Top Plaintiff's Verdicts by Dollar: Power Integrations Inc. v. Fairchild Semiconductor International Inc., $139.8 Million

Patent infringement

Northern District

Senior U.S. District Judge Maxine M. Chesney

Plaintiff's attorneys: Fish & Richardson PC, Frank E. Scherkenbach, Howard G. Pollack, Michael R. Headley, Neil A. Warren

Defense attorneys: Paul Hastings LLP, Blair M. Jacobs, Christina A. Ondrick, Yar R. Chaikovsky, Philip Ou, Patrick J. Stafford

In December, Power Integrations Inc. won a big jury verdict with a $139.8 million patent damages award against Fairchild Semiconductor International Inc.

The damages retrial verdict was vindication for San Jose-based Power Integrations, which asserted two patents for controller chips used in energy-efficient power supplies and chargers. The litigants had battled in federal court, the U.S. International Trade Commission and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

"It's gratifying to see a pioneer in the field receive recognition," said Michael R. Headley, a Fish & Richardson PC partner and co-lead counsel for Power Integrations. "There are times when the length of litigation is frustrating, but ultimately the system has to be allowed to work through the process."

Power Integrations had won a $105 million verdict last year, but a federal judge vacated the award after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued an opinion that revised the law on patent damages.

So the Fish & Richardson legal team took more depositions, gathered more data and presented their case to a different jury at the damages retrial.

The litigation skirmishes are likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Fish-represented Power Integrations and Fairchild Semiconductor, represented by Paul Hastings LLP, are in the midst of post-trial motions.

Power Integrations is seeking enhanced damages and attorney fees, while Fairchild Semiconductor is pursuing judgment as a matter of law. Power Integrations Inc. v. Fairchild Semiconductor International Inc. et al., 09-CV5235 (N.D. Cal., filed Nov. 4, 2009).

The litigants and law firms are also involved in ongoing lawsuits in Delaware and the Northern District.

Power Integrations sued Fairchild Semiconductor last year in the Northern District over additional patent infringement. That lawsuit is in its early stages.

Headley noted that the U.S. Supreme Court and lawmakers at the federal level have instituted several recent landmark changes to patent law.

"It's fun to work with clients in this dynamic environment when the courts and Congress have taken steps to ensure the system is balanced between innovators and those accused of infringement," he said.

- Kevin Lee