Stabile
Stabile v. Paul Smith Ltd.
Opinion
Lead Opinion
Dollygee, J.
ORDER RE: DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, SUMMARY ADJUDICATION [35]
I.
PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
On May 15, 2014, Plaintiff Judy Stabile filed a Complaint against Defendants Paul Smith Limited, Paul Smith Los Angeles, LLC, The Rug Company Limited, and the Rug Company, LTD. (CA) alleging (1) copyright infringement; (2) vicarious copyright infringement; and (3) contributory copyright infringement. [Doc. # 1.]
On May 1, 2015, Defendants filed a motion for summary judgment for non-infringement of Stabile’s allegedly copied paintings or, in the alternative, summary adjudication of the facts and conclusions set, forth in Defendants’ [Proposed] Statement of Uncontroverted Facts and Conclusions, of Law (“MSJ”). [Doc. # 35.] On May 29, 2015, Stabile filed an opposition (“Opp.”). [Doc. # 41.] 1 . On June 12, 2015, Defendants filed a reply (“Reply”). [Doc. # 50.]
II.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
A. The Parties
Judy Stabile is an abstract artist based in Los Angeles, California who has been a professional artist since 1973. -Defendants’ Reply Statement of Facts and Conclusions of Law in Support of Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment (“Reply SUF”) ¶¶ 17, 88.…