US court asks Zoll to pay $23 mn to Opto Circuits

Cardiac Science Corporation, a group company of the Bangalore-based Opto Circuits India Ltd, on June 8, 2015 announced that it has won a long-standing legal battle against the US-based Zoll Medical Corporation involving royalty dispute over the company’s wearable defibrillator technology. “On May 22, a 12-person jury in Los Angeles Superior Court unanimously decided in favour of the company’s breach of contract claims against Zoll Medical Corporation, and Zoll LifeCor Corporation, awarding Cardiac Science $22,991,985 in lost royalties,” said Opto Circuits in a press release. Cardiac Science was represented by Patterson Thuente IP in the dispute.
 
Vinod Ramnani, chairman and managing director, Opto Circuits India Ltd, stated, “This unanimous jury verdict represents a significant victory for Cardiac Science and the extensive damages validate the significant value of Cardiac Science’s wearable defibrillator technology and other technologies in automated external defibrillators (AED) space. We will continue our commitment to protect our intellectual property and innovation.”
 
The dispute relates to the company’s patented wearable defibrillator technology. In 2002, LifeCor began marketing its LifeVest product, which infringed a number of Cardiac Science’s patents. To avoid infringement claims, LifeCor entered into a cross-license agreement with Cardiac Science and was able to continue selling its device. However, once Zoll Medical acquired Lifecor in 2006, they stopped paying royalties associated with the cross-license agreement. Cardiac Science sued Zoll Medical and Zoll Lifecor, for breach of contract in 2011.