Callahan & Blaine

Charlie Hall received a waterbed patent in 1971. Twenty years later, Hall began suing various waterbed manufacturers for possible patent infringement. The lawsuits were initiated in the United States District Court for the Central District of California before the Honorable James M. Ideman.

Last year, the Court was presented motions from eight of the manufacturers who believed that Hall had waited too long – upwards of twenty years – before bringing his suits against the manufacturers. Judge Ideman ruled that Hall’s lengthy delay in bringing the suits justified the manufacturer’s claim that the suits should be barred under the legal doctrines of laches and estoppel, and he dismissed the cases.

Hall, appealed Judge Ideman’s ruling, but the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington D.C. has affirmed the dismissal of seven patent infringement cases brought by “the father of the waterbed” against members of the waterbed industry that he believed were infringing his waterbed patent. Callahan & Blaine successfully represented manufacturers before Judge Ideman in the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.

In rendering its opinion, the Federal Circuit focused its attention on one of Callahan & Blaine’s clients, Atlanta Vinyl, as providing a prime example of an entity who was justifiably correct to assert that Hall waited too long to sue.

For 25 years, Callahan & Blaine has been perfecting the ultimate litigation law firm. All Callahan & Blaine attorneys are highly sophisticated litigators and trial attorneys; we only utilize highly experienced attorneys, all of whom have at least seven years of experience, and many have 15-25 years’ experience.  For the attorneys of Callahan & Blaine, winning is our specialty.

If you are involved in a business legal matter, contact Callahan & Blaine to discuss your case today.