A prominent personal injury attorney in the Lowcountry is suing his son for trademark infringement for using his birth name in advertising his new, independent law firm. George Sink Sr. alleges that George “Ted” Sink Jr. and the firm he started in February are improperly using the father’s well-known and trademarked name.
Ronald Richter Jr. and Eric Bland of Bland Richter in Charleston represent Sink Jr., along with Timothy St. Clair of Parker Poe in Greenville. Richter made clear in correspondences that while Sink Jr.’s father refers to him as “Ted,” this is not his birth name.
“We represent George Sink Jr. This is the name that appears on his birth certificate, driver’s license, Yale undergraduate degree and on his law degree, as well as on his licenses to practice law in South Carolina and Georgia,” Richter said, explaining that it was Sink Sr. who originally introduced his son to others in the legal community as “George Sink.”
“Whether trademark law permits a father to take back his son’s name or restrict his right to practice law is an issue we look forward to litigating through the courts,” Richter said.
Richter said that his side will be filing a response to the complaint “shortly.”