RIA Files Trademark Infringement Suit

Columbia, MD--The Board of Directors of the Restoration Industry Association (RIA, formerly the Association of Specialists in Cleaning & Restoration) has filed a lawsuit in the Federal District Court in Idaho against the Certified Restorers Consulting Group (CRCG) in an effort to protect the Certified Restorer name in the restoration industry. The complaint, filed May 18, 2007, in Boise, Idaho, seeks to enforce RIA’s rights to exclusive use of the “Certified Restorer” designation, which has been a core credential of RIA for nearly 30 years.

“The Certified Restorer designation is the premier restoration designation in the industry,” said RIA President, Gary Dooner, CR. “Achievement of this designation requires significant education and experience, and RIA will diligently protect any trademark infringement concerning this or any other RIA designation.

“RIA’s Board of Directors in 2006 determined to undertake protection of the Association’s intellectual property wherever any of the Association’s trademarks were used incorrectly or without proper authorization,” said Dooner. Since discovering the violation described in RIA v. CRCG et al, the Association has instituted efforts to monitor and assure appropriate use of RIA’s intellectual properties.

“Taking legal action against members is something no board of directors ever wants to do,” Dooner concluded. “However, when RIA attempted to rectify the situation without litigation, CRCG chose not to comply. At that point, failure to act would send a message of weakness and indecision that is contrary to RIA’s ethical standards and to the principles of the professionals who uphold the high standards embodied in “Certified Restorer.”