Harris Beach PLLC won a $12 million final judgment for its client, Izzo Golf Inc., in a long-running patent infringement dispute that led to actions in both federal and bankruptcy court.
U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa issued final orders in August, finding in favor of Izzo against rival King Par Golf Inc. in two separate cases. The decisions come after a jury ruled that King Par had willfully infringed an Izzo patent covering a two-strap golf bag.
Judge Siragusa’s decisions include:
- A $12 million judgment in Izzo’s favor against King Par on its original claim of patent infringement. This case was handled by the Harris Beach Intellectual Property Law practice group.
- An $8.9 million judgment in Izzo’s favor against William Baird, the principal of King Par, in a “pierce the corporate veil” action. This decision effectively holds Baird personally liable for the damages. This action was overseen by the Harris Beach Business and Commercial Litigation practice group.
Earlier litigation in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Michigan led to a $3.1 million recovery in Izzo’s favor. The new judgment against Baird is for the amount of patent infringement damages that Izzo has not yet received.
“As this case shows, intellectual property rights can provide significant economic value for innovations in markets that some might not expect,” said Partner Neal Slifkin, leader of the Harris Beach Intellectual Property Litigation practice group. “Our firm works to defend the IP rights of our clients to the fullest extent possible, and these results reflect a coordinated strategy carried out by Harris Beach attorneys who practice in several areas of law.”
This is the second intellectual property case this year in which Harris Beach clients won verdicts in excess of $10 million.
Harris Beach Partners Laura Smalley and Steve Nonkes joined with Slifkin to represent Izzo in the patent case. They were assisted by paralegals Marie Bray and Kristen Ryan.
Partner Doug Foss coordinated the Izzo claims through the Michigan proceedings; he, Nonkes, and associate Aaron Frazier of Harris Beach successfully pursued the action to pierce the corporate veil before Judge Siragusa in the Western District of New York.
The Harris Beach Intellectual Property Litigation group represents organizations in a number of significant high-profile patent and trademark infringement cases. The practice covers the spectrum of IP services from acquisition and management through enforcement and litigation.
The Harris Beach Business and Commercial Litigation group handles complex commercial claims and litigations on a national basis, including collection proceedings to enforce substantial judgments won by its clients wherever assets may be found.
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About Harris Beach
Founded in 1856, Harris Beach and its subsidiaries provide a full range of legal and professional services for clients across New York state, as well as nationally and internationally. Harris Beach is among the country’s top law firms according to The National Law Journal and ranks as a BTI Elite law firm based on in-depth interviews of more than 600 corporate counsel at the world’s largest and most influential companies. Clients include Fortune 100 corporations, privately-held companies, emerging businesses, public sector entities, not-for-profit organizations and individuals. Principal industries Harris Beach represents include education, energy, financial, food and beverage, health care, insurance, manufacturing, medical and life sciences, real estate developers, science and technology, veterinary medicine, and state and local governments and authorities. The firm’s more than 200 lawyers practice among offices throughout New York state in Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca, Melville, New York City, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse, Uniondale and White Plains, as well as in New Haven, Connecticut and Newark, New Jersey.