LaserDynamics Got $57.5 Million in Patent Trial Vs. Quanta Computer

On January 6, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas entered a final judgment in the case against Quanta Computer, Inc., awarding LaserDynamics, Inc. the $52 million jury verdict and an additional award of $5.5 million in pre-judgment interest, bringing the total verdict to $57.5 million.

Final Judgment
The parties to this case selected a jury on June 1,2009. The trial commenced on June 30, 2009 and the jury reached its verdict on July 6, 2009. Further, the Court conducted a bench trial on the defense of inequitable conduct on August 10, 2009 and issued an order denying that defense on August 17, 2009. In accordance with the jury’s verdict, the Court renders the following judgment:

The jury having determined that defendant Quanta Computer, Inc. infringed claim 3 of U.S. Patent No. 5,587,981; the jury having failed to find that asserted claim 3 is invalid; the jury finding that Quanta’s infringement was willful; it is ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that the plaintiff, LaserDynamics, Inc., have and recover from Quanta a reasonable royalty of Fifty Two Million Dollars ($52,000,000) in actual damages. The Court awards an additional Five Million, Four Hundred Fifty Six Thousand, One Hundred Thirty Six Dollars ($5,456,136) in pre-judgment interest. In calculating the pre-judgment interest, the Court deems that the reasonably royalty award is what would have been payable to Plaintiff on the date of first infringement, August 31, 2006. The Court calculates the pre-judgment interest rate consistent with the average ninety day commercial paper rate, as established by the Federal Reserve Board, and uses this rate compounded on a yearly basis for the time period from August 31, 2006 to the present date to calculate the pre-judgment interest award. The Court has reviewed the conduct of all parties in this case, and even with the jury finding of willfulness, the Court finds that this is not an exceptional case and that the Plaintiff is not entitled to an enhancement of damages and is not entitled to attorney fees. Thus, the total awarded is Fifty Seven Million, Four Hundred Fifty Six Thousand, One Hundred Thirty Six Dollars ($57,456,136). The Plaintiff is the prevailing party in this litigation and the Court awards costs to the Plaintiff as the prevailing party. The judgment shall bear interest at the lawful federal rate.

The Court will set a full evidentiary hearing on the issue of a permanent injunction. In the event that the Court denies Plaintiffs request for a permanent injunction, the Court will sever Plaintiffs continuing causes of action for future royalties accruing after the jury verdict, including the amount for any ‘supplemental damages’ that occurred from the date of the jury verdict to the date of this order, to a new case number.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

SIGNED this 6th day of January, 2010.
T. John Ward
United States District