Judge Albert Diaz, injecting a bit of courtroom levity, responded, “I don’t know if the Dodgers want to do that right about now—or the other way around.”
Despite the colorful analogy, Judge Diaz expressed skepticism about the school’s evidence of irreparable harm.
“I hear a lot of talk about irreparable harm, but I’m struggling to find concrete proof,” he said.
Vogel countered that the Inspire Dance Team was a well-established brand, now damaged by false advertising. Enrollment numbers have plummeted, he argued, due to May and Lewis misleading the public.
Who Owns “Inspire”?
May and Lewis originally coached Jackson Day’s Inspire Dance Team before parting ways with the school and launching Inspire Performing Arts. In August, Jackson Day sued them for trademark infringement, false advertising, unfair trade practices, and breach of contract. The school also sought an injunction to prevent further use of the Inspire name.
However, May and Lewis claim ownership of the Inspire trademark, asserting they founded the team in 2015 while working for a Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District (CMS) institution.
