A federal judge has temporarily sidelined San Antonio’s Magnolia Hospice Company Inc. from using the Magnolia name while a trademark fight plays out, finding the branding battle is likely to leave patients and health care partners scratching their heads. The preliminary injunction takes effect immediately and will stay in place as the case moves forward.
The trademark suit was filed March 4 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas as RHI Magnolia of North Texas LLC v. Magnolia Hospice Company Inc., case number 5:2026cv01411, according to Justia. Court filings show the complaint included a certificate of registration for “Magnolia Hospice” and an amended motion for a preliminary injunction. The hearing on injunctive relief took place June 16.
The judge blocked the San Antonio agency after finding the two businesses operate in overlapping counties and that patients and providers had reported misdirected calls and referrals. The written order runs roughly 20 pages, according to the San Antonio Express-News. RHI Magnolia says it has used the Magnolia Hospice name in Texas since 2013, and its site lists locations in San Marcos, Burnet and Pflugerville, among others, on its locations page (RHI Magnolia).
Why The Name Mattered In Court
U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez acknowledged that “Magnolia” pops up all over the health care world, which can weaken any one company’s claim to the word as a trademark. Even so, he found that the nearly identical hospice names, overlapping service areas and evidence of actual confusion tipped the scales toward the plaintiff. The roster of hospices maintained by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services includes multiple providers in Texas with Magnolia in their names, a point the filings reference when analyzing how distinctive the mark really is.
What RHI Magnolia Brought To The Table
RHI Magnolia’s motion and exhibits, as listed on the federal docket, include a certificate of registration, cease and desist letters and community impact materials that the company says document misdirected calls, mistaken referrals and confused medical communications. The docket also reflects that RHI co owner Donnie Maberry testified at the June 16 hearing, according to Justia.
What The San Antonio Provider Says
Magnolia Hospice Company maintains it independently adopted the Magnolia name in 2020 and has since built a reputation in the San Antonio area. The agency’s attorney, Wayne Colton, told reporters his client is reviewing the order and “evaluating all options,” adding that it was “not really ready to go into any strategies,” according to the San Antonio Express-News.
What Happens Next
The preliminary injunction will remain in effect while the trademark lawsuit proceeds, and Rodriguez has not yet issued a final ruling on who ultimately gets to keep using the Magnolia Hospice name. With both providers working Central Texas counties, the dispute is a cautionary tale about how even a seemingly gentle, floral name can turn into a costly legal tangle when referral networks and patient communications overlap.
