Last summer, Juul Labs, Inc. launched an extensive campaign trying to eliminate nearly 50 competitors in the vape industry by alleging design patent infringement at the International Trade Commission and in numerous parallel district court litigations. Among those targets was Vaperistas, LLC, an online company that offers a wide variety of vape products including e-juices, pods, and other related accessory vape items.
Juul sought injunctive relief and punitive trebled damages in the Northern District of Illinois litigation, which was stayed while the ITC Case proceeded. At the International Trade Commission, Juul asserted four design patents (U.S. Design Patent Nos. D842,536; D858,870; D858,869; and D858,868) against Vaperistas’ products.
After Vaperistas’ involvement in the ITC proceeding was terminated in late 2020, NDIL Judge John Robert Blakey followed suit in district court earlier this year. Vaperistas joins Maier & Maier’s constantly growing list of happy clients that have been able to settle cases thanks to Maier & Maier’s team of experienced patent litigators. Using Partner level litigators at reasonable billing rates has allowed the Firm’s clients to obtain favorable results in a cost effective manner.
Led by Founding Partner Timothy J. Maier, the Maier & Maier litigation team successfully defended Vaperistas in both the ITC and Northern District of Illinois parallel proceedings. Meanwhile, Juul tapped Quinn Emanuel, a big law competitor of Maier & Maier. With the favorable settlement against the high investment opposition, Maier & Maier helped Vaperistas defend the infringement allegations at a cost that was proportional to their exposure.
With the case complete, Maier & Maier continues its well-established track-record of litigation success in District Court, before the PTAB, and before the ITC. If you or your company need similar assistance, please contact Maier & Maier’s litigation team here.