
LANCASTER – The R. Rex Parris Law Firm has filed a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) lawsuit against eBay, claiming eBay knowingly and deliberately facilitates, proliferates and profits from the ongoing sale of counterfeit and fake products on its website.
The lawsuit was filed Thursday in federal court, according to a news release from the law firm. View a copy of the complaint here.

“This landmark RICO lawsuit against eBay identifies ongoing practices by the $18 billion e-commerce giant which are aiding a $1.7 trillion global criminal enterprise with the results threatening the health and safety of American consumers and the U.S. economy and damaging manufacturer’s reputations and brands,” stated lead attorney R. Rex Parris in the news release. Parris is also the mayor of Lancaster.
“A two-year investigation by The Counterfeit Report®, a consumer anti-counterfeiting advocate, provided investigative detail and insight into eBay’s ecosystem to advertise, list, manipulate, sell, finance, ship and encourage the sale [of] counterfeit and fake products. Most importantly, eBay’s response to The Counterfeit Report® investigation confirms that eBay is willfully blind to the rampant trafficking of counterfeit and fake products on ebay.com,” added Parris.
The 106-page lawsuit asserts that because eBay and PayPal cannot continue to enjoy the enormous profits derived from the proliferation of counterfeit and fake products sold on the eBay website if the intentional infringing sellers are excluded, eBay’s policies and practices are designed to, among other things, promote the unlawful activities of its unauthorized sellers by soliciting eBay buyers to purchase fake products knowingly using listings that infringe on registered trademarks; conceal and protect the identity of the sellers who are responsible for intentional trademark infringement on the eBay website; and ignore evidence of the unlawful activities by its unauthorized sellers.
“The fundamental goal of the lawsuit is to bring attention and monetary consequence to eBay to divest itself of any interest or activity, direct or indirect in the distribution of counterfeit or potentially counterfeit products,” added Parris.
View a copy of the complaint here.
[Information via news release from the R. Rex Parris Law Firm.]
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James P. Biddle says
First off it should be dept of Justice that is suing. Rex is just lining his pockets. He is the epitome of greed. He should have been disbarred years ago.
It should be noted before he became anointed King of Lancaster–his firm used to sue Lancaster all the time. As soon as he leaves office, he will sue again (probably for issues he caused in the first place.)
He is one sick puppy.
AVMOM says
He’s probably reading all these messages and already picking and choosing which one of us he could sue.. I don’t believe he is playing with a full deck. If people want to buy off of EBAY that’s their choice, you get what you pay for and sometimes you don’t.
Semper Fi says
Why does he keep suing for crazy reasons? He sued a local business, Starbucjs. He sued two of our VFW posts. He sued Monster drinks. He sued Palmdale. He sued Santa Clarita. Why doesn’t he do something helpful instead of just helping himself?
Someone says
The poor man is “restoring families” not a greed SOB, like you all call him. Leave the poor SOB Alone
Someone Else says
“Restoring families” my butt. He’s restoring his beach mansion, and his private plane, and his Audi, and his Tesla, and his gated Westfield part-time home/mansion. All on the backs of others. The world would be a much better place without his ilk.
William says
Why does rex parris hate Lancaster?
Anon says
I was not aware he hated Lancaster. He hates Palmdale and shows it with every action, lawsuit, word and deed he does. He is a very bad person and very bad for this Valley. I wish he would move permanently to his beach house and leave us desert dwellers alone.
Margie says
So refreshing to say I live in Palmdale. Jim Ledford is very well liked and respected. My condolences to those that have to deal with Mr Parris.
Mike says
My friends who live in Lancaster all tell me that I’m lucky to have Ledford as mayor. I agree. Parris is a kook.
William says
I was sympathetic to Lancaster residents the first couple years of rex’s ‘reign of terror’ but, golly folks, if they don’t vote him out of office next time, it’s on them.
I’ve never read a comment here or a letter to the Valley Press from a Lancaster resident praising the solar farms or solar panels on their roofs or BYD and its buses. Those were rex’s big ‘deals’ to borrow from Trump.
Not one. I may have missed one if there ever was one.
So, what has he done for them other than make himself and Lancaster the butt of jokes and the enemy of its neighbors? Apparently, the fabulous blvd is an outdoor homeless shelter and not a ‘world class destination’ as it was promoted by rex. How many businesses have folded since it was redone?
Sane says
There must be something in the water or in the air in Lancaster. They keep voting the doo-doo head in.
