The Air Around the Clock lawsuit that drew the most attention was a 2009 federal trademark case the South Florida HVAC company brought against a competitor over dueling “Your wife is hot” billboards. That case settled quietly, but it was one of several trademark actions the company has filed against rivals with similar names, and the company has also been named as a defendant in premises liability and small claims matters.
The “Your Wife Is Hot” Billboard Case
In January 2009, Air Around the Clock rolled out yellow-and-black billboards across Broward County with the line: “Your wife is hot. Better get your A/C fixed.” By that summer, Fort Lauderdale rival All Year Cooling had posted its own billboards using a similar yellow-and-black scheme, reading: “Your wife is not hot because you called All Year Cooling to replace your A/C rather than the other guys.” All Year Cooling also registered wifenothot.com to capture traffic from the campaign.1Sun-Sentinel. Hot or Not Billboard Battle Sparks Lawsuit
Air Around the Clock registered “Your wife is hot” as a trademark with the Florida Department of State in August 2009. After a cease-and-desist letter went nowhere, the company filed a 28-page federal complaint in October 2009 alleging trademark infringement, misrepresentation of services, and consumer deception. Operations manager Mike Lang said customers were calling All Year Cooling by mistake.2NBC Miami. Dueling Billboards
All Year Cooling’s attorney, Meredith Mendez, called the response ad “fair competition” and a “clever spin,” and argued the trademark filing was “merely an afterthought” that came only after her client’s campaign was already running.1Sun-Sentinel. Hot or Not Billboard Battle Sparks Lawsuit
The case never reached trial. The parties settled out of court, and on January 7, 2010, U.S. District Judge James I. Cohn dismissed the suit. Terms were not disclosed.3Palm Beach Post. Your Wife Is Hot
Trademark Suits Against Other Competitors
The billboard case was not a one-off. Air Around the Clock has filed at least three additional federal trademark infringement actions against competitors it accused of trading on name confusion.
Cooling Clinic USA (2015)
In September 2015, the company sued Cooling Clinic USA, LLC, doing business as “Air Around the Block,” in the Southern District of Florida. The complaint alleged a “colorable imitation” of Air Around the Clock’s federally registered service marks, and claimed the defendants verbally identified themselves as “Air Around the Clock” when speaking to consumers. It included counts for federal trademark infringement, misleading advertising under Florida law, and deceptive trade practices.4CCH. Around the Clock Complaint
Around the Clock Refrigeration (2017)
In June 2017, the company filed suit against Around The Clock Refrigeration, Air & Repair, LLC, in the Middle District of Florida. By October 2017, the parties agreed to a consent judgment, and Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington entered a final order of dismissal with prejudice. The specific terms were not publicly detailed.5PlainSite. Around the Clock A/C Service v. Around the Clock Refrigeration, Air and Repair
Air Pros (2019)
In October 2019, the company sued Air Pros, LLC, again in the Southern District of Florida, before Judge Kevin Michael Moore. The case was terminated later that year, with the last docket entry in October 2020 and the disposition listed as “Other,” indicating the matter was resolved before substantive litigation.6CourtListener. Around the Clock A/C Service v. Air Pros
Cases Where the Company Was a Defendant
Air Around the Clock has also been on the receiving end of litigation. In March 2020, Jason Gardner v. Steven Filomano, et al. was filed in Broward County Circuit Court, naming both Air Around The Clock, Inc. and Around The Clock A/C Service, LLC as defendants in a commercial premises liability negligence claim. The case was eventually closed.7Trellis Law. Jason Gardner v. Steven Filomano, et al. – Request for Production
A small claims matter, Marro v. Air Around the Clock, was filed in Palm Beach County in January 2020 and dismissed after a notice of settlement in April of that year.8UniCourt. Marro, Brian S v. Air Around the Clock
About the Company
Air Around the Clock, formally Around the Clock A/C Service, LLC, was incorporated in Florida in 1988 and is headquartered in Deerfield Beach with an additional office in Boca Raton. Founders Eric Pereira and Steve Cartier started with two trucks and grew the business into a regional HVAC, plumbing, and electrical provider across multiple Florida counties.9Air Around the Clock. Company Mike Lang, who joined in the 1990s, served as operations manager and was the company’s public voice during its legal disputes. In May 2026, Air Around the Clock was acquired by Flint Group, a private equity-backed home-services platform; terms were not disclosed.10Flint Group. Brands