Appellate Court Upholds $64.5 Million Judgment against Tyco for Willful Patent Infringement According to Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear

Business Wire, Jan 24, 2006

IRVINE, Calif. -- Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear announced today that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., upheld a $64.5 million judgment that Tyco Unit U.S. Surgical Corp. had willfully infringed a patent owned by the firm's client, Applied Medical Resources Corp. The patent is on a medical device known as a trocar, used by surgeons to perform laparoscopic surgery. In addition to affirming the Orange County jury's $43.5 million damages award, the appellate court held that the record supported the jury's willfulness finding, which allowed the trial court to award increased damages and attorney fees to reach the $64.5 million total.

The Knobbe lawyers who handled both the jury trial and the appeal included litigation partners Joseph R. Re, Karen Weil, Joseph F. Jennings, and Joseph S. Cianfrani.

With 179 lawyers throughout California, Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear LLP represents clients in all areas of intellectual property law and litigation. Clients include public and private companies at various stages of growth, from startup to the Fortune 500. Founded in 1962, the firm is one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the United States.