Covidien v. Biolitec
Covidien v. Biolitec
Covidien v. Biolitec
Matthew B. Lehr (Bar No. 213139) David J. Lisson (Bar No. 250994) Igor Piryazev (Bar No. 253149) DAVIS POLK & WARDWELL 1600 El Camino Real Menlo Park, California 94025 Telephone: (650) 752-2000 Facsimile: (650) 752-2111 Attorneys for Plaintiff Covidien LP
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION COVIDIEN LP Plaintiff, v. BIOLITEC U.S. INC. Defendant. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) CASE NO. ___ (related to Case No. C08-03129 MMC) COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
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Plaintiff Covidien LP (Covidien) alleges for its complaint against Defendant biolitec U.S. Inc. (biolitec U.S.) as follows: JURISDICTION AND VENUE 1. This is an action for patent infringement arising under the Patent Laws of the United
States, 35 U.S.C. 1 et seq. 2. 1338(a). 3. This Court has personal jurisdiction because, on information and belief, biolitec U.S. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1331 and
does business and has committed infringing activities in the state of California, including within this district. 4. 1400(b). 5. This action involves the same asserted patents and some of the same accused Venue is proper in this district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1391(b), 1391(c) and
products as VNUS Medical Technologies, Inc. v. biolitec, Inc., CASE NO. C08-03129 MMC (N.D. Cal.) (hereinafter VNUS I), assigned to the Honorable Maxine M. Chesney.
INTRADISTRICT ASSIGNMENT 6. This case is exempt from intradistrict assignment pursuant to Civil L. R. 3-2(c)
because it is a patent infringement action. PARTIES 7. Covidien is a Delaware corporation having its principal executive offices at 15
Hampshire Street, Mansfield, MA 02048. Covidien is a successor-in-interest to VNUS Medical Technologies, Inc. (VNUS). 8. On information and belief, biolitec U.S. is a Delaware corporation with a place of
business at 515 Shaker Road, East Longmeadow, MA 01028, which is the same address used by biolitec, Inc.
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THE PATENTS Covidien owns all right, title and interest in U.S. Patent No. 6,752,803 entitled
Method and Apparatus for Applying Energy to Biological Tissue Including the Use of Tumescent Tissue Compression (the 803 patent). 10. Covidien owns all right, title and interest in U.S. Patent No. 6,769,433 entitled
Expandable Vein Ligator Catheter Having Multiple Electrode Leads, and Method (the 433 patent). 11. Covidien owns all right, title and interest in U.S. Patent No. 6,258,084 entitled
Method for Applying the Energy to Biological Tissue Including the Use of Tumescent Tissue Compression (the 084 patent). 12. Covidien owns all right, title and interest in U.S. Patent No. 7,396,355 entitled
Method and Apparatus for Applying Energy to Biological Tissue Including the Use of Tumescent Tissue Compression (the 355 patent). 13. Covidien owns all right, title and interest in U.S. Patent No. 7,406,970 entitled
Method of Using Expandable Vein Ligator Catheter Having Multiple Electrode Leads (the 970 patent). 14. Copies of the 803 patent, the 433 patent, the 084 patent, the 355 patent, and the
970 patent (the patents-in-suit) are attached hereto as Exhibits 1-5. VNUS I On June 27, 2008, VNUS brought suit against biolitec, Inc., among others, for direct
and indirect infringement of the patents-in-suit. 16. VNUS accused biolitec, Inc. of infringing the patents-in-suit by making, using,
selling, offering to sell and/or instructing users how to use products for endovenous laser treatment, including the biolitec ELVeS Endo Laser Vein System and ELVeS PL, for use in the treatment of venous reflux disease (e.g., varicose veins). 17. On December 8, 2010, a jury found biolitec, Inc. liable for inducing infringement
and contributory infringement, as well as willful infringement of all five patents-in-suit. The jury awarded VNUS $9,340,000 in lost profits against biolitec, Inc.
