Jackson Walker Invalidates Patent and Disposes of Associated Patent Litigation

May 22, 2015 | Client Results



The district court case was dismissed with prejudice.

The patent broadly covered the concept of plastic casing centralizers, which have been used for over 20 years to center casing pipe in well holes. The patent was successfully invalidated in 2013 using the ex parte reexamination process in the U.S. Patent Office, and the invalidation was recently affirmed by the Federal Circuit. As a result of the early invalidation of the patent, Jackson Walker was able to obtain a stay of associated district court patent infringement litigation that was filed against Jackson Walker client Summit Energy Services by the patent owner.

Jackson Walker partner Christopher Rourk filed the ex parte reexamination request against the patent, and John Jackson, Christopher Rourk, John Edwards and Amanda Zimmerman handled the associated district court litigation and obtained the stay pending conclusion of the reexamination proceedings and dismissal with prejudice. The successful result for the client demonstrates the strength of Jackson Walker’s Litigation and Intellectual Property practice groups, which have successfully represented clients in patent office proceedings, and litigation proceedings throughout the country.