Cases & Deals

DePuy Spine wins patent interference trial in D.C. District Court

Client(s) DePuy Spine, Inc.

Jones Day successfully represented DePuy Spine, Inc. as lead trial counsel in a patent interference trial in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

On November 15, 2010, Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly issued a 33-page decision finding in favor of defendants DePuy Spine and Biedermann Motech and against plaintiff Stryker Spine. The decision followed a two-day bench trial in August 2010. The ruling, Stryker Spine v. Biedermann Motech GmbH. and DePuy Spine, Inc., Civil Action No. 08-1827 (CKK) (D.D.C. November 15, 2010), means that DePuy Spine and Biedermann Motech win the rights to interfering patent claims relating to "biased angulation" spine screws. Stryker Spine filed the district court action after DePuy Spine and Biedermann Motech had prevailed in the Patent Office.

The Jones Day team representing DePuy Spine at trial included Cleveland partners Cal Griffith and Patrick Norton. Mr. Griffith cross-examined Stryker's expert and delivered closing argument for the defendants. The Court's decision cited Mr. Griffith's cross-examination of Stryker's expert extensively, ultimately concluding that this testimony by itself was sufficient to defeat Stryker's case. Additional information about the case can be obtained by contacting Mr. Griffith or Mr. Norton.

Stryker Spine v. Biedermann Motech GmbH. and DePuy Spine, Inc., Civil Action No. 08-1827 (CKK) (D.D.C. November 15, 2010)