Case 1:10-cv-01605-DLC Document 1 Filed 02/26/10 Page 1 of 153 David H. Bernstein (
[email protected]) Eric D. Meyer (
[email protected]) DEBEVOISE & PLIMPTON LLP 919 Third Avenue New York, New York 10022 (212) 909-6696 Attorneys for Plaintiffs American Express Marketing & Development Corp. and American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK ------------------------------------------------------------- x AMERICAN EXPRESS MARKETING & : DEVELOPMENT CORP. and : AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL RELATED : SERVICES COMPANY, INC., : : 10 Civ. 1605 (DLC) Plaintiffs, : : -against- : : BLACK CARD LLC, : : Defendant. : ------------------------------------------------------------- x COMPLAINT and JURY DEMAND Plaintiffs American Express Marketing & Development Corp. and American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (collectively, “American Express”), by their attorneys, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, for their complaint against Black Card LLC, allege upon personal knowledge with respect to themselves and their own acts, and upon information and belief as to all other matters, as follows: Preliminary Statement 1. The American Express Centurion Card, popularly known as the Black Card, is the most exclusive, sought-after card in the world. Coveting the inimitable 1 Case 1:10-cv-01605-DLC Document 1 Filed 02/26/10 Page 2 of 153 reputation enjoyed by the Centurion Card, defendant has perpetrated a scheme to confuse the public and misappropriate for itself the enormous goodwill of the