The Kneafsey Firm successfully prosecuted a patent infringement suit on behalf of EBS Automotive Services, a small family owned company, whose patented technology had been infringed by Illinois Tool Works, Inc. (dba Wynn's"), a $13 billion Fortune 500 Company.
based on a machine that flushes and replaces brake fluid from an
automobile.
EBS's owner, Peter Hollub, had invented a machine that removes and replaces a vehicle brake fluid. Mr. Hollub operates EBS with his wife. Mr. Hollub marketed the machine to Wynn's who published internal memoranda describing the machine as "unique" and "revolutionary." Wynn's requested that EBS manufacture machines for Wynn's. EBS agreed. Unbeknownst to Mr. Hollub, Wynn's proceeded to secretly copy the EBS machine to create its own, competing, product. As soon as this copy was ready for market, Wynn's stopped purchasing the machines from EBS and sold their own. Mr. Hollub requested that Wynn's respect
EBS's patent rights and Wynn's refused.
Wynn's claim's that the patent was invalid and that Wynn's had independently developed their own machine failed. The court denied Wynn's multiple motions for summary judgment of non-infringement and invalidity and the case settled just before trial. See EBS Automotive Services v. Illinois Tools Works, Inc., United States District Court for the Southern District of California Case No. 09 CV 0996 JLS (AJB).