August 5, 2023
5 Things to Know: Week Ending August 5
A wacky eulogy to the incandescent bulb. Plus, a new development in Mlazgar vs. Focal Point lawsuit.
Here's a roundup of some of the week's happenings curated to help lighting people stay informed.
1. The IES Progress Committee’s Madcap Incandescent Eulogy
Ten years ago, a consumer-targeted TV commercial aired on mainstream TV, featuring a Cree Lighting spokesperson delivering a eulogy about the Edison light bulb. He declared that Edison "must have known that it would someday be improved upon and rendered obsolete."
This week, on August 1, retail sales of the traditional Edison light bulb were made illegal in the United States, by virtue of a 45 lumens/watt minimum standard.
Also this week, at the IES Annual Conference in Schaumburg, Illinois, the Progress Committee performed its own homage to the light bulb. To the delight of the crowd, they incorporated references to an EZ Bake Oven, Tom & Jerry, and numerous double entendres.
2. Mlazgar vs. Focal Point
In April 2022, Minnesota and Wisconsin lighting agent Mlazgar filed a lawsuit against Focal Point Lighting for alleged breach of an agent-manufacturer contract, unlawful termination, withholding commissions and directing customers to rival lighting agent, JTH. The lawsuit continues its slow slog through the discovery process. Focal Point strongly denies all those allegations.
On Wednesday, Mlazgar filed a motion to amend its summons and complaint against the Focal Point to include additional claims. The claims include fraudulent inducement, violations of Minnesota's Uniform Trade Secrets Act and the federal Defend Trade Secret Act, conversion, breach of contract, aiding and abetting breaches of fiduciary duties, conspiracy, tortious interference with contract and prospective economic advantage and unjust enrichment. The plaintiff also seeks to join Legrand North America, Focal Point’s parent company, as a defendant.
Many of the legal documents and filings of the case are being handled confidentially or under seal. The discovery process is expected to continue into September, and possibly beyond September.
3. Upstate New York Agent Merger
Reports into inside.lighting indicate that longtime lighting agent Ferrini Konarski has joined forces (in some way) with another lighting agent, Quality Lighting Systems (QLS). Multiple messages to executives of both agencies in recent weeks were not returned, but certain lines from Ferrini Konarski, including ETC and Aquarii, have moved onto the QLS line card. Additionally, some staff from Ferrini Konarski are now part of QLS. At the time of this writing, the Ferrini Konarski website is disabled. Here is what the agency posted as a line card earlier this year.
Three months ago, Lutron tapped Yusen to expand from New England into Upstate New York, which moved the Lutron line away from Ferrini Konarski after a partnership that spanned many decades. Ferrini Konarski’s loss of the Lutron line is described by some locals as the catalyst that drove this apparent agent merger/acquisition in Upstate New York.
4. Bizarre Lighting Hack
House Digest this week published “The Lighting Hack That'll Make Your Home Smell Like A Bakery”
House Digest advises readers “To get that bakery smell throughout your home, just gather your light bulbs and some vanilla extract. For best results, use an eyedropper and place one or two drops onto each light bulb, then insert them back into your light fixtures as normal. Another option would be to soak a cotton ball in your vanilla extract, then rub it all around the largest part of the bulb. This will also prevent any of the liquid from dripping off the bulbs if you have ceiling fixtures instead of lamps.”
House Digest did not disclose what impact, if any, the vanilla extract hack has on the efficacy of the light source or its warranty.
5. $4.8 Million Lawsuit Award
San Diego is paying out $4.8 million to the family of two pedestrians hit by a car outside Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns in 2015 — a crash that killed one and left the other with multiple spinal fractures.
The family claims in a 2016 lawsuit that the city is responsible for the crash and injuries because there should have been a crosswalk, clear signage and better lighting where the two pedestrians parked on Health Center Drive.
San Diego Union Tribune (paywall) »
