San Francisco retailer sues Ivanka Trump's brand for unfair competition

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Modern Appealing Clothing, a small San Francisco clothing boutique, has filed a class action suit against Ivanka Trump's fashion company.

The suit, filed last week in the Superior Court of California, alleges Ivanka Trump has used "the power and prestige of the White House for personal gain."
Ivanka's role in the White House has come under scrutiny this week as it was announced the president's daughter was being given an office in the White House. Though she will not be a government employee, Ivanka will have access to classified information, officials confirmed Tuesday. Ivanka is currently in the process of obtaining a security clearance.
"Ivanka has taken on several measures to promote high standards of ethical conduct," press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters on Tuesday. "Even though she's not a federal employee, she'll follow the restrictions that would apply if she were. She's taken these steps with the advice of counsel and in consultation of the Office of Government Ethics."
Ivanka Trump's husband Jared Kushner also works in the White House but as an official employee of the government.
MAC's lawsuit claims Ivanka Trump and Kushner's proximity to the president offers Ivanka Trump Marks LLC an unfair advantage -- one the boutique claims is prohibited by the Constitution.
"The effects of that unfair advantage are magnified greatly by marketing activities of defendant Ivanka Trump's officers and employees and the similar activities of Donald J. Trump, his family, his agents and employees and the White House staff advisors, including but not limited to Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway and White House Press Secretary and Communications Director Sean Spicer," MAC wrote in the complaint.
Though Ivanka Trump remains the sole owner of her clothing brand, she has stepped down from her role as top executive. The company is now being run by newly appointed president Abigail Klem. Ivanka Trump also appointed a trust to oversee the business.
Ivanka Trump's clothing brand has enjoyed an increase in sales in recent months, and has appeared to benefit from White House endorsements.

Last month, President Trump complained on Twitter that his daughter and her brand were being treated unfairly after Nordstrom announced it was dropping the clothing line from its department stores. White House counselor Kellyanne Conway voiced her support for the clothing and jewelry brand during a televised appearance on Fox & Friends.

"I'm going to give a free commercial here," Conway said. "Go buy it today, everybody. You can find it online."