Bracewell & Giuliani LLP Records Patent Win For Tesco Corp.

December 2, 2010

HOUSTON — Bracewell & Giuliani LLP won a jury verdict in a patent infringement case on behalf of Tesco Corporation. The suit, originally filed in August 2008, claimed that Weatherford International, Inc., National Oilwell Varco, Frank's Casing and Crew Rentals, and Offshore Energy Services infringed two of Tesco's patents related to casing handling.

Tesco settled the case against Weatherford after opening statements. The trial then continued against the rest of the defendants and in the jury's verdict they found that National Oilwell Varco's accused product infringes all valid patent claims in the asserted patents and that National Oilwell Varco contributory infringed all valid patent claims in the asserted patents. The jury also found that Frank's Casing and Crew Rentals' accused products and Offshore Energy Services' accused products infringe all valid patent claims in the asserted patents. Damages were stipulated and the verdict is subject to entry of judgment and appeal.

The case was tried to a jury for three weeks in the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, the Honorable Judge Keith Ellison presiding.

Bracewell attorneys involved in the matter include:

Partners: Glenn A. Ballard, Jr., and John F. Luman, III

Associates: Mateo Z. Fowler and Alicia L. Hinds

Blending sophisticated litigation experience with in-depth training in science, energy and technology, Bracewell's intellectual property litigation practice delivers an aggressive and practical defense of our clients’ valuable intellectual property rights. Our litigators have experience in courtrooms across the country, from the Eastern District of Texas to the Southern District of New York and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.