May 26, 2005 | Read Time: 2 minutes
Habitat for Humanity International is suing to prevent Millard Fuller, the group’s founder and former president, from establishing a rival housing charity with a similar-sounding name.
Habitat for Humanity, in Americus, Ga., sued Mr. Fuller in federal court in Albany, Ga., and urged the court to order Mr. Fuller to pay the charity for any harm it suffers and to change the name of his new group, Building Habitat, which he started last month. Building Habitat plans to raise money for Habitat for Humanity’s local affiliates and nonprofit organizations with similar missions to improve housing for poor people.
Habitat for Humanity said Mr. Fuller’s new charity, which is also in Americus, will confuse donors and infringes on the organization’s trademarked name. According to Chris Clarke, a spokesman for Habitat for Humanity, a small number of donors already have contacted the charity to clarify who Mr. Fuller is representing. The name “creates some confusion,” Mr. Clarke said.
Despite the legal battle, Mr. Fuller remains defiant, although he admits he may have to change his group’s name. “I don’t think the suit has merit,” he said in an e-mail message. “They can’t stop us. They can cause trouble and, worst-case scenario, we will simply have to change the name.”
In the meantime, Mr. Fuller wrote that he will continue to raise money — he recently sent out letters to 3,500 people with the goal of raising $400,000 — and finish renovating his group’s new headquarters.
Mr. Fuller was fired in January by Habitat for Humanity’s board following an investigation into allegations that he had had inappropriate conduct with a former employee. While the board dismissed the allegations, it said Mr. Fuller’s continuing public comments on the matter were disruptive to the organization (The Chronicle, February 17).
