgrindcoffee.com.

What the complaint alleges

The complaint says the Galt location opened in 2020 as an It's A Grind Coffee House under a prior owner authorized by RFG, and alleges, on information and belief, that in 2021 Bains purchased the location and stopped operating it under the It's A Grind name. It alleges the prior franchise agreement was not transferred to Bains, and that Bains has never been an It's A Grind franchisee and never entered into any franchise, license, or other authorization with the plaintiff or RFG. It alleges that since 2021 the location has operated as Life's a Grind Coffee House or Life's Grind Coffee House; that in 2026 the defendants still used It's A Grind Coffee House logos and images on some online ordering platforms and It's A Grind references on social media alongside the Life's Grind names; that the shop's beverage sleeves carry LIFE'S A GRIND WITHOUT OUR COFFEE and its Yelp listing and online order portal use LIFE'S A GRIND COFFEE HOUSE; that it sells a coffee called HIGH OCTANE; and that Bains announced an Elk Grove location under LIFE'S GRIND / LIFE'S A GRIND while referencing the Galt location's It's A Grind history. It alleges Bains filed U.S. applications Serial Nos. 99621582, 99621571, and 99621589 for LIFES GRIND, LIFES A GRIND, and LIFES GRIND LOGOS on January 29, 2026, and that the USPTO rejected them as likely to cause confusion with the plaintiff's marks. USPTO TSDR shows that a non-final Office action issued in each application on June 8, 2026, and that each application remains under examination. It says the plaintiff demanded that Bains cease infringing uses in 2026, that responses suggested a possible resolution, and that the defendants now refuse to stop, citing investment in the Elk Grove location. It alleges, on information and belief, actual consumer and vendor confusion, including vendor contacts as recently as September 2026.

Claims and relief requested

The plaintiff brings five counts against the defendants: direct trademark infringement under Lanham Act section 32, 15 U.S.C. § 1114 (First Claim); direct trademark infringement, false designation of origin, and unfair competition under section 43(a), 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a) (Second Claim); California common law trademark infringement (Third Claim); common law unfair competition (Fourth Claim); and unfair competition under Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200 et seq. (Fifth Claim). The prayer asks for judgment on each claim; a permanent injunction against infringing the GRIND Marks; damages and profits; treble damages and/or exemplary or punitive damages under 15 U.S.C. § 1117 for willful conduct; prejudgment and post-judgment interest, costs, and attorneys' fees under section 35 of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1117; restitution; and other relief the court deems just and proper.