Federal Circuit Faces Crucial Decision on Innovative Jury Verdict Format in High-Stakes Patent Disputes
In Marshall, Texas, the Federal Circuit is set to hear three appeals in a series of patent infringement lawsuits that challenge a unique verdict format used by a federal judge. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap has faced scrutiny for allowing juries to answer a simple yes-or-no question regarding whether defendants copied patents, rather than requiring detailed findings on each patent involved. This approach has resulted in significant damage awards, including a combined total of $530 million for the defendants. The appeals involve major companies: Apple Inc., PNC Bank, and Ecobee Technologies. Each defendant contends that the … Read more