Court Rules in Arlington’s Favor in Latest Round of Patent Dispute with Bridgeport

Arlington Industries Inc., Scranton, Pa., released a press statement last week saying that on March 19 Bridgeport Fittings was held in contempt of court by the District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania for violating the court’s permanent injunction by selling its 38ASP and 380SP Whipper-Snap Connectors. The release said that in granting Arlington’s motion for contempt, the court ordered Bridgeport to stop making, selling or offering for sale its infringing 38ASP and 380SP Whipper-Snap Connectors until 2018, when Arlington’s ’488 patent expires. The ’488 Patent covers Arlington’s patented SNAP2IT Connectors, including the 38AST, 380ST and 40AST.

Arlington’s motion also asked the Court to order Bridgeport to pay two times Arlington’s lost profits and Arlington’s attorneys’ fees, both in an amount to be determined after the hearing on liability. The Court ordered Bridgeport to resolve the amount of Arlington’s lost profits and attorneys’ fees with Arlington amicably or the court will determine what Bridgeport owes Arlington at a later hearing.

This is the latest decision in Arlington’s ongoing patent disputes with Bridgeport. On Nov. 30, 2012, Bridgeport had to pay Arlington $3.62 million for sales of its infringing Whipper-Snap products from 2005 through 2010. Additional damages owed by Bridgeport for what the allegedly infringing sales between March 2010 and Dec. 2011 shall be determined by the District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

In response to this legal decision, Tom Stark, president of Arlington Industries, said, “Bridgeport has infringed Arlington’s SNAP-TITE and SNAP2IT patents for the past 13 years. In fact, this is the fifth permanent injunction entered against Bridgeport to stop it from violating Arlington’s valid patent rights. Arlington will continue to defend its valuable intellectual property rights against unfair competition.”