FAQs and Correcting Some Common Confusion:
Our Commitment to Accurate Reporting
We occasionally get inquiries about why we aren't reporting on certain legal cases the same way other websites report information. Please see our answers to some FAQs below:
Q: We heard the first UV lawsuit was recently filed. Why aren't you reporting on it?
A: We simply don't agree with the "It Begins. UV LED IP Litigation" headline that you emailed to us. That particular case was filed in 2017, so it's not exactly breaking news. And there have been many other intellectual property cases relating to UV light technology filed over the last 20 years. UVC lawsuits didn't simply begin when COVID-19 hit.
Q: In June, another website reported that things in the Chicago lawsuit (Force Partners vs. KSA/Acuity) were "Heating Up for Summer." Why didn't you post anything about it?
A: The Defendant's memo referenced in that "Heating Up for Summer" article was actually filed on February 10. The information is posted below. Even though the other news source is claiming exclusivity and demanding credit, that doesn't make any sense when something is public domain like a legal filing. For that reason, we don't see news organizations claiming exclusivity and demanding credit for reporting Acts of Congress or Supreme Court rulings. As a side note, the average February temperatures in Chicago are: High: 36°F, Low: 26°F. Brrrr.
Q: Why was your coverage of Cree Lighting's first lawsuit (as part of Ideal Industries) different than information we read elsewhere?
A: The "First Target is RAB" headline in the article link you sent simply isn't accurate. We posted the Ideal/Cree vs. Vootu canopy light IP lawsuit one week before we posted the Ideal/Cree vs. RAB Lighting lawsuit. Ideal/Cree's second target was RAB, we suppose, and we published all the info days before another website published the news. You can see it all below.
Civil Lawsuits
C.E.D. v. Hallmark Lighting and Resilience Capital Partners
Filed: May 11, 2021
Voluntarily dismissed: May 14, 2021
Alleged breach of contract relating to a $167K lighting project for a North Carolina nursing home
Liberty Mutual vs. Philips Lighting and Hubbell Lighting
Filed: March 16, 2021
Building fire leads to lawsuit
BITRO Group v. ConTech Lighting (Leviton Manufacturing)
Filed: Feb 19, 2021
Alleged patent infringement
Mlazgar Associates vs. JTH Lighting Alliance, et al
Filed: Feb 11, 2021
Lighting Agent Accuses Ex-Employees of Stealing Trade Secrets
BITRO Group v. American Lighting
Filed: Feb 18, 2021
Alleged patent infringement
Satco Products v. Signify North America
Filed: Feb 12, 2021
Alleged patent infringement
Satco Products v. Seoul Semiconductor Co.
Filed: Feb 12, 2021
Alleged patent infringement
Cree Lighting vs. RAB Lighting
Filed: July 14, 2020
Five counts of alleged patent infringement
UPDATES:
August 2020: The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has voted to institute an investigation of this matter.
January 2021: The parties are directed to file a joint letter as to the status of the ITC proceeding by September 1, 2021.
Globe Electric Company v. NICOR Lighting
Filed: Jan 27, 2021
Alleged patent infringement
Castlemorton vs. Legrand
Filed: Jan 18, 2021
Unusual Lawsuit Filed vs. Legrand
Heavy Duty Lighting v. RAB Lighting
Filed: Jan 19, 2021
Alleged patent infringement
Heavy Duty Lighting vs. Kichler Lighting
Filed: September 1, 2020
Alleged patent infringement
Acuity Brands, Inc.
Class Action Securities Litigation
Updated: September 1, 2020
Filed: January 2018
Alleged misrepresentations and omissions in financial reporting
Kortek Industries vs. Hubbell
Filed: August 21, 2020
Alleged patent infringement
Southall vs. Force Partners
Updated: August 17, 2020
Filed: June 1, 2020
Alleged copyright infringement
Cree Lighting vs. Vootu, Inc.