2 COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT AND DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
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18.
biolitec, Inc., biolitec, Inc. was dismissed from the VNUS I litigation. 19. As part of the settlement agreement in the VNUS I litigation, biolitec, Inc. agreed to
take a license to the VNUS patents on the sale and distribution of biolitec, Inc.s infringing products, including the ELVeS PL products. 20. On information and belief, biolitec, Inc. has declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is
no longer an active corporation. 21. The license granted to biolitec, Inc. remains in the bankruptcy estate, and has not
been bought, assigned or otherwise transferred to biolitec U.S. 22. On information and belief, biolitec U.S. maintains a place of business at the same
address as biolitec, Inc. 23. On information and belief, Dr. Wolfgang Neuberger is the Chief Executive Officer
of biolitec U.S. and was formerly the Chief Executive Officer of biolitec, Inc. 24. On information and belief, Brian Foley is the Chief Operating Officer of biolitec,
U.S. and was formerly the Chief Operating Officer of biolitec, Inc. Mr. Foley attended and testified in the VNUS I trial. THE INFRINGEMENT 25. Biolitec U.S. continues to advertise the ELVeS Endo Laser Vein System and
ELVeS PL for use in the treatment of venous reflux disease on its website at www.biolitecus.com, relevant pages of which are attached as Exhibit 6. 26. 27. Biolitec U.S. has not sought a license from Covidien. Biolitec U.S. has indirectly infringed (including contributory and/or inducement of
infringement) the claims of the 803, 433, 084, 355 and 970 patents by making, using, selling, offering to sell and/or instructing users how to use products for endovenous laser treatment, including the biolitec U.S. ELVeS Endo Laser Vein System and ELVeS PL. Biolitec U.S. continues to indirectly infringe (including contributory and/or inducement of infringement) the 803, 433, 084, 355 and 970 patents.
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28.
Covidien has been damaged by biolitec U.S.s infringing activities and will be
irreparably injured by its continued infringement unless biolitec U.S. is enjoined by this Court. 29. On information and belief, Defendants infringement of the patents-in-suit has been
and is willful and will continue unless enjoined by this Court. 30. On information and belief, biolitec U.S. has actual knowledge of, or should have
known of, the patents-in-suit, based on, but not limited to, the involvement of biolitec, Inc. and Dr. Neuberger and Mr. Foley in the VNUS I litigation. 31. On information and belief, biolitec U.S. has acted in direct and willful disregard of
the patents-in-suit, offering for sale and distributing the ELVeS Endo Laser Vein System and ELVeS PL products, despite the objectively high likelihood that its actions constituted willful infringement. 32. On information and belief, biolitec U.S. knowingly induced infringement and
possessed specific intent to encourage anothers infringement of the patents-in-suit by selling, offering for sale, and distributing the ELVeS Endo Laser Vein System and ELVeS PL products. RELIEF REQUESTED WHEREFORE, Covidien prays that judgment be entered in its favor, that: (a) Defendant has infringed and is infringing the 803, 433, 084, 355 and 970
patents; (b) and is willful; (c) Defendant be preliminarily and permanently enjoined, along with its officers, Defendants infringement of the 803, 433, 084, 355 and 970 patents has been
directors, agents, employees, attorneys, parents, subsidiaries, and all others acting by or through Defendant, controlled by Defendant, or acting in concert or participating with Defendant, from further infringing the 803, 433, 084, 355 and 970 patents; (d) Defendant accounts to Covidien for damages adequate to compensate for
Defendants infringement of the 803, 433, 084, 355 and 970 patents and that such damages be awarded to Covidien, including prejudgment and post judgment interest;
4 COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT AND DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
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(e)
803, 433, 084, 355 and 970 patents; (f) This case be adjudged an exceptional case and that the Court award Covidien its
costs, expenses and attorneys fees incurred in bringing and prosecuting this action; and (g) Covidien be awarded such further and additional relief as the Court deems just and
DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL Covidien hereby demands a trial by jury on its claims for patent infringement.
By: /s/ Matthew B. Lehr Matthew B. Lehr (Bar No. 213139) David J. Lisson (Bar No. 250994) Igor Piryazev (Bar No. 253149) DAVIS POLK & WARDWELL 1600 El Camino Real Menlo Park, CA 94025 (650) 752-2000/(650) 752-2111 (fax) matthew.lehr@davispolk.com david.lisson@davispolk.com igor.piryazev@davispolk.com