Official Complaint for Declaratory Judgement in Civil Action No. None: Sensus USA, Inc. v. Certified Measurement LLC. Filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, no judge yet assigned. See http://news.priorsmart.com/-laLD for more info.
Official Complaint for Declaratory Judgement in Civil Action No. None: Sensus USA, Inc. v. Certified Measurement LLC. Filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, no judge yet assigned. See http://news.priorsmart.com/-laLD for more info.
Official Complaint for Declaratory Judgement in Civil Action No. None: Sensus USA, Inc. v. Certified Measurement LLC. Filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, no judge yet assigned. See http://news.priorsmart.com/-laLD for more info.
Official Complaint for Declaratory Judgement in Civil Action No. None: Sensus USA, Inc. v. Certified Measurement LLC. Filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, no judge yet assigned. See http://news.priorsmart.com/-laLD for more info.
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR
THE DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT
SENSUS USA, INC.,
Plaintiff,
v.
CERTIFIED MEASUREMENT LLC,
Defendant.
Civil Action No.
COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY JUDGMENT Plaintiff, Sensus USA, Inc. (Sensus), by and through its undersigned counsel, hereby brings this action for Declaratory Judgment of Non-Infringement against Defendant, Certified Measurement LLC (CML), and states as follows: NATURE OF THE ACTION 1. This action seeks the following relief: a. A declaratory judgment and ancillary relief under 28 U.S.C. 2201 and 2202 resolving an existing case and controversy. To wit, that none of Sensus products or services infringe any of the Defendant, CMLs patents, including U.S. Patent Nos. 5,828,751 (the 751 Patent), 6,282,648 (the 648 Patent), 6,289,453 (the 453 Patent), and 8,549,310 (the 310 Patent) (collectively, the Patents-in-Suit); and b. Monetary relief, including attorneys fees and costs. THE PARTIES 2. Plaintiff, Sensus, is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Delaware with a principal place of business at 8601 Six Forks Road, Suite 700, Raleigh, North Carolina 27601. 2
3. Defendant, CML, is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Delaware with a principal place of business at 2 High Ridge Park, Stamford, Connecticut 06905. JURISDICTION AND VENUE 4. This action is brought pursuant to the Federal Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. 2201, et seq. Defendant sent Sensus and its customers infringement notification letters alleging that each respectively infringed the Patents-in-Suit by making, using, selling or offering for sale, Sensus products, giving rise to an actual case or controversy under 28 U.S.C. 2201 and 2202. 5. This action arises under the patent laws of the United States, 35 U.S.C. 1, et seq. 6. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1338, 2201 and 2202. 7. This Court has personal jurisdiction over CML because CML maintains its principal place of business in this District, CML resides in this District, and because CML issued the infringement notification letters from this District. 8. Venue in this District is proper under 28 U.S.C. 1391 at least because CMLs principal place of business is located within this District, and therefore CML resides in this District. 9. Sensus is entitled to declaratory relief because Sensus and its customers have not infringed any valid, enforceable claim of the Patents-in-Suit by making, using, selling or offering for sale, Sensus Products, and because Sensus wishes to continue selling and commercializing its products and processes free from allegations of infringement by CML. 3
BACKGROUND FACTS 10. Sensus is a leading clean technology solutions company offering smart meters, communication systems, software, and services for the water, gas, and electric industries (collectively, the Sensus Product Line), including the Sensus FlexNet iCon smart meters. 11. The Southern Company (Southern), Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WP&L), Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (HECO), NV Energy, Inc. (NVE), and Portland General Electric Company (PGEC, collectively the Sensus Customers) are utility companies that purchase and use products from the Sensus Product Line, including Sensus FlexNet iCon smart meters. 12. On October 27, 1998, the USPTO issued the 751 Patent, titled Method and Apparatus for Secure Measurement Certification. 13. On August 28, 2001, the USPTO issued the 648 Patent, titled Method and Apparatus for Secure Measurement Certification. 14. On September 11, 2001, the USPTO issued the 453 Patent, titled Method and Apparatus for Secure Measurement Certification. 15. On October 1, 2013, the USPTO issued the 310 Patent, titled Method and Apparatus for Secure Measurement Certification. 16. On June 5, 2014, CML sent Sensus a letter notifying Sensus that its FlexNet advanced metering infrastructure infringes one or more claims of each of the [Patents-in-Suit]. See June 5, 2014 CML Letter to Sensus attached hereto as Exhibit 1. 17. In its June 5, 2014 Letter, CML claims that it is the owner of the Patents-in-Suit and further contends that 1) it is litigating the Patents-in-Suit in the Eastern District of Texas; and 4
