Mark Ferguson and Hamilton Hill Obtain Finding of Willful Patent Infringement Against Ford

03.2009

In December 2008, Mark Ferguson led the Bartlit Beck trial team (including Hamilton Hill) that won a $23 million patent infringement verdict against Ford Motor Company on behalf of individual inventor Jacob Krippelz, Sr. Krippelz is the 77-year old Chief Executive Officer of Jake's, Inc., a machining and equipment refurbishing concern in Aurora, Illinois. The Krippelz patent, on an automotive lighting system used widely in exterior rear view mirrors, was issued in 1991.

Today, after extensive briefing and oral argument, the Court found that Ford willfully infringed Mr. Krippelz's patent. The Court will next decide to what extent to enhance damages, the amount of prejudgment interest to award Mr. Krippelz, and whether to award attorneys' fees.

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