Tim Scott says
Or perhaps in the system they use for conducting elections.
visitor says
eBay is a global libertarian unregulated market just like conservative republicans claim to want. Guess what, in a place with no rules, the criminals thrive. rex is a troglodyte filing this suit, he does not understand the new century. He is opportunistic and Yes, as Mayor, even in private life he should be more concerned about the mess that is Lancaster. what a joke he is to me, a former resident, observing and laughing at him from afar.
Frank Rizzo says
Parris Law firm actually doing something good this time.
jimjim says
Far from a Rex fan here, and I really do not know…. is Mayor of Lancaster a full time, tax payer funded position? If not, how is it anyone’s concern what he does as a private citizen and business man?
ray ray says
The mayor’s position is part time with some benefits. Yes, he can do whatever he would like as a businessman. Likewise we as citizens have a right to our opinions on what he does particularly when it affects us and others. This latest lawsuit of his is one on a long line of frivolous or malicious lawsuits. His lawsuits against Starwood, the two VFW posts in the AV, the cities of Santa Clarita and Palmdale just to name a few, have done or are doing great damage to the local community. His reputation as a sue happy mayor is known in the business community. With a political axe to grind, he is more than happy to sue Palmdale over just about anything. He and other unscrupulous attorneys who sue companies like Chipotle for using lard in their retried beans (which is the way they have made for decades), Vitacoco coconut water, the state of California over drilling, et al do nothing but hurt business while they make themselves rich.
He has ever right to pursue his business endeavors.
He has every right to make videos that declare he is building a Christian city at the exclusion of all other faiths.
He has every right to tell the Wall St. Journal that his bird sounds on the BLVD lowered crime when there is not a shred of evidence to back it up.
He has every right to enforce his “Eye in the Sky” at a cost of $10 million dollars to a company partially owned by his political contributor even though it has been a miserable failure.
He has every right to ignore the will of the people over moving elections to November and putting a Walmart across from Quartz Hill High School. He has every right to own two mansions and fly around in a fossil fueled airplane to decry the evils of fossil fuels.
He has every right to call an African American veteran running for a city council seat a “gang candidate.”
He has every right to purchase a building in a redevelopment area while serving in the redevelopment board even though it violates state law.
He has every right to back Stan Muhammad for one of his commission posts even though Stan is a homophobe and anti-Semite. every right to bring these frivolous lawsuits to the attention of the public so they know the true character of their mayor.
He has every right to get into a physical altercation with resident David Abber at a local gym.
He has every right to claim he is of white, black, and Asian descent.
He has every right to claim that a natural gas power plant will kill children.
As mayor he has the right to do all this. As citizens we have the right to expose him for what he truly is.
Yes, it is of concern as to what he does as a businessman. He has blurred the lines between the two on far too many occasions.
Notafan says
Well stated.
Anon says
when what he does in his business hurts others it becomes a concern. A serious concern.
William says
rex parris has sued his neighboring city, Palmdale, and interferred with Palmdale’s elections ON HIS PRIVATE TIME.
So, yes. He’s open to criticism from those even outside his city.
He has done other things as mayor to harm Quartz Hill and Palmdale too.
He has made Lancaster a backward city and a laughing stock as well as himself.
Tim says
Why anyone from Palmdale would have anything to do with this vengeful, divisive and evil being is beyond me. I take all my shopping dollars to Palmdale, Santa Clarita, Quartz Hill, Littlerock—anywhere but Lancaster. If anyone doesn’t like it, you can thank your monster of a mayor.
m says
Who is he suing on behalf of? Himself?
KayDee says
Did you read the complaint? It’s confusing but I believe he’s suing on behalf of Wimo Lab… whatever that is. Possibly just a propped up plaintiff in order to file the lawsuit. Please someone read the complaint and explain it to me, I’m lost.
Tim Scott says
The plaintiff, Wimo Labs, markets under the brand name Lunatik and makes “phone accessories.” The i-watch case and i-phone case in the photo are apparently knock offs of their Apple knock offs.
Tim Scott says
No doubt the “cheap Chinese imitations” are made in the same factory in China that manufactures the cheap authentic Chinese product for Wimo Labs.
Conspiracy says
…along with plans for byd and their future…
William says
Poor, poor wb. He’s butthurt because he’s stuck in Lancaster and can’t comment on this article but has to distract by making up stuff about Democrats in Congress that is, well, made up.
What else can the poor guy do, defend rex?
Come on, wb. Let’s hear ya defend him. or did you vote for him and Bush TWICE, and McCain and Romney too? You are on a winning streak.
“Please proceed, wb” to paraphrase President Obama.
