Judge Alan Albright’s tenure in the Western District of Texas has been marked by a significant volume of patent litigation, culminating in 55 trials that offer insight into the outcomes for litigants in his courtroom.
Of the 55 patent trials overseen by Judge Albright, plaintiffs secured favorable verdicts in 11 out of 17 cases, with damages awarded ranging from $235,000 to $2.2 billion, and a median award of $14 million. ([archive.omm.com](https://archive.omm.com/omm_distribution/insights/46/?utm_source=openai)) This suggests a relatively balanced success rate between plaintiffs and defendants.
Judge Albright’s approach to case management, characterized by expedited trial schedules and early claim construction, attracted a substantial number of patent cases to his docket. In 2021, approximately 25% of all U.S. patent lawsuits were filed in his court. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Albright?utm_source=openai)) However, in July 2022, Chief Judge Orlando Garcia issued an order to randomly assign new patent cases filed in the Waco Division among 12 district judges, effectively reducing the concentration of cases before Judge Albright. ([gtlaw.com](https://www.gtlaw.com/-/media/files/insights/alerts/2022/07/gt-alertpatent-cases-filed-in-waco-texas-no-longer-automatically-assigned-to-judge-alan-albright.pdf?rev=895179c0413f472d9f08b6a895459a3c&sc_lang=en&utm_source=openai))
Despite this redistribution, Judge Albright continued to preside over significant patent trials. Notably, in August 2026, a jury found that GD Energy Products did not infringe a patent covering a packing assembly for pumps used in the oil and gas industry, marking the conclusion of the final patent trial under his oversight. ([law360.com](https://www.law360.com/articles/2509560/final-albright-patent-trial-ends-in-no-infringement-finding?utm_source=openai))
In April 2026, Judge Albright announced his intention to resign from the bench at the end of August to return to private practice, expressing a desire to resume his role as a trial lawyer. ([patent-detectives.com](https://www.patent-detectives.com/en/albright-wdtx-resignation-patent-litigation-impact-en/?utm_source=openai))
Overall, the outcomes of the 55 patent trials under Judge Albright’s jurisdiction reflect a judicial approach that balanced the interests of both plaintiffs and defendants, contributing to the broader landscape of patent litigation in the United States.