[Petra Pasternak]
What does a trial lawyer do after a win on behalf of a high-profile client? Cooley’s Mike Rhodes hits the waves.
A team of Cooley litigators got a favorable jury verdict today in a patent infringement trial against client Facebook. The Delaware jury ruled Ohio-based Leader Technologies’ patent was invalid.
“You can’t offer to sell or publicly demonstrate your product more than one year before the application is filed,” Rhodes said from aboard a plane to San Diego. “On the evidence the issue came down to the credibility of the CEO of the plaintiff … The plaintiffs’ story unraveled on him. The jury didn’t believe the guy.”
Cooley’s litigation team included partners Heidi Keefe and Mark Weinstein, and associates Jeffrey Norberg, Melissa Keyes and Liz Stameshkin. King & Spalding’s Paul Andre in Redwood Shores represented plaintiff Leader. Andre told Bloomberg that the ruling “will not stand” in further litigation.
Until they meet in court again, Facebook’s lawyers are going to have some fun.
To celebrate and let off some steam, Rhodes and Sam O’Rourke, the head of IP at Facebook, are heading out on surf trips to different destinations. For Rhodes, it will be a couple of weeks in Mexico or El Salvador.
Michael Rhodes and Heidi Keefe may have started celebrating too soon. After reading Leader's appeal in this case, it appears that Facebook's games at trial are going to come undone. http://facebook-technology-origins.blogspot.com/ From reading this extensive insight into the Leader vs. Facebook trial, it would appear that Mark Zuckerberg hired a law firm that is willing to cut ethical corners just like he does. Read for yourself. It is fascinating. Also, if any of us hope to survive future smear attacks by unscrupulous attorneys if we are ever in federal court, we all need to be cheering for Leader to win on appeal.
Posted by: KC | September 04, 2011 at 07:54 PM