Michael I. Santucci (J.D. 1996) is involved in a high profile case against Gloria Estefan.  Mr. Santucci and his firm have been involved in many high profile intellectual property cases. He was an original member of the litigation team with the late Johnnie Cochran, Willie E. Gary and Melvin K. Silverman in the 2002 landmark intellectual property case of All Pro Sports Camps, Inc. vs. Walt Disney Company in which he helped obtain a record $240,000,000 jury verdict for his clients against the media giant.

It looks like 1996 Nova law grad and South Florida intellectual property attorney Michael Santucci is challenging Latin music superstar Gloria Estefan and her producer husband Emilio........again.

In question are two Bongos Cuban Cafe's owned by Estefan Enterprises, Inc. who are claiming cancellation of Santucci’s clients’ trademark registration with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and trademark infringement. The eateries are located in Miami, Florida and Orlando, Florida.

Mr. Santucci and his firm, Silverman Santucci, LLP are locked in an intellectual property battle over the term "bongo" as is used in Estefan's, Bongos Cuban Cafe. The first ongoing dispute filed in 2001 by the Estefan's, is against the largest and most successful nightclub in Cancun, Mexico, operating under the name Coco Bongo, which owns a U.S. Trademark Registration for the mark Coco Bongo. Roberto Noble, the owner of the Cancun establishment, hired Michael Santucci, PA in 2001 prior to his partnership in Silverman Santucci, LLP who are currently litigating the matter. Mr. Noble is now planning to open another Coco Bongo nightclub in Las Vegas.

The next dispute arose when Estefan Enterprises’ attorney sent a cease and desist letter on March 2006 to Christopher Marerro, owner of a small dance club in West Palm Beach operating under the name Cocobongo since 2000. They demanded he remove any reference to the name “bongos” from the name of his club. Another letter was sent in April, 2006, threatening litigation and recourse against the dance club for damages through the courts.  Having heard of the dispute between the Estefan’s and the Cancun nightclub, Mr. Marerro’s general counsel, Carl Spagnuolo contacted Silverman Santucci, LLP at their West Palm Beach satellite office to join forces and defend his client’s rights in the matter. Silverman Santucci, LLP recently filed an action in The United States District Court in West Palm Beach, defending the rights of Mr. Marerro to continue using his establishment’s name.

Michael Santucci is quoted as saying, “The Estefan’s were sued by Bongos Jeans in 1999 for naming their business Bongos Cuban Café and they won, claiming that the name “bongo” means “drum” and cannot be protected. Now they’re reversing that argument against the little guy.” Mr. Santucci also stated, “This little guy won’t be bullied by the Estefan’s, and neither will the big guy in Cancun! They can’t have it both ways. Celebrity will only carry you so far.”

Mr. Santucci and his firm have been involved in many high profile intellectual property cases. He was an original member of the litigation team with the late Johnnie Cochran, Willie E. Gary and Melvin K. Silverman in the 2002 landmark intellectual property case of All Pro Sports Camps, Inc. vs. Walt Disney Company in which he helped obtain a record $240,000,000 jury verdict for his clients against the media giant. His firm headquarters, Silverman Santucci, LLP, is located at 500 W. Cypress Creek Road, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309, (954) 351-7474, with satellite offices in West Palm Beach, FL, and Newark, New Jersey.