Monday, May 14, 2018

$75 Million Jury Verdict Reinstated

The court granted plaintiff's motion to reconsider an earlier order granting defendant a new damages trial and upon reconsideration reinstated the jury's $75 million verdict because the extensive evidence of unaccused products was not reflected in the verdict. "⁠[Defendant's] complaint is that the damages model 'is flawed' and 'contrary to law' inasmuch as a patentee 'can only receive infringement damages on those devices that actually performed the patented method during the relevant infringement period.' Yet [defendant] was not assessed damages on unaccused products because the jury was instructed that lump sum damages are available only for 'products [plaintiff] has accused in this case.'. . . [Plaintiff] simply populated the 'book of wisdom,' with information about projected sales of both accused and unaccused products. . . . Although [defendant] presented the jury with damages estimates that accounted for future sales of unaccused products, the jury’s $75 million assessment is consistent with the court’s instruction to award damages only for accused products. . . . Thus, while the jury’s assessment includes damages for future sales of accused products, which by definition is what a lump sum payment reflects, the award did not necessarily include damages for future sales of unaccused products."

Ericsson Inc. et al v. TCL Communication Technology Holdings Limited et al, 2-15-cv-00011 (TXED May 10, 2018, Order) (Payne, MJ)

No comments: