Susman Godfrey is being recognized for its role in helping win one of the largest verdicts in Texas during 2011.
Texas Lawyer newspaper is highlighting the firm’s efforts on behalf of Fractus S.A. in the 2011 Texas Top Verdicts special edition, published May 28, 2012.
The jury award in the Fractus case ranks as the state’s fifth largest intellectual property verdict and the 10th largest verdict overall during 2011. The award also was recognized by The National Law Journal as the nation’s 81st largest verdict during the past year.
In May 2011 Susman Godfrey attorneys helped secure a verdict of over $23 million in a patent infringement case in favor of Fractus, S.A., represented by Susman Godfrey. Fractus, a company based in Barcelona, Spain that sells antennas for mobile phones, accused Samsung of infringing its patents covering mobile phone antenna technology. Samsung contested infringement as well as the validity of the patents. It also asked for a royalty of 1 cent per phone. Instead, the jury awarded over 35 cents per phone, nearly all of the damages requested by Fractus. The total amount awarded for past damages was over $23 million. In addition to finding infringement and validity, the jury also found that Samsung willfully infringed Fractus’ patents. The Susman Godfrey team was led by Max L. Tribble, Jr. and Justin A. Nelson.
In addition to the $23 million verdict against Samsung, Fractus has negotiated patent licenses with other companies worth up to nearly $70 million. The case is Fractus v. Samsung et al., case no. 6:09-cv-203 (E.D. Tex., Tyler Division). Fractus is also represented by Heim, Payne & Chorush; Ward and Smith; and Capshaw DeRieux. Samsung is represented by Baker Botts.
