As with any practice, victory in IP litigation can be defined a number of ways. Perhaps it comes in the form of a multimillion-dollar jury verdict. Or as a judge’s ruling affirming the validity of the patent on a blockbuster drug. Or as an injunction that keeps a potentially infringing piece of software off the market. Whatever shape it takes, it’s no doubt sweet for those on the winning side—as those involved in these high-profile matters from 2009 can surely attest.

• The biggest patent award ever : In June an Eastern District of Texas jury handed Johnson & Johnson’s Centocor Ortho Biotech unit a $1.67 billion verdict against rival drugmaker Abbott Laboratories over the latter’s infringement of a patent on Abbott’s blockbuster arthritis drug, Humira, which generates $4.5 billion in annual sales. Abbott is appealing the verdict, but suffered a setback in November, when the judge overseeing the case denied its post-trial motions. The win was an impressive one for lead Centocor lawyer Diane Elderkin — not just because of the size of the award, but also because of whom she beat to get it: William Lee of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr. And while Abbott is moving to have the verdict reversed, Elderkin has made a move of her own, jumping early this year from Philadelphia IP boutique Woodcock Washburn to Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld.

This content has been archived. It is available through our partners, LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law.

To view this content, please continue to their sites.

Not a Lexis Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Not a Bloomberg Law Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Why am I seeing this?

LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law are third party online distributors of the broad collection of current and archived versions of ALM's legal news publications. LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law customers are able to access and use ALM's content, including content from the National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, Legaltech News, The New York Law Journal, and Corporate Counsel, as well as other sources of legal information.

For questions call 1-877-256-2472 or contact us at [email protected]