HDI Wins Another Summary Judgment Against Johnson & Johnson's LifeScan Division; Ends Pending Litigation for Blood Glucose Monitor

Business Wire, May 18, 2001

Business Editors, Health & Medical Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 18, 2001

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Calif., San Jose Division, on April 23 granted Home Diagnostics, Inc.'s (HDI) motion for summary judgment, ending patent infringement litigation with LifeScan.

U.S. District Judge James Ware's declaratory relief action comes after the U.S. Court of Appeals' affirmation on April 6 in a related case, that Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based HDI's Prestige LX(TM)home blood glucose monitoring device and Prestige Smart System(TM) for diabetes did not infringe on U.S. Patent No. 5,849,692 held by LifeScan, Inc., Milpitas, Ca., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.

In June 2000, in response to LifeScan's patent suit claiming infringement, U.S. District Judge Joseph J. Farnan, Jr. ruled that HDI's Prestige(TM)glucose monitor did not violate LifeScan's patent.

"We are pleased with the most recent summary judgment, which should put to rest Johnson & Johnson's claims," said HDI President Dick Damron. "The Prestige(TM) blood glucose meter was always free of infringement of the LifeScan patents asserted in their multiple litigations, and the California decision further vindicates HDI," he said.

"These rulings are also a win for 16 million people with diabetes worldwide," concluded Damron. "HDI will continue to promote our product to the benefit of our customers. We're committed to making diabetes more manageable and more affordable," he said.

Home Diagnostics, Inc. of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. is a manufacturer of in vitro diagnostics medical devices, dedicated to developing self-care and point-of-care testing capability to improve diabetes management at the lowest cost to consumers. Web site: www.prestigesmartsystem.com. Telephone: 800/342-7226