Litigation
Jul. 20, 2002
MoFo Client Settles Suit Over Patent
SAN FRANCISCO - Morrison & Foerster has settled a patent malpractice suit filed three years ago by a former client. Laboratory Skin Care, of Belmont, announced Thursday that the company has dropped its claim against the firm. The terms of the settlement agreement were confidential.
Laboratory Skin Care, of Belmont, announced Thursday that the company has dropped its claim against the firm. The terms of the settlement agreement were confidential.
The lawsuit, filed in July 1999 in San Francisco Superior Court, accused Morrison & Foerster attorneys of failing to timely file "appropriate documents" necessary to secure patent protection in Japan for LSC technology relating to certain antibacterial moisturizers.
The complaint alleged that Morrison & Foerster's tardiness caused the company to lose patent protection for its technology in Japan. LSC did not specify monetary damages in its complaint.
"Japan is an important market to us, and it was critical for our company to get patent protection in that region because that's where we license most of our technologies," said LSC President Zari Mansouri.
She added, however, that her company is satisfied with the settlement.
The agreement between LSC and Morrison & Foerster was reached three days before the scheduled May 3 trial date, she said.
Morrison & Foerster Chairman Keith Wetmore denied the firm made any legal error in its dealings with LSC.
"The only mistake this firm made in our dealing with Ms. Mansouri was to accept her as a client in the first place," Wetmore said.
He said the firm would have prevailed had it defended the case at trial.
"But we settled accordingly," he said. "And, unlike Ms. Mansouri, we intend to abide by the confidentiality agreement and say no more."
Xenia Kobylarz
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