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Northwest
Lacrosse News
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| STX vs. Brine Court Decision |
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Headline News
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| From Laxpower.com | |
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Brine Gets $2.9 Million Final Judgment in STX Case January 29, 2004 Milford, Massachusetts Company receives almost three million dollars in damages Worcester, MA (January 29, 2004): On January 21, 2004, a federal judge in Worcester, Massachusetts issued a final judgement of almost three million dollars in a patent infringement suit brought by Brine, Inc. of Milford, Massachusetts against STX of Baltimore, Maryland. In November 2003, a federal jury in Worcester returned a verdict of willful patent infringement and damages for lost profits of $1.9 million in the same suit. Mirick O'Connell, a Massachusetts law firm, prosecuted the case. The legal team included Brian Dingman, Esq., Jenifer Haeckel, Esq., and John Mirick, Esq. Brine had patented the Edge Offset� Head lacrosse stick, a technological breakthrough in lacrosse. Brine charged and the jury found that Brine's patent had been infringed by STX's Proton, X2 and Octane lacrosse sticks. In addition to the damages and interest, the judge issued a permanent injunction against STX, which requires STX to immediately stop selling its Proton, X2 and Octane lacrosse sticks. Brine, based in Milford, Massachusetts, manufactures and distributes lacrosse sticks, equipment, accessories, and apparel, as well as other sporting goods. In 1995, Brine introduced the line of Edge Offset� Head lacrosse sticks with lowered sidewalls, which was an immediate commercial success. Two years later STX came on the market with its first offset head. In 1999, Brine filed the patent infringement suit against STX in Federal Court. After four years of preparation and a two-week trial, the jury found that STX had willfully infringed Brine's patent for lacrosse heads with lowered sidewalls. The jury awarded damages of 1.9 million dollars for lost profits. On January 21, 2004 the judge denied STX�s post-trial motion to stay the injunction and issued the permanent injunction. Together with pre-judgement interest, the award totals almost $2.9 million. This award was among the top 10 in the state of Massachusetts in 2003. �The permanent injunction issued by the judge requiring STX to immediately stop selling its Proton, X2 and Octane lacrosse sticks is very important for Brine,� states John Mirick, a partner at Mirick O'Connell and the chief trial attorney on this case. "The Edge Offset� Head has had a tremendous impact on the game of lacrosse. The final judgment recognizes and protects Brine�s unique design� "We are pleased by the outcome of this trial," commented Sean Fox, the President of Brine. "The Edge Offset� Head is a specialized feature that truly revolutionized the game of lacrosse. This breakthrough technology was developed and patented by Brine and should not be copied without our permission. We are pleased that the court has honored Brine�s exclusive rights granted by the patent and that the judge has permanently enjoined any further sales by STX." |
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