Lady Liberty says
@william
Both parties have bad politicians. Corruption on both sides. Why do you consistently only point out republicans. That is what proves you are a closed minded biased liberal. Which you wear proudly! By the way the stock market had the worst one day drop in seven years.
William says
According to wb, it’s the responsiblity of the Congress, in this case, the republican congress.
When the stock market kept reaching new highs over the last 6 years since President Obama has been in office, did you mention how great that was you hypocrite?
Don’t worry. The stock market will recover in couple weeks, then you’ll pretend you didn’t notice you hypocrite.
You are a hypocrite every which way, Lady Liberty. You really disgust me.
Tom says
What confuses me is Rex is voted in as Mayor by majority of lancaster voters. On all blogs everyone kick the crap out of Rex and no one ever comes to his defense i find that strange it doesn’t add up.
OG says
Would Rex still win by majority vote if someone besides Rex and his gang didn’t count the mail-in ballots? Funny how he never wins at the polls. Only the ballots that have sat in city hall for weeks gives him the elections!
Tom says
Thanks OG that’s what i was pointing out the resedents of lancaster don’t like him but he wins
Anon says
Lancaster elections are arranged in a way that Rex wil win. They are held in April which is odd since most people associate November with Election Day. They have a voting precinct at Lancaster Baptist Church where thousands of members and students at West Coast Baptist school obediently follow the will of their pastor and vote for Rex despite his history of lying, insider deals, support of activities surrounded by alcohol, raging temperament, hate of his neighbors, destruction of individuals, and so on and so forth. Then, they count their absentee ballots, which is pretty disturbing. Where is the oversight?
junior voter says
or was it fraudulent
Claire says
I would like to sell Rex on E-Bay as a counterfeit mayor.
Tim Scott says
Good luck. Maybe if you change his name. Anyone who googles him is going to immediately say “no sale’ and you will be stuck with the damaged goods forever…much like Lancaster already seems to be.
Ron says
Exactly Tim Scott. I often ask myself what did I do wrong to deserve Parris as mayor? What did we do as Lancaster residents that was so horrible that we faced the wrath of God, Karma or whatever.
Ron says
Right on Claire! What a counterfeit he truly is.
William says
Isn’t rex a ‘conservative Christian republican’ just like Claire/FOREWARENED/bird/moll flanders?
OG says
None of this will matter after Rex brings Sharia law to the Valley. Him and his loyal Imam will line all you sinners out!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEMAqHydfj8
Jesus Wept says
R. Rex Parris does not speak for, nor does he represent all Christians. There are many Christians who do not share his views.
Stinger says
Personally, Jesus Wept, I do not believe that he represents Christianity as Christ meant in any way, shape, or form.
Like Krab (with a K, versus Crab with a C), he is a Kristian.
m says
Claire gets a high-five for that one.
yabba says
Why aren’t other vital issues being addressed? I see way too much that needs to be done in Lancaster. Clean up old strip malls that are a haven for crime. There’s an abandoned Golf coarse on Avenue K and 5th St. East that has been abandoned for a long time; it is an eye-sore, and should be cleaned up. How will this lawsuit help the citizens of Lancaster, Ca?
William says
Why would anyone vote for rex again for mayor? Everything he touches turns to caca.
The blvd, his ‘pride and joy’, is a flop and it’s unlikely to recover in our lifetimes. Who would risk opening a business there after so many have failed and some of them were by experienced business owners. They’d be better off opening their business in a shopping center in Palmdale than anywhere on the blvd.
There are even little places in Quartz Hill that have stayed in business for years while similar businesses on the blvd close within a year.
Too many things need fixin’ such as the half-empty shopping centers and roads and apparently the east side from what everyone complains about.
is he going to do anything about all that?
rex’s only hope is to merge with Palmdale and that ain’t gonna happen, is it, wb?
Tim says
The next story will be: R. Rex Parris sues Hustler magazine for carpal tunnel syndrome.
tommy says
The story i read on abc 7 last night said it was an Irvine based company, is his company based in Irvine or, were they mistaken, or is this something he jumped on after the fact? but as far as ebay goes many many many people from the AV have side business’s on ebay and it does indirectly affect a lot of us, and who ever filed the suit is correct ebay does little or nothing to prevent counterfeit items, i use to buy, sell and restore Montblanc ink pens (a highend pen) i would flag listings everyday and notify ebay about people (99% people based in China) selling fake Montblanc’s, the listing would sometimes disappear but a new one under a different seller name would pop right back up, I finally gave up. I hope somebody hammers ebay.
