The complaint
Michelle Ochs v. JS Group (US) Ltd., JSG ET OCHS LLC, and ET OCHS LLC, No. 1:26-cv-09598 (S.D.N.Y.), is a 27-page complaint filed November 2, 2026, ECF No. 1, with a jury demand. Ochs is an individual residing in New Jersey who says she co-founded the women's fashion label CUSHNIE ET OCHS in 2008 and left the business in 2018. JS Group (US) Ltd. is alleged to be a Delaware corporation with an office in New York, New York. JSG ET OCHS LLC and ET OCHS LLC are alleged to be Delaware limited liability companies based in New York, New York, and the complaint alleges, on information and belief, that ET OCHS LLC operates or participates in the ET OCHS business. (Compl. paras. 1, 2, 7 to 11, 18.)
The registration
The complaint pleads Registration No. 7,069,339 for CUSHNIE ET OCHS for clothing in Class 25, issued May 30, 2023 to JSG ET OCHS LLC. USPTO TSDR lists JSG ET OCHS LLC as the owner and shows the registration on the Principal Register with a registered status. Ochs alleges the application, Serial No. 90/795,739, was filed on June 25, 2021 by a third-party company on an intent-to-use basis and purportedly assigned to JSG ET OCHS LLC effective December 6, 2021, before any accepted allegation of use, and that a statement of use was filed in February 2023 in the name of the prior applicant. She alleges she never gave written consent to register her name. (Compl. paras. 42 to 50.)
What the complaint alleges
The complaint alleges that in 2021 JS Group (US) Ltd. engaged Ochs under a month-to-month consulting agreement to revive the brand, that the agreement gave the defendants no ownership of or perpetual license to her name, and that she refused in 2022 to sign a proposed agreement and consent to register. It alleges that as recently as August 10, 2026, the ET OCHS website promoted the business as "Et Ochs by Michelle Ochs" although she no longer designed for or approved the goods, and that her August 10, 2026 letter revoked any implied permission and demanded that use stop. It alleges the defendants have not stopped or cancelled the registration. It also alleges she was paid late, treated as an independent contractor and denied required wage notices. (Compl. paras. 30 to 34, 51 to 73.)
Claims and relief requested
Count I alleges false association and false endorsement under 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a)(1)(A) against all defendants, and Count II seeks a declaratory judgment. Count III seeks cancellation and rectification of the register under 15 U.S.C. §§ 1052(c), 1060(a)(1), 1064 and 1119, and Count IV alleges fraudulent procurement under 15 U.S.C. § 1120, both against JSG ET OCHS LLC; Count IV alleges, on information and belief, that representations in the statement of use were false and that JSG ET OCHS LLC knew it. Count V alleges unauthorized use of name under New York Civil Rights Law §§ 50 and 51, Count VI deceptive practices under New York General Business Law § 349, and Count VII common law unfair competition and misappropriation. Count VIII alleges breach of contract against JS Group (US) Ltd. and, in the alternative, any JSG entity bound by the agreements. Counts IX to XIII, each pleaded in the alternative, allege failure to provide wage notices and statements under New York Labor Law, violation of New York City's freelance worker law, promissory estoppel, quantum meruit and unjust enrichment. Ochs asks for declarations, cancellation of Registration No. 7,069,339 under 15 U.S.C. § 1119, preliminary and permanent injunctions against use of MICHELLE OCHS, OCHS, ET OCHS, CUSHNIE ET OCHS and "Et Ochs by Michelle Ochs" in a way that represents her current affiliation, corrective advertising, an accounting, profits and damages, enhanced and punitive damages, interest, costs and attorneys' fees. (Compl. Counts I to XIII; Prayer A to K.)
Docket
The docket shows, on November 2, 2026, a civil cover sheet (ECF No. 2) and requests for issuance of summons as to JS Group (US) Ltd. and JSG ET OCHS LLC (ECF Nos. 3 and 4).