TROJAN Sued Over 'Promised Partnership' With Sex Toy Company

TRENTON, N.J. — The parent company of TROJAN has been accused of breaching a contract with a sex toy and novelty distributor in an effort to move beyond its line of vibrating rings and into a full line of adult sex toys.

The lawsuit, filed last week at U.S. District Court in Trenton, N.J., alleges that Sawhorse Enterprise CEO Dr. Sandor Gardos met in 2006 with officials from Church & Dwight, TROJAN's parent company, to discuss the launch of an entire TROJAN-branded adult sexual toy line, including everything from design and packaging to marketing copy and segmentation.

San Bruno, Calif.-based Sawhorse, operator of sex toy retail site MyPleasure.com, developed numerous products for Church & Dwight, including dozens of designs and new prototypes for vibrators and other sexual enhancement aids, the suit said.

But, in the end, Church & Dwight execs offered licensing for only one "token" product, a finger vibrator.

"Sawhorse provided Church & Dwight with not just the production capacity but also a complete supply chain and complex transport and import protocols and procedures that far exceeded those needed for the one product Church & Dwight  ultimately acquired legitimately from Sawhorse," the suit said.

The suit noted that Sawhorse relied on a "promised partnership," expending significant time and effort to move from the concept phase all the way through the first production batch for Church & Dwight. But after the launch of the TROJAN's sex toy line, company officials cut ties with Sawhorse.

"Upon witnessing the viability of the production batch and increase in profits,  [Church & Dwight] severed almost all ties with [Sawhorse], and used the system that [Sawhorse]  had built on the reliance of a partnership, to effectively run [Sawhorse] out of business," the suit said.

Church & Dwight has reaped tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars in ill-gotten gains and billions of dollars in increased market capital "on the back of Sawhorse’s experience and expertise," the suit said.

Sawhorse is suing for an unspecified amount over five counts: Breach of a confidentiality agreement, breach of good faith and fair dealing and breach of a technology licensing agreement, breach of an option agreement and fraud.

The suit seeks an accounting of revenue, adjudication that Church & Dwight breached several agreements and unspecified actual and punitive damages, among other demands.

XBIZ was unable to reach officials at Church & Dwight and Sawhorse by post time.

View Sawhorse vs. Church & Dwight suit

Related:  

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Williams Trading Co. Launches Pre-Black Friday Warehouse Sale

Williams Trading has launched its pre-Black Friday warehouse sale for retailers today.

Orion Unveils 6 New Styles From 'Noir Handmade' Line

Orion Wholesale has introduced six new clubwear styles from its Noir Handmade line of apparel.

BasisDx Adds Comfort Collect Device to 'Pro13' Home Testing Kit

PASS-certified home testing kit manufacturer BasisDx has added the new Comfort Collecting Device to its Pro13 kit.

XBIZ Honors Retail Edition to Light Up Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the pleasure industry’s biggest night, the retail edition of the annual XBIZ Honors, set for Saturday, Jan. 18, will be held at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

Pipedream Expands 'Anal Fantasy Elite' Collection

Pipedream Products has expanded its Anal Fantasy Elite collection with two new stimulators.

Orion Expands 'Couples Choice' Line With New '2 in 1' Vibe

Orion Wholesale has added the 2 in 1 Vibrator + Butt Plug to its Couples Choice collection of pleasure products.

Lovense Unveils 'Mission 2' Long Distance Vibe

Lovense has introduced the new Mission 2 vibrating suction cup dildo to its long-distance collection.

Male Power Debuts 'Pack & Play' Collection

Male Power has introduced its new Pack & Play collection of men's underwear.

Orion Debuts New Styles From Cottelli Lingerie

Orion Wholesale is now shipping new styles from its Cottelli Curves plus-size lingerie line.

Sportsheets Unveils Rebranded 'Edge' Line, 9 New Products

Sportsheets has debuted its reimagined Edge line featuring nine new products.

Show More