Ocean Tomo CEO, James E. Malackowski served as economic expert in Centripetal $2.6 Billion to $3.2 Billion network security patent infringement award eclipsing previous record of Idenix $2.54 Billion verdict where Ocean Tomo co-founder Andrew W. Carter served as patent damages expert.
On Monday the Honorable Henry Coke Morgan, Jr. Senior United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia issued the Opinion and Order in the matter of Centripetal Networks, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc., Case No. 2:18-cv-00094.
Following a twenty-two-day bench trial and hearing on damage evidence, conducted live via a video platform, the Court returned a decision on both past damages and interest totaling $1.9 Billion ($1,903,239,288) as well as future royalties, in a range of $700 Million ($754,701,723) to $1.3 Billion ($1,3050,345,753). The Court’s future royalty is based on rates of 10.0% (of apportioned net sales for the first 3-year term) and 5.0% (of apportioned net sales for the second 3-year term) over the six-year future damages period. The Judgment in favor of Centripetal Networks set a new high-water mark for damages award in a patent infringement case in the U.S, eclipsing a 2016 decision in Idenix Pharmaceuticals Inc., et al. v Gilead Sciences Inc., et al.
Centripetal called two economic witnesses at trial. The first presented an accounting of the apportioned revenues accused of infringement as well as the applicable reasonable royalty rate. Ocean Tomo’s CEO James E. Malackowski testified as the plaintiff’s final witness and addressed the options Centripetal held pre-infringement for monetizing its proprietary technology, including through licensing, commercializing or selling the asserted patents. Mr. Malackowski then addressed the adverse impact of Cisco’s infringement on Centripetal’s ability to realize the true value of its innovations. This evidence was presented to both put the damages claim into context and provide an economic foundation for Centripetal’s claim of irreparable harm.
“This was a David versus Goliath situation. We needed an expert who could explain to the Court the impact Cisco’s infringement had on our business historically as well as the future harm. Ocean Tomo’s insight is unique given the firm’s comprehensive damages, valuation and practical market expertise. The Court’s ruling tracks Ocean Tomo’s teaching” explained Jonathan Rogers, Chief Operating Officer of Centripetal Networks.
Ocean Tomo experts have provided testimony in well over 500 intellectual property matters. In addition to Mr. Malackowski serving as an expert on behalf of Centripetal, the firm’s co-founder Andrew Carter was also the plaintiff’s damages expert in the Idenix Pharmaceuticals Inc. case. These two matters represent the two largest patent damage verdicts on record.