The prolonged legal feud between two prominent tourist spots in Fall River has reached a resolution. According to reporting by Dan Medeiros and the Herald News, a federal district court judge has ordered Miss Lizzie’s Coffee to pay its neighbor, the Lizzie Borden House, over $31,000 in attorney fees following a default judgment in a trademark infringement lawsuit.
The conflict began in September 2023 when US Ghost Adventures (USGA)—the parent company of the Lizzie Borden House museum and inn—filed a federal lawsuit against the neighboring Second Street cafe. USGA claimed exclusive rights to the “Lizzie Borden” wordmark within the restaurant and hospitality sector, arguing that customer confusion was a persistent issue.
The legal battle shifted earlier this year when Miss Lizzie’s Coffee lost by default after owner Joseph Pereira, representing himself without legal counsel, failed to adequately respond to court requests for information.
While USGA initially sought more than $239,000 to cover lost profits, trademark and goodwill damages, and mitigation expenses, U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin dismissed the majority of those financial claims on October 8. However, the judge ruled that the coffee shop must pay USGA $31,207 to cover related legal fees. Despite the legal fallout, Miss Lizzie’s Coffee remains open for business.
