Faegre & Benson Wins Patent Infringement Trial for Global Traffic Technologies

A jury in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis returned a damages verdict October 22 in favor of Faegre & Benson LLP client Global Traffic Technologies LLC.

The jury awarded Global Traffic Technologies $6.75 million in damages for infringement of U.S. Patent 5,172,113 by defendant Tomar Electronics Inc. The trial began on October 2 before Chief Judge Michael J. Davis.

Rick Sachse, president of Global Traffic Technologies, says he is pleased with all aspects of the case. "Faegre & Benson lawyers were relentless in their efforts to ensure our patent rights were enforced," says Sachse. "We feel this outcome reflects the professionalism with which our case was handled."

Global Traffic Technologies markets and sells the patented product Opticom® optical traffic preemption system.

Original plaintiffs 3M Company and 3M Innovative Properties Company filed the patent infringement lawsuit against Tomar Electronics on April 13, 2005. Global Traffic Technologies acquired the traffic preemption system business and the patent at issue from 3M in June of 2007.

"The jury recognized the importance of our client's patented technology in its substantial damages award," says David Gross, lead Faegre & Benson attorney for Global Traffic Technologies. "We are pleased with this outcome and appreciate the opportunity to vigorously enforce our client's patent rights."

In addition to Gross, the trial team included intellectual property lawyers James Poradek, partner, and Chad Drown, associate.