Retail Update: Coach sues Oklahoma retailers over alleged counterfeits

As part of an ongoing crackdown on counterfeiting, Coach Inc., has filed lawsuits against two Oklahoma retailers accusing them of trademark infringement.

Civil cases were filed May 18 against Jamie's Exclusively Plus and owner Julie Vargas in Tulsa and River City Trading Post in Jenks; Sharon Reed, doing business as Purses and Stuff, was also named in the River City Trading Post case.

In the lawsuits, Coach says one of its investigators purchased a counterfeit Coach handbag for less than $40 at Jamie's Exclusively Plus and another for $78.99 at River City Trading Post. Neither store is an authorized Coach retailer. Jamie's Exclusively Plus is a consignment store and River City Trading Post is an antique mall that leases booth space to sellers.

Coach, in the complaint, requested the retailers be ordered to stop selling any products with the Coach trademarks or design elements, plus statutory damages and other costs.

The lawsuits were filed in federal court in Tulsa.

JENNIFER PALMER, BUSINESS WRITER