Recent Results:

Lead trial counsel for defendants Erie Custom Computer Applications, Inc. and Payroll World, Inc. in MPAY, Inc. v. Erie Custom Computer Applications, Inc. and Payroll World, Inc. (D. Minn. Case No. 0:19-cv-00704) involving claims of direct, contributory, and vicarious copyright infringement, breach of contract, and tortious interference for the use and distribution of payroll processing software. Venued in Federal District Court for the District of Minnesota. At trial, on plaintiff’s jury demand of $27.4 million, a jury found defendants ECCA and Payroll World not liable on all claims because the complained conduct was licensed under the disputed contract. This jury verdict concluded a complete defense on all claims asserted (including additional copyright infringement and trade secret misappropriation claims relating to the use of source code), resulting in zero liability on claims valued by plaintiff of over $160 million. Responsible as lead trial and litigation counsel.

Lead trial counsel for defendants Erie Custom Computer Applications, Inc., Payroll World, Inc., and Douglas Starr in MPAY, Inc. v. Kevin Clayton et al. (Minn. Dist. Ct. Hennepin County Case No. 27-CV-22-) involving claims of limited liability company dissolution, Minnesota statutory breach of fiduciary duty, common law breach of fiduciary duty, aiding and abetting, and civil conspiracy for the development and licensing of payroll processing software. Defendant clients asserted counterclaims of fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and declaratory judgment of change in control. At summary judgment, the court dismissed several claims as derivative and permitted other claims to proceed to trial. After a federal jury found no liability on all claims in MPAY, Inc. v. Erie Custom Computer Applications, Inc. et al. (D. Minn. Case No. 0:19-cv-00704), the state district court granted a renewed motion for summary judgment on res judicata, and permitting a trial on all defendant counterclaims. The parties settled all litigation on confidential terms following the Court’s order on the renewed motion for summary judgment. Responsible as lead trial and litigation counsel.

Lead counsel for defendants Erie Custom Computer Applications, Inc., Payroll World, Inc. and Douglas Starr in MPAY, Inc. v. OnePoint Solutions, LLC et al. (Minn. Dist. Ct. Hennepin County Case No. 27-CV-19-4069) involving derivative lawsuit claims of limited liability company dissolution, Minnesota statutory breach of fiduciary duty, common law breach of fiduciary duty, aiding and abetting, and civil conspiracy for the development and licensing of payroll processing software. Following appointment of and investigation by a Special Litigation Committee (SLC), the SLC determined there were no claims on which the company (OnePoint Solutions) should pursue against Defendants. The case settled on confidential terms following the filing of a motion to dismiss all claims.

Counsel for Xylem Dewatering Solutions in Field Intelligence, Inc. v. Xylem Dewatering Solutions, Inc. (D.N.J. 1:19-cv-20590) and Xylem Dewatering Solutions, Inc. v. Field Intelligence, Inc. (AAA 01-21-0000-3099) involving claims of breach of contract of a services supply contract, trade secret misappropriation, and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing for the development and supply of remote monitoring systems for large capacity water pumps. Following denial of Field Intelligence’s motion for a preliminary injunction and commencement of discovery, Xylem initiated arbitration pursuant to a separately implicated NDA and the parties cross-moved to stay the district court case or enjoin the arbitration. The district court enjoined the arbitration, and Xylem appealed. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the district court, vacated the injunction entered by the district court that stayed the arbitration, and remanded for consideration of a stay of proceedings. Field Intelligence, Inc, v. Xylem Dewatering Solutions Inc., No. 21-2087 (3d. Cir. Sept. 13, 2022). Following the decision of the Third Circuit, the case settled on confidential terms.

Patent:

Represented plaintiff Wapp Tech in Wapp Tech Limited Partnership v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (E.D. Tex. No. 4:21-cv-00671) and Wapp Tech Limited Partnership v. Bank of America N.A. (E.D. Tex. No. 4:21-cv-00670), a patent infringement litigation against Wells Fargo and Bank of America in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Asserted infringement of five patents covering technologies relating to mobile application development and testing. Each case resolved successfully on confidential terms prior to trial.

