Shawne Merriman, the San Diego Chargers' linebacker who was embroiled in a dispute with reality television star Tila Tequila earlier this year, has sued Tequila for copyright and trademark infringement.
Merriman sued Tila Nguyen (Tequila's legal name) on Thursday, claiming she put pictures of Merriman and the trademark of his company "Lights Out" on her Web site without permission. The lawsuit claims that using the Lights Out trademark on Tequila's Web site "is likely to confuse consumers into believing there is an affiliation, connection, sponsorship or other form of relationship between defendant and plaintiff which in fact does not exist."
Merriman is seeking an injunction, statuatory damages of up to $2 million and other unspecified damages, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Merriman was arrested after an incident with Tequila at Merriman's home in September. Tequila signed a citizen's complaint against Merriman, claiming he had choked her as she tried to leave his house. Later that month, the San Diego County District Attorney's office didn't charge either party due to a lack of evidence.
Tequila filed a lawsuit against Merriman in November, accusing him of assault, battery and false imprisonment from the September incident.