Clark Hill Prevails in Bench Trial on Lanham Act False Advertising Claims in Southern District of Florida

Clark Hill’s Litigation team, led by Linda M. Watson, secured a complete defense victory following a four-day bench trial in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida involving claims of false advertising under the Lanham Act. The case required the court to determine whether two challenged statements related to wheelchair-accessible vehicle securement and safety systems constituted literally false advertising.

In a detailed post-trial decision issued on December 23, 2025, the court ruled entirely in favor of Clark Hill’s client, concluding that no false advertising had occurred. The court rejected the plaintiff’s theories of literal falsity, including arguments that the statements were false “by necessary implication,” emphasizing that ambiguity in advertising claims is often fatal to such allegations under Eleventh Circuit precedent.

The decision provides an important roadmap for litigators and manufacturers alike, particularly in regulated industries where advertising frequently references testing protocols, compliance obligations, and safety standards. The ruling underscores the evidentiary burden required to establish literal falsity and clarifies how courts evaluate advertising claims in technically complex markets such as automotive manufacturing.

The Clark Hill team included: Linda M. Watson, Jonathan Roffe, and Robert Feltoon.