Indiana Intellectual Property Law News
Indianapolis, IN – Patent lawyers for Minka Lighting, Inc. of Corona, California filed a patent suit in the Southern District of Indianaalleging Fanim Industries, Inc. of Zionsville, Indiana, Fanimation, Inc. of Indianapolis, Indiana and Lowes Companies, Inc. of Mooresville, North Carolina infringed Patent no. 7,481,626 Ceiling fan
with integrated fan blades and Housing, Patent no. D535,387 Ceiling fan blade assembly, and Patent no. D535,388 Ceiling fan blade which have been issued by the US Patent Office.
Minka manufactures, markets and sells home products including ceiling fans, and Fanim is a competitor in the ceiling fan industry. Lowe’s distributes and markets ceiling fans and is also a competitor of Minka. The complaint alleges that Fanim and Lowe’s sell a line of ceiling fans called the “Goldey” that infringes the ‘626, ‘387 and ‘388 patents. The complaint makes three claims of patent infringement and seeks damages, an injunction, attorney fees and costs.
Practice Tip: According to PACER, Minka sued Fanimation in the Southern District of Indiana in 2009 also alleging that Fanimation infringed the ‘626 patent. In the 2009 case, the parties agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice. The stipulation of dismissal referenced that Minka was in the process of applying for re-issue of the ‘626 patent.
This case has been assigned to Judge Jane E. Magnus-Stinson and Magistrate Judge Mark J. Dinsmore in the Southern District of Indiana, and assigned Case No. 1:11-cv-01381-JMS-MJDComplaint
Further Information about the case is as follows:
Filed: October 13, 2011 as 1:2011cv01381 Updated: October 20, 2011 06:02:52
Plaintiff: MINKA LIGHTING, INC.Defendants: FANIM INDUSTRIES, INC., FANIMATION, INC. and LOWE’S COMPANIES, INCPresiding Judge: Jane Magnus-StinsonReferring Judge: Mark J. DinsmoreCause Of Action: Patent InfringementCourt: Seventh Circuit > Indiana > Southern District CourtType: Intellectual Property > Patent