Trial counsel for plaintiff TQ Delta in TQ Delta, LLC v. 2Wire, Inc. (D. Del. 1-13-cv-01835) involving a patent addressing line bonding technology used by Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) modems that allows an Internet service provider to double transmission speed. Venued in the District of Delaware. At trial, a jury found defendant 2Wire infringed the patent asserted by TQ Delta and that the patent was not invalid. Responsible for the direct and cross-examination of expert witnesses regarding the source code operation of accused devices using Broadcom semiconductor chips

Trial counsel for plaintiff TQ Delta in TQ Delta, LLC v. 2Wire, Inc. (D. Del. 1-13-cv-01835) involving patents addressing memory sharing for data packet transmission used by Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) modems. Venued in the District of Delaware. At trial, a jury found defendant 2Wire infringed three TQ Delta patents and that the patents were not invalid. Responsible for the direct and cross-examination of expert witnesses regarding the operation of accused devices using Broadcom semiconductor chips, case strategy, as well as cross-examination of third-party Broadcom appearing on behalf of 2Wire.

Trial counsel for defendant Unifrax in E.I. du Pont De Nemours & Co. v. Unifrax I LLC (D. Del. 1-14-cv-01250) involving a patent addressing flame barrier laminates used in commercial aircraft. Venued in the District of Delaware. At trial successfully defeated a claim for lost profit damages in a controlled two-supplier market. Responsible for case strategy, day-to-day case management, trial witness presentation and cross-examination for lay and expert witnesses, and lead defense of damages claims.

Trial counsel in Personal Audio LLC v. Apple Inc. (E.D. Tex. 9-09-cv-00111), a patent infringement case in which a Texas federal jury awarded our client, Personal Audio LLC, $8 million in damages for infringing a patent for an audio player that can download or receive navigable playlists. The jury found that Apple’s iPods infringed the patent. The court also awarded prejudgment interest in the amount of $4,182,331 for a total judgment of $12,182,331.

Trial counsel for Petitioner in The Toro Company v. MTD Products Co., IPR No. 2016-00194 challenging U.S. Patent No. 8,011,458 directed to mechanical transmission linkages for zero-turn-radius vehicles. Successfully invalidated all challenged claims at the PTAB; before resolution on appeal the matter resolved on confidential terms.

Trial counsel for Petitioner in The Toro Company v. MTD Products Co., IPR No. 2016-00219 challenging U.S. Patent No. 8,136,613 directed to mechanical transmission linkages for zero turn radius vehicles. Successfully invalidated all challenged claims at the PTAB; PTAB decision affirmed on appeal.

Counsel for defendant Toro in MTD Products Co. v. The Toro Company (N.D. Ohio 1-16-cv-00297) in a business competitor suit involving three mechanical transmission linkage patents for zero-turn-radius vehicles. Venued in the Northern District of Ohio. Lead case strategy and day-to-day case management and development. Invalidated two patents via IPR and challenged venue, achieving withdrawal of preliminary injunction motion based on third patent written in view of the accused product. Following withdrawal of the preliminary injunction motion, the case resolved on confidential terms.

Counsel for Sensus USA in Badger Meter, Inc. v. Sensus USA, Inc. (E.D. WI. 2-16-cv-00789) and Sensus USA, Inc. v. Badger Meter, Inc. (N.D. Cal. 5-16-cv-03376) involving a patent addressing flow control metering technology for fluid distribution. Multiple actions venued in the Eastern District of Wisconsin and Northern District of California. Responsible for strategy development and all aspects of day-to-day case management and claim and defense development. The case resolved between competitors on confidential terms following cross-motions challenging venue and personal jurisdiction.

Counsel for defendant Sensus USA in GroupChatter LLC v. Sensus USA, Inc. (E.D. Tex. 6-15-cv-00863) involving patents addressing wireless communication protocols for utility metering. Venued in the Eastern District of Texas. Responsible for strategy development and all aspects of day-to-day case management and claim and defense development, and management of joint defense group. The case resolved on confidential terms following 35 U.S.C. § 101 patent eligibility and venue challenges.

