A Texas jury unanimously returned a $874 million verdict against Verizon last week after finding that the company had infringed on two patents owned by General Access Services, a Dallas-based company. The patents in question, identified as the ‘931 patent and ‘794 patent, relate to technologies that enhance the range, speed, and throughput of cellular wireless networks and wireless hotspots.
The jury, empaneled in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, awarded General Access $583 million for the infringement of the ‘931 patent and $264 million for the ‘794 patent in reasonable royalties. The jury also rejected Verizon’s arguments that the asserted claims or patents were invalid.
“The jury properly focused on the technical evidence, and saw through every diversion and side show thrown up by the defendants. Their verdict is a testament to the jury system,” said the plaintiff’s attorney, Glen Summers, a partner at Bartlit Beck in Denver.