Mickey Mantle rights holders sue Cardsmiths over Currency Series cards: complaint allegations

What was filed

The CourtListener docket lists a complaint filed on September 24, 2026, as Document 1. The plaintiffs are Mantle I.P. Holdings, Ltd and Major League Alumni Marketing, Inc. The named defendants are Cardsmiths, LLC, Toynk Toys, L.L.C., Steven Loney, and additional Doe defendants. The case is No. 1:26-cv-08344 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, assigned to Judge Vernon Speede Broderick. The nature of suit is 840 Trademark, and the cause is listed as 15 U.S.C. § 1114 trademark infringement under the Lanham Act. The docket does not show a judgment.

What the complaint alleges

The complaint says Mantle I.P. Holdings is the successor-in-interest to trademark and publicity rights associated with Mickey Mantle, including the marks Mickey Mantle, The Mick, and the Mickey Mantle signature. It says Major League Alumni Marketing is Mantle's exclusive licensing agent. It alleges that Cardsmiths and Toynk, with Loney as co-founder and CEO, market and sell Currency Series 5 trading cards that reproduce the Mickey Mantle rookie card and use Mantle's name, image, and signature.

Among the registrations the complaint identifies are Registration No. 2,914,722 for Mickey Mantle (issued December 28, 2004, for goods including jewelry, printed materials, crystal, clothing, athletic equipment, and toys), Registration No. 3,932,582 for Mickey Mantle (issued March 15, 2011, for restaurant and website services), Registration No. 3,941,995 for the Mickey Mantle signature (issued April 5, 2011), and Registration No. 3,932,583 for The Mick (issued March 15, 2011). It alleges, on information and belief, sales through channels including eBay, Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. It says Topps and Mantle sent cease-and-desist letters on or about June 9 and 10, 2026, and that on or about June 15, 2026, counsel for the defendants indicated that his client would keep selling.

The complaint pleads federal trademark infringement under 15 U.S.C. § 1114, false designation of origin under § 1125(a), dilution by blurring and by tarnishment under § 1125(c), a Texas right-of-publicity claim, deceptive-practices claims under New York General Business Law sections 349 and 350, unjust enrichment, and unfair competition by misappropriation of goodwill. It seeks injunctive relief, damages, accounting, destruction of infringing articles, and related remedies. That is a prayer for relief. A court has not granted it.

A complaint is not a ruling

None of this is a finding. The complaint tells you what Mantle I.P. Holdings and Major League Alumni Marketing allege about Currency Series 5 cards and Mantle's marks. It does not tell you that the cards infringe, dilute, or violate publicity rights. The court has not decided the case.