Represented a patent owner in four inter partes review proceedings filed on one patent involving lithium battery separator technology.

Counsel for plaintiff in Honeywell International, Inc. v. Furuno Electric Co., Ltd, Navico, Inc., and Raymarine PLC (D. Minn. 0-09-cv-03405) involving patents addressing GPS navigation and control, and navigation displays for commercial aircraft and other vehicles. Venued in the District of Minnesota. Responsible for strategy development and all aspects of day-to-day case management and claim and defense development. The dispute against each defendant resolved on confidential terms.

Represented Honeywell International Inc. in In re Certain GPS Navigation Products, Components Thereof, and Related Software in the Internal Trade Commission (ITC-337-TA-783). Defended Honeywell on claims of patent infringement relating to aeronautical display systems against Furuno Electric Co. Dispute resolved in settlement.

Counsel for multiple clients involved in the licensing and assertion of standard essential patents involving standards 3G, 4G, LTE, ADSL2/ADSL2+, VDSL, H.264, HEVC, and VP9 for wireless handsets, infrastructure transmission, DSL, video encoding/decoding, and other related technologies.

Represented multiple defendants in a federal patent infringement action involving consumer refrigerator replacement water filters. Resolved in settlement following fact discovery. (Prior to joining Robins Kaplan LLP)

Represented multiple defendants in a federal patent infringement, trade secret misappropriation, and false advertising action involving soil monitoring and wireless communication technology. Resolved in mediated settlement following Markman ruling and completion of fact discovery. (Prior to joining Robins Kaplan LLP)

Trade Secret:

Counsel representing Honeywell International Inc. in a trade secret and breach of contract dispute with Ophir Corporation involving LIDAR-based optical air data systems for navigating aircraft. Settled the case on behalf of Honeywell after previously prevailing on a motion for a temporary restraining order/preliminary injunction. The dispute was venued in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona as Case No. CV-17-02083-PHX-GMS.

Lead counsel for defendant Medtronic in Thompson et al. v. Medtronic, Inc. et al. involving patent inventorship and unjust enrichment claims, and allegations of trade secret misappropriation. Venued in the Western District of Tennessee. Coordinated joint defense group and successfully dismissed all claims on motion practice before commencement of discovery following removal to federal court and assertion of preemption of common law claims by the Tennessee Uniform Trade Secret Act.

Represented multiple defendants in a federal patent infringement, trade secret, and false advertising lawsuit involving soil monitoring and wireless communication technology. Resolved in mediated settlement following Markman ruling and completion of fact and expert discovery. (Prior to joining Robins Kaplan LLP)

Trademark:

Represented an international association in a federal trademark infringement lawsuit involving the trademark NEUROLOGY and corresponding publication. Resolved as part of related business agreement. (Prior to joining Robins Kaplan LLP)

Trial counsel in a trademark application opposition regarding the trademark BRAIN MATTERS before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Resolved during testimony phase of opposition proceeding. (Prior to joining Robins Kaplan LLP)

Represented owner of the trademark COCO BUTTER FORMULA in federal trademark infringement lawsuit. (Prior to joining Robins Kaplan LLP)

Pro Bono:

Lead trial counsel for the Guardian ad Litem of a child in In re A.M.C. Following a three-day trial a district court granted the Guardian’s petition to terminate the parental rights of the parents’ and place the child up for adoption. Decision affirmed on appeal.

Lead counsel for defendant in Clarey v. Krishnaswamy, a defamation action based on internet postings. Obtained dismissal with prejudice. Case recognized as a 2007 “Lawsuits of the Year,” by Minnesota Law & Politics. (Prior to joining Robins Kaplan LLP)

Lead counsel for officers and directors and a nonprofit in a series of cases involving corporate control and contractual claims for attorney fees indemnification. Resolved declaratory relief claims related to corporate control in favor of officers and director clients, and defeated subsequent claim for attorney fees on summary judgment resulting in no loss to the society or individual directors and officers. (Prior to joining Robins Kaplan LLP)

• Edina Soccer Club, Board Member (2019-2021)
• Northwest Suburban Chapter of Pheasants Forever, Board Member (2012-2017)