With an unusual twist on the governor’s race, wealthy Democratic businessmen are suing former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for the use of popular phrases in political campaigns.
Steven Crubeck, a philanthropist and Democratic donor who made his fortunes through real estate and hospitality, filed a lawsuit against Villalaigoza this week after the former mayor repeatedly described himself as a “proven problem solver” in campaign material.
Cloobeck, who applied for the federal trademark with the phrase “I am a proven problem solver,” texted Villaraigosa late Tuesday about the federal lawsuit, but the former mayor has not yet been offered.
The lawsuit claims that Cloobeck has been using the phrase since March 2024, “it is perceived as a way to acquire broad goodwill, develop advanced features, become famous, well-known and identified Cloobeck’s campaign.”
“In light of fame, we gain good intentions and overall consumer perception [the phrase Cloobeck is seeking to patent, he] I am very concerned that Villaraigosa’s campaign will approve, approve, approve, or partner, connect, or in connection, or accidentally confuse people or mistakenly believe.
Cloobeck and Villaraigosa are two Democrats running in the increasingly crowded 2026 governor field, replacing Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Representatives of Villaraigosa believed that phrases used by politicians and elected officials across the country would be subject to lawsuits.
“This is totally ridiculous. This lawsuit is a joke,” said Josh Pulliam, strategist for the Villaraigosa governor’s campaign. “Antonio launched his campaign with a record of being a proven problem solver. Does Cloobeck want to prevent him from saying that? I think it’s totally ridiculous and Trump-like tactics.
Cloobeck said he tried to get a Villaraigosa known for a quarter century. They stopped using this phrase and filed lawsuits only after they had not responded to requests for texting, phone calls or in-person meetings.
“The lack of responses from them, or Antonio, to me, is frankly offensive,” he said, adding that they had lunch at the Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills six weeks ago. “You can become friends and have business discrepancies.”
Legal scholars said the lawsuit had little chance of success.
“It’s very difficult to make a successful claim that this is a unique or distinctive phrase that could become a trademark. In a political context, people would want to step on it more carefully, as they don’t want to remove the phrase from the political debate.”
“This sounds more like political tactics than legal tactics,” added Levinson.
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