EVAPCO Prevails in Long Running Intellectual Property Dispute
For the past several years, Sonnenschein has represented EVAPCO, Inc. in a series of intellectual property disputes with its rival Clearwater Systems relating to non-chemical water treatment technology. The dispute began when EVAPCO hired a Clearwater engineer to design a non-chemical treatment device for EVAPCO. Clearwater sued EVAPCO in federal court in Connecticut alleging that EVAPCO had or inevitably would misappropriate Clearwater trade secrets as it developed its own device.
After a 5-day permanent injunction trial, the Court ruled for EVAPCO.
Fearing that Clearwater would next assert its two patents against it, EVAPCO filed a declaratory judgment action seeking declarations that it did not infringe one Clearwater patent, and that the other was invalid. Clearwater filed counterclaims alleging patent infringement and tortious interference with contract.
The Court granted EVAPCO's motion for summary judgment on the tortious interference claims several months ago. Late last week, following more than three years of intense litigation, the Court granted summary judgment in favor of EVAPCO on the patent claims giving it a full and complete victory.
Sonnenschein associate Chris Harlow represented EVAPCO. Four former Sonnenschein attorneys also represented EVAPCO.
