February 07, 2011

Arlington Industries Inc., a manufacturer of electrical and communications products, says it has another win in its “long-running patent battle” against Bridgeport Fittings Inc.

On January 20, 2011, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled in Arlington’s favour on all counts in a case related to whether Bridgeport’s Whipper-Snap duplex connectors infringe one or both of Arlington’s patents on Snap-Tite rings and duplex connectors. (Arlington Industries Inc. v Bridgeport Fittings, Inc. No. 2010-1025 [Fed. Cir. Jan. 20, 2011] [Arlington II Appeal]).

At issue in the Arlington II Appeal was whether Arlington’s patents are limited to split adaptors or whether they cover both split and unsplit adaptors. The Federal Circuit, the highest patent court in the country, agreed with Arlington that its patents were not limited to split adaptors.

The High Court’s opinion in the Arlington II Appeal confirms the jury verdict Arlington won against Bridgeport in September 2009 (Arlington I) was based on the correct legal construction. In Arlington I, the jury found that 30 different models of Bridgeport’s Whipper-Snap connectors infringe Arlington’s Snap-Tite patent. The jury also ordered Bridgeport to pay Arlington over $2,777,000 in damages to compensate Arlington for its lost profits caused by Bridgeport’s infringing sales.

The court also issued a Permanent Injunction prohibiting Bridgeport from making, using, selling, offering for sale and importing the infringing Whipper-Snap products. That Permanent Injunction was stayed pending the outcome of the Arlington II Appeal issued on January 20. In light of the ruling in the Arlington II Appeal, Arlington has already filed an Emergency Motion with the Arlington I Court asking it to lift the stay of the Injunction against the infringing Whipper-Snap products.

“Arlington is grateful that the Federal Circuit ruled in our favour and looks forward to the district court reinstating the Permanent Injunction against Bridgeport,” said Tom Stark, Arlington president. “As this is the fourth permanent injunction issued against Bridgeport, Arlington hopes this will finally resolve its litigation against Bridgeport’s infringing products.”

CLICK HERE for Arlington.

CLICK HERE for Bridgeport.