Filed: July 6, 2020
Alleged patent infringement of canopy light
DMF Lighting vs. Lotus LED
Filed: June 30, 2020
Alleged patent infringement of OneFrame junction box
Ecosense vs. Ryan
Filed: June 29, 2020
Alleged breach of contract: Non-competition. Dismissed after 48 hours.
Original filing...
Voluntary dismissal...
Cao Lighting vs. Feit
Filed: June 3, 2020
Alleged patent infringement relating to LED lamps
Cao Lighting vs. OSRAM Sylvania & LEDVANCE
Filed: May 22, 2020
Alleged patent infringement relating to LED lamps
Ben Pouladian v. Deco Lighting
Filed: May 20, 2020
Former Company President, Ben Pouladian, sues Deco Lighting alleging many charges including:
- Breach of contract
- Charging and/or failing to reimburse credit card charges totaling $446,248
- Emotional distress
COUNTERCLAIM: DECO Lighting asserts many allegations against former company president Ben Pouladian:
- Embezzling and converting $280,000 prior to 2015, and approximately $400,000.00 of DECO’s assets between 2015-2019, by cashing out the value of the credit card rewards points on DECO’s credit cards, for his personal use, including, based on information and belief, purchasing a house with his wife, in the amount of $5,000,000.00
UPDATE FEB 2021: Continued for a further status conference on March 30, 2021. The last day for discovery to be completed, including receiving responses to discovery requests, is December 17, 2021
Cao Lighting vs. GE Lighting
Filed: May 20, 2020
Alleged patent infringement relating to LED lamps
Force Partners
vs.
KSA Lighting & Controls
Acuity Brands, et al
Filed: November 25, 2019
Updated: May 15, 2020
Multiple allegations including:
- Restraint of Trade
- Attempted Monopolization
- Antitrust
Force Partners Original Complaint
November 25, 2019
Joint Status Report
January 23, 2020
KSA Lighting and Controls memo to support Motion to Dismiss
February 10, 2020
Force Partners Amended Complaint
May 15, 2020
Feb 2021: Case status has been "Assigning/reassigning Case" since Sep 28, 2020 as the Northern District of Illinois Court simultaneously reassigned 370 cases to newly appointed Judge Franklin U. Valderrama.
Kenall vs. Visa Lighting
Settled: May 12, 2020 (filed Aug 2018)
Alleged patent infringement related to UV luminaire design
JLC Tech vs. North American Lighting
Filed: May 12, 2020
Alleged patent infringement relating to T-bar luminaire
NEXT Lighting Corp. vs. Prudential Lighting
Filed: April 23, 2020
Alleged patent infringement relating to linear fixture design and materials
Original complaint...
Settlement...
Globe Electric vs. Luxrite
Filed: April 17, 2020
Alleged patent infringement relating to LED fixture design and selectable CCT switch
WAC Lighting vs. Cast Lighting
Filed: April 6, 2020
Alleged patent infringement orelating to LED lighting apparatus and methods
Please remember:
As you likely would do with any similar situation, do not to jump to conclusions on any legal conflict until you know all the facts. Just because a party is accused of wrongdoing does not mean the party committed wrongdoing.
Also:
- Civil litigation can sometimes be prolonged and contentious, ending in a jury trial.
- Civil litigation can also lead both parties towards some sort of negotiated arrangement or settlement agreement between the two parties that never goes to trial.
Bankruptcy Filings
Exponation (D.B.A. LightShow West & LED Specifier Summit)
September 21, 2020
The trade show company owes a total of $3M to over 509 creditors.
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Edison Price Lighting
May 1, 2020
Creditors include Elite Lighting ($300K) and 42 Lighting Agents
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Read the Filing |
Deco Lighting
February 20, 2020
Creditors include Arrow Electronics ($3M+), Signify ($318K) and OSRAM ($165K)
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Read the Filing |
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20 Largest Creditors |