TGIP v. AT&T (E.D.Tex. 2007)
TGIP has won a jury verdict against AT&T for $156 million. The asserted patents – U.S. Patent Nos. 5,511,114 and 5,721,768 — both involve calling card processing. The jury also reportedly decided that the infringement was willful – District Court Judge Ron Clark will now decide whether to enhance damages based on the finding. (Judge Clark will also rule on JNOV motions).
TGIP appears to be a company that run by Charles Stimson, one of the named inventors. Interestingly, neither patent show-up in the PTO assignment database as assigned to TGIP. Stimson was formerly the president of “Call Processing, Inc.,” which is listed as an assignee (but not a plaintiff). In the late 1990’s CPI sued several companies for infringing the same patent. That case was dismissed without prejudice.
AT&T will appeal.
Notes:
- Verizon has reportedly settled with TGIP for an undisclosed sum. Other companies that (likely) settled include: IDT, DFTS Interactive, US South, Pre Solutions, Bell Atlantic, and reportedly MCI.