2) may bring a lawsuit against Sensus, unless a suitable licensing arrangement can be negotiated soon[.] 18. On June 4, 2014, CML sent a similar letter to Southern, notifying Southern of its alleged infringement and similarly threatening to bring a lawsuit against Southern unless Southern agreed to a license for the Patents-in-Suit. A copy of CMLs letter to Southern is attached hereto as Exhibit 2. 19. On June 4, 2014, CML sent a similar letter to WP&L, notifying WP&L of its alleged infringement and similarly threatening to bring a lawsuit against WP&L unless WP&L agreed to a license for the Patents-in-Suit. A copy of CMLs letter to WP&L is attached hereto as Exhibit 3. 20. On June 4, 2014, CML sent a similar letter to HECO, notifying HECO of its alleged infringement and similarly threatening to bring a lawsuit against HECO unless HECO agreed to a license for the Patents-in-Suit. A copy of CMLs letter to HECO is attached hereto as Exhibit 4. 21. On June 4, 2014, CML sent a similar letter to NVE, notifying NVE of its alleged infringement and similarly threatening to bring a lawsuit against NVE unless NVE agreed to a license for the Patents-in-Suit. A copy of CMLs letter to NVE is attached hereto as Exhibit 5. 22. On June 4, 2014, CML sent a similar letter to PGEC, notifying PGEC of its alleged infringement and similarly threatening to bring a lawsuit against PGEC unless PGEC agreed to a license for the Patents-in-Suit. A copy of CMLs letter to PGEC is attached hereto as Exhibit 6. 23. On June 18, 2014, Southern responded to CML by letter, requesting additional information regarding CMLs allegations of infringement. 5
24. On July 9, 2014, in response to Southerns response, CML identified the following claims as representative independent claims [CML] believe[s] are infringed by Sensus FlexNet iCon meter, which is sold by Sensus and used by each of the Sensus Customers: The 751 Patent: claims 1, 57, 102, 109, 118, 124, 125, 167; The 648 Patent: claims 1, 141, 142, 143; The 453 Patent: claim 43; and The 310 Patent: claim 20. July 9, 2014 Letter from CML to Southern, attached hereto as Exhibit 7. 25. Accordingly, CML alleges that Sensus, and its customers, commercialization of certain products in the Sensus Product Line, including the Sensus FlexNet iCon meters, directly or indirectly infringe one or more claims of the Patents-in-Suit. 26. Sensus alleges that these products do not infringe, either alone, or with any other entity, directly or indirectly, any claims of the Patent-in-Suit. 27. Any condition precedent necessary to bring the instant action has been performed, waived or excused. COUNT I (DECLARATORY JUDGMENT OF NON-INFRINGEMENT) 28. Sensus repeats and realleges Paragraphs 1-27 of this Complaint as if fully set forth herein. 29. Sensus does not directly infringe any valid and enforceable claim of the Patents- in-Suit under 35 U.S.C. 271(a), either alone or with any other entity, including the Sensus 6
Customers, at least because the Sensus Product Line lack a certified/certifiable measurement as required by each of the Asserted Claims. 30. Sensus does not induce others, including the Sensus Customers, to infringe any valid and enforceable claim of the Patents-in-Suit under 35 U.S.C. 271(b), either alone or with any other entity, at least because the Sensus Product Line lack a certified/certifiable measurement as required by each of the Asserted Claims. 31. Sensus does not contributorily infringe any valid and enforceable claim of the Patents-in-Suit under 35 U.S.C. 271(c), either alone or with any other entity, including the Sensus Customers, at least because the Sensus Product Line lack a certified/certifiable measurement as required by each of the Asserted Claims. 32. An actual, live and justiciable controversy exists between Sensus and CML as to whether any of the products in Sensus Product Line infringe the Patents-in-Suit. 33. Accordingly, Sensus is entitled to a declaratory judgment of non-infringement of the claims of the Patents-in-Suit and to all just and proper relief. COUNT II (DECLARATION OF NON-INTERFERENCE WITH PATENT RIGHTS) 34. Sensus repeats and realleges Paragraphs 1-27 of this Complaint as if fully set forth herein. 35. An actual, live and justiciable controversy exists concerning Sensus freedom to operate free of infringement claims by CML. 36. As a result Sensus seeks, and is entitled to, a judgment that Sensus and the Sensus Customers are not infringing any valid and enforceable claim of any patents owned or controlled by CML, individually or collectively. 7
PRAYER FOR RELIEF WHEREFORE, Sensus prays for the following relief: A. That judgment be entered in favor of Sensus and against CML on each count of the Complaint; B. That judgment be entered declaring that neither Sensus, nor any accused product in the Sensus Product Line, nor the Sensus Customers use of any product in the Sensus Product Line, have infringed any claims in the Patents-in-Suit; C. That judgment be entered declaring that CML is prohibited from alleging infringement of any claims of the Patents-in-Suit against Sensus or the Sensus Customers; D. That judgment be entered declaring that CML is precluded from obtaining injunctive relief, money damages, costs, and/or attorneys fees against Sensus or the Sensus Customers for the alleged infringement of the claims of the Patents-in-Suit; E. That judgment be entered permanently enjoining CML, their officers, agents, servants, employees and attorneys, and all others acting for, on behalf of, or in active concert or participation with any of them, from stating, implying or suggesting that Sensus, the Sensus Customers, or any products in the Sensus Products Line infringe the claims of the Patents-in- Suit; F. That the Court declare that Sensus and the Sensus Customers are free to operate without a cloud of infringement claims by CML; and G. That judgment be entered declaring that this case is exceptional in favor of Sensus under 35 U.S.C. 285 and that Sensus be awarded its reasonable attorneys fees and expenses; H. That Sensus be awarded its costs in this action; and 8
I. That Sensus be awarded such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper.
Respectfully submitted,
July 25, 2014 /s/ Steven B. Simonis Date Gene S. Winter, ct05137 Steven B. Simonis, ct22777 Jonathan A. Winter, ct29316 ST. ONGE STEWARD JOHNSTON & REENS LLC 986 Bedford Street Stamford, Connecticut 06905-5619 Telephone: (203) 324-6155 Facsimile: (203) 327-1096 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Of Counsel: James A. Gale, Esq. Jeffrey D. Feldman, Esq. Rafael Perez-Pineiro, Esq. Richard Guerra, Esq. Javier Sobrado, Esq. Feldman Gale, P.A. One Biscayne Tower, 30 th Floor 2 South Biscayne Blvd. Miami, Florida 33131 Telephone (305) 397-5001 Facsimile: (305) 358-3309 [email protected] [email protected]