In a heated legal tussle, two rival dog groomers find themselves entangled in a High Court confrontation, with former business partners at odds over the use of the brand name “Wash Wiggle and Wag.”
Laura Thurgood is pursuing legal action against Danielle Laight, her former associate, alleging a smear campaign aimed at tarnishing her reputation. Thurgood claims she faced a “vicious” defamation campaign through texts and social media posts, implicating her grooming services for alleged injuries to dogs, leading to significant veterinary bills for pet owners. Operating her pet beautician service in the West Midlands, Thurgood contends that after parting ways with Laight, her ex-partner orchestrated a smear campaign against her on various online platforms.
Laight, however, asserts her rights to the brand name, countering Thurgood’s allegations by stating that her claims are substantially true. The legal battle, now at the High Court in London, revolves around the ownership of the Wash Wiggle and Wag trademark and the alleged misappropriation of the brand by Laight for her business.
Business Partnership Gone Sour
The legal discourse sheds light on the backstory: Thurgood, in collaboration with family members, partnered with Laight, a local pet groomer, to expand their enterprise in 2018. What started as a promising venture turned sour when in May 2020, Laight abruptly severed ties by leaving a termination letter in Thurgood’s van, marking the collapse of their working relationship.
The legal documents presented to the High Court allege that the Wash Wiggle and Wag brand was purportedly taken over by Laight for her own enterprise post their fallout, resulting in a significant downturn in Thurgood’s business, with numerous client bookings cancelled due to alleged misinformation spread by Laight to clients.
Legal Claims and Counterclaims
Thurgood seeks £50,000 in compensation for reputational damage and an injunction prohibiting Laight from using the contested trade name. Laight, on the other hand, refutes claims of libel and wrongful use of the disputed name, stating that Thurgood continued her grooming services under different names, namely Doggy Style and Scruffy2Fluffy.
The legal battle ensues, with both dog groomers standing firm on their claims and counterclaims, intensifying the legal standoff between the former business partners. Thurgood is pursuing legal action against both Laight and her company, Wash Wiggle and Wag Ltd.
