GeigTech East Bay awarded $34.6 million in patent infringement case

South Carolina company GeigTech East Bay, LLC, awarded $34.6 million in damages in patent infringement case against Lutron Electronics

South Carolina company GeigTech East Bay, a maker of modern window shades, has been awarded $34.6 million dollar in damages by a New York Federal jury in a case against Lutron Electronics Co. for infringing upon a window shade patent obtained by Greenville patent attorney Douglas Kim for GeigTech East Bay.

The case involved GeigTech’s U.S. patent No. 10,294,717, for a “shade bracket with concealed wiring,” which was obtained by registered patent attorney Douglas Kim of Kim, Lahey & Killough law firm and granted on 05/21/2019.

With patent in hand, Geigtech East Bay, LLC filed a federal patent infringement complaint (with trade dress allegations) against Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. alleging that, among other things, patent infringement and trade dress infringement. One of the tactics used by Lutron was to try to invalidate the patent. However, the patent written by Kim withstood two challenges in the United States Patent Trial and Appeal Board as well as in the jury trial which concluded last week. On March 12, 2024, the jury returned a verdict stating that Lutron had infringed on GeigTech’s ‘717 patent on window shade brackets and awarded $34.6 in damages.

According to the jury verdict form filed March 15^th, when asked “Has GeigTech shown by a preponderance of evidence that any portion of the accused statement is true?” the form is marked “Yes” with a notation that “Lutron opted to poach (GeigTech’s) patented designs and intellectual property to try and remain competitive in a segment of the market that (GeigTech) cornered.”

As the finding of infringement was willful, GeigTech can ask the judge to triple the damages.

“This verdict underscores the importance of protecting intellectual property rights for businesses of all sizes,” commented attorney Kim. “We are thrilled that this patent has withstood numerous challenges, scrutiny and legal maneuvers and that our client has emerged victorious.”

The case was tried by Gary Sorden and his trial team in the firm Cole Schotz P.C.

Lutron was represented by Scott W. Breedlove Carter Arnett PLLC and his defense team.

The patent was originally filed by Richard J. McKenna of Foley & Lardner LLP and taken over by Douglas Kim of the Kim Lahey & Killough Law Firm.

Founded in Charleston, SC in 2011, James Geiger designed a revolutionary shading system: a window shade system with no visible wires or screws. His shading systems company J Geiger is known for its high-tech, minimalist, clean and modern shading systems, His business, J Geiger, provides superior shading systems to both high end home and commercial properties. J Geiger products have been featured in numerous publications including Forbes, dwell, The Architect’s Newspaper, Window Fashion Vision, This Old House, Gray, Aspen Peak, and BD West, where their products won Best in Show in 2019. For more information visit https://jgeigershading.com/ .

Kim, Lahey & Killough founding attorney Doug Kim began his professional career as a computer programmer and software engineer after his graduation from Davidson College. His intellectual property career began in 1998 when he combined his business experience with his legal education and was involved with enforcing a client’s patent against multiple infringers. Kim has created a well-rounded Intellectual property practice that provides client centric legal solutions and strategies tailored to each client from multinational corporations to start-ups.

With offices in Greenville and Charleston, SC and Brevard, NC, the Kim, Lahey & Killough Law Firm is devoted to helping clients achieve their business goals and establish, enforce, and leverage their intellectual property rights from the Upstate, to the Lowcountry to across the globe.