Eric says
Trusting China is something you do at your own peril. I still don’t understand why Rex wants to bring companies from a country with a long and detailed history of espionage right to the doorstep of Edwards AFB and Plant 42. He is their useful idiot for sure.
William says
A few years ago, I saw a documentary on China and its business philosophy/practices.
It said that in China, being deceptive/devious in business dealings is considered a virtue. What was so amusing, was the unspoken implication that that isn’t also done in this country.
I bet both rex and the Chinese business people he deals with each think they are outsmarting the other. But, I suspect that rex is outsmarted every time and doesn’t even know it.
Just how many people does BYD employe that live in the Antelope Valley, for example?
Trex says
Rex for GOP President 2016!
Jay says
All this stuff going on in Lancaster and he’s focusing his attention on ebay!!????????
Madness says
All the madness going on in Lancaster. Why can’t we have a mayor that works on problems like Palmdale does? We get stuck with a wannabe Erin Brocovich.
Fed Up! says
The Larry H. Parker of the A.V.
Rlancaster says
When will his term end? We need a new Mayor!
Sam says
If he would quit spending all his time suing companies like EBay, and quit sticking his nose in Palmdale’s business, and quit flying around in his fossil fueled plane preaching the evils of fossil fuels, maybe he could be a decent mayor for our city. Maybe the BLVD wouldn’t be such a mess. Maybe our roads wouldn’t be full of cracks and holes. Maybe East Lancaster wouldn’t be a neglected war zone.
Anon says
He would sue his own mother. What a scumbag.
Turd Ferguson says
Maybe he needs $10,000,000.00 to pay for LEAPS.Maybe he needs $10,000,000.00 to pay for LEAPS.Because that is what it is costing us.Because that is what it is costing us.For what?For what?To catch Wal-Mart shoplifters.To catch Wal-Mart shoplifters.$90,000.00 a month for LEAPS.$90,000.00 a month for LEAPS.Waste of tax dollars.Waste of tax dollars.I want to sue LEAPS.I want to sue LEAPS.Invasion of privacy.Invasion of privacy.Rex will you help me sue LEAPS?Rex will you help me sue LEAPS?No to LEAPS.No to LEAPS.No to silly lawsuits.No to silly lawsuits.No to Rex.No to Rex.
Nikolas says
Can anyone tell me why nearly every single post from Turd Ferguson is double-posted the way they are…?
What’s this DB’s malfunction?
William says
I think he does it for emphasis.
I think he does it for emphasis.
That LEAPS is a joke bears repeating.
Tim Scott says
I always took it as a clever reference to the requisite double speak that Rex and the fearmongers used to “justify” the expenditure on yet another worthless law enforcement toy.
Stinger says
This is just another ‘deep pockets’ lawsuit by the inept Parris to try to line his pockets on a small potatoes case. Unfortunately for him, ebay can afford REAL attorneys who will eat him alive in court. Watch for Parris to try to ‘partner’ with another attorney to take the lead while he just rides on their coattails.
Rankin says
Glad to see our mayor taking care of local city business
William says
eBay ‘gots’ lots o’money.
What if they decided to spend $10 million to defeat rex in the next election and/or dig up all kinds of dirt on him?
I hope I didn’t give them any ideas.
William says
I’m shocked. Shocked, I tell ya.
Commie Lover says
Most of the counterfeit stuff comes from his Communist pals in China. Hey Rex, ever hear of caveat emptor? They teach it in REAL law schools.
Republican Voter says
So much for being a pro-business Republican. Meanwhile AVRA sits with their thumbs in their butts and continues to support this clown. Pro-business Republicans. What a joke.
CAP'N LANCASTER says
Ole Rex has no shame. It’s bad enough he is suin two Antelope Vally VFW posts. He done sued Starwoods right the heck out a town. He sueds Santa Clarita and Palmdale. No wonder everybodys done hatin on Lancaster. Ole Rex please please please just go away.
JustSayNoToRex says
This guy is such an ambulance chaser. Rex needs to leave City Hall for good, drive to BevMo, buy a giant bottle of whiskey, and start drinking again.
William says
Again? Did he ever really stop?
Would a sober mayor say and do the stuff he does?
John Smith says
Judging from that video of him talking bizzarely about praying, I would agree that he has not stopped. He needs professional help.
Letlow says
I cannot get past that picture though. He looks like grumpy Santa. LOL!!
Those eyes. Yuck says
He looks like a creepy whack job.
Anon says
He acts like one too.
Tim Scott says
Looks like a duck…acts like a duck…
One could guess that he is a creepy whack job without being too far out on a limb.