Announcement
Ashcraft's Red & Black Wins Court Battle Over Team Name March 7, 2008
Ashcraft's Red & Black Wins Court Battle Over Team Name
Friday, March 07, 2008, 3:42pm
The Watertown Red & Black name has been synonymous with semi-pro football since 1896. But, last month, two franchises laid claim to the name - forcing a battle not on the field, but in the courtroom.
A State Supreme Court judge ruled in favor of the football team coached by George Ashcraft.
The trouble all started when Thomas Shultz and Sports Partners claimed they had legal rights to the Red & Black name.
Shultz contended that the Red & Black legally transferred the ownership of the team to Sports Partners.
He subsequently applied to the Northeast Football Alliance for membership in the league. He planned to create a team called the Red & Black.
Ashcraft, who coaches the Red & Black in the Empire Football League, took Shultz to court over the right to use the name.
In a decision handed down Thursday, Judge Hugh Gilbert ruled in Ashcraft's favor and barred Shultz from using the words "Red & Black" or "Red & Black Football".
Shultz was unavailable for comment.
Ashcraft said he was pleased with the court's ruling.
