A David versus Goliath Story

By way of an introduction, my name is David Prehoda; I live in Lac La Belle, Michigan. My wife and I are friends with Troy and Cathy Westcott. Troy and Cathy are the owners of a small “Mom and Pop” business, in Lac La Belle, known as the Lac La Belle Lodge and the Bear Belly PitStop. Troy and Cathy have been the proud owners of the Lac La Belle Lodge, since 2000.

 

Would you please consider donating to Troy and Cathy’s legal defense fund? I would appreciate any expression of your kindness, as you consider donating $5, $10, $25, $50, or $100+ to Troy and Cathy’s legal defense fund; to help them fend off a scurrilous lawsuit that was filed against them by the owner(s) and operator(s) of the Mount Bohemia Ski Resort.

 

Mount Bohemia is a geologic formation, (a mountain), that overlooks the lake and community of Lac La Belle, Michigan. The recent history of this mountain’s name can be traced back to the 1860s, when the Mount Bohemia mining company prospected for copper minerals on and in its slopes. For at least the past 40-years, many local businesses, including restaurants and gift shops, have used the name and likeness of Mount Bohemia, (not the ski resort), to sell novelty T-shirts, Sweatshirts, etc… to tourists and locals, alike.

 

Now come the owner(s)/operator(s) of the Mount Bohemia Ski Resort, seeking to trademark the iconic, geologic formation, known as Mount Bohemia; and, in doing so, have sued Troy and Cathy Westcott, seeking to block them from selling any novelty T-shirts, Sweatshirts, or other gift shop items that mention the name or depict the likeness of this well-established, Keweenaw County, geologic formation.  Troy and Cathy’s gift shop items and apparel  have never used the likeness nor the logo of the Mount Bohemia Ski Resort.

 

As previously-mentioned, the Lac La Belle Lodge, is a true “Mom and Pop” business that has been a part of the Lac La Belle Community, for over 80-years. And, while the geologic formation known for centuries as Mount Bohemia, has been a part of the Keweenaw Peninsula for millennia, the Mount Bohemia Ski Resort is a relative newcomer to the Lac La Belle Community. Unfortunately, for Troy and Cathy Westcott, the pockets of the owner(s)/operator(s) of the Mount Bohemia Ski Resort are very deep, indeed; and, as such, can lay siege, (legally-speaking), to the limited resources of a “Mom and Pop” business - seeking, through attrition, to grind Troy and Cathy into legal submission.

 

I do so hope that you believe, as do I, that this corporate aggression cannot and must not be permitted to stand. In my humble opinion, (derived from my familiarity with the basis of the Mount Bohemia Ski Resort’s petty lawsuit), the prospect of Troy and Cathy Westcott prevailing, in their defense against this scurrilous corporate attack, is very, very good. However, the case is docketed to be tried in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, and the defense against this action has already levied thousands of dollars in legal fees upon Troy and Cathy.

 

Once again, I appeal to your kindness and appreciation of right over wrong, and urge you to support Troy and Cathy Westcott, in anyway that you find yourself capable of doing. Troy and Cathy are decent, honorable, and kind human beings. Over the past 20+ years and on innumerable occasions, Troy has dropped anything he has been working on, occupied with, or in the middle of, to race off, into the Keweenaw wilderness, to rescue Yoopers and tourists alike, who have either run out of fuel, have suffered a mechanical failure in the woods, or have simply gotten hopelessly stuck while attempting to traverse one of the many snowmobile and ORV trails we are blessed to enjoy here in the Keweenaw.  And, he has never expected compensation for his generosity of time and personal expense.  Simply stated, Troy and Cathy are good people!

 

Thank you for considering the merits of this appeal, and may God bless you and yours.

 

With very best personal regards,

 

David Prehoda