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Group One Ltd. v. Hallmark Cards Inc.

Date: 09-16-2003

Case Number: Unknown

Judge: Dean Whipple

Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri

Plaintiff's Attorney:

Patrick Lysaught of Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice LLC, Kansas City, Missouri

Defendant's Attorney:

David Rein Jr. of Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin LLP, Kansas City, Missouri

Description:

Patent infringement claim relating to a ribbon curling machine patent owned by Group One Ltd. which claimed that Hallmark Cards, Inc. wrongfully copied the design. Employees of Group One scheduled a meeting with Hallmark to discuss the machine design but the meeting was canceled after Frederic Goldstein, the company's managing director, explained to a Hallmark engineer how it worked. Hallmark then produced its own machine which worked similarly.

Outcome:

Plaintiff's verdict for $8.9 million subject to being tripled for willful infringement.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Unavailable

Defendant's Experts:

Unavailable

Comments:

Editor's Note: On February 26, 2004, U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple said the jury should have found in Hallmark's favor because the patents in question are invalid and never should have been granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

About This Case

What was the outcome of Group One Ltd. v. Hallmark Cards Inc.?

The outcome was: Plaintiff's verdict for $8.9 million subject to being tripled for willful infringement.

Which court heard Group One Ltd. v. Hallmark Cards Inc.?

This case was heard in United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, MO. The presiding judge was Dean Whipple.

Who were the attorneys in Group One Ltd. v. Hallmark Cards Inc.?

Plaintiff's attorney: Patrick Lysaught of Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice LLC, Kansas City, Missouri. Defendant's attorney: David Rein Jr. of Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin LLP, Kansas City, Missouri.

When was Group One Ltd. v. Hallmark Cards Inc. decided?

This case was decided on September 16, 2003.