Sunbelt Automated Systems, Inc. v. Amrep
Published: Jul. 29, 1995 | Result Date: Jun. 16, 1995 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: 941262RAP – $1,706,280
Judge
Court
USDC Central
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Raoul D. Kennedy
(Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP)
Defendant
Experts
Plaintiff
Richard Pimentel
(technical)
Marc Stragier
(technical)
Richard Bardin
(technical)
Defendant
Patrick Schlesinger
(technical)
Facts
This case stems out of Los Angeles County's requirement that its garbage collectors use a pickup system that does not interfere with on-street parking. Plaintiff Sunbelt Automated Systems, Inc., developed and patented an extendible side-loading arm for garbage trucks, which can reach between parked cars to lift and dump garbage cans. Because the original patent issued in 1991, included an error, Sunbelt applied for a reissue patent to correct the mistake. Plaintiff claimed that in the interim, Defendant Amrep, a refuse truck manufacturer, began manufacturing garbage trucks with a similar design. Defendant claimed it began manufacturing garbage trucks with an automated side loader of its own design prior to issuance of Plaintiff's original patent and that that design did not infringe the original patent. Sunbelt notified Amrep that the Amrep trucks infringed on Sunbelt's patent, but Amrep allegedly refused to stop producing trucks using the automated side loading design after the corrected Sunbelt patent was reissued in 1993.
Settlement Discussions
Plaintiff contends that there were no substantial demands or offers exchanged prior to trial.
Damages
$6,200,000 in lost profits.
Result
The jury found: 1) Sunbelt's patent is valid and enforceable; 2) Amrep infringed Sunbelt's patent; 3) Amrep's infringement was willful; and 4) Sunbelt is entitled to damages of $1,706,282. Sunbelt's request for a permanent injunction, enhanced damages, and attorneys' fees as a result of the jury's finding of willfulness; and Amrep's request for intervening rights still pending.
Deliberation
8.5 hours
Poll
8-0
Length
10 days
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