TYLER, Texas, Feb. 4, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorneys from
the East Texas law firm Ward,
Smith & Hill, PLLC, helped Zephyr
Cove, Nevada-based VirnetX (NYSE MKT: VHC) win a
$625.6 million patent infringement
verdict against technology powerhouse Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL).
The verdict reportedly stands among the 10 largest jury awards in
U.S. history in an intellectual property case.
Ward, Smith & Hill founder Johnny
Ward and fellow partner Claire
Abernathy Henry represented VirnetX along with lead counsel
from Dallas' Caldwell Cassady
& Curry. The Caldwell Cassady team included principals
Brad Caldwell, Jason Cassady, Austin
Curry and Justin Nemunaitis,
and associates Hamad M. Hamad,
Warren McCarty, Jason McManis, Daniel
Pearson, Chris Stewart and
John Summers. VirnetX also was
represented by Robert M. Parker,
R. Christopher Bunt and Charles Ainsworth of Tyler-based Parker, Bunt & Ainsworth,
PC.
To read more about Mr. Ward and Ms. Henry, click here:
http://www.wsfirm.com/attorneys/.
The case revolved around infringement of VirnetX patents to
produce certain features on Apple's iPhone, including the company's
modified VPN On Demand, iMessage and FaceTime services. Jurors in
the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in Tyler issued their verdict to Judge
Robert W. Schroeder III on
Feb. 3, following a week-long trial
and six hours of deliberations.
"This was a hard-fought case with the right outcome," says Mr.
Ward, who selected the jury, examined witnesses and handled a
portion of the closing arguments. "We appreciate the close
attention and care that the jury and the court devoted to this
trial, and we are glad that our clients' valuable patented
technology withstood the test."
The verdict includes damages from an earlier liability finding
against Apple for infringing two VirnetX patents with an early
version of VPN on Demand, plus new damages as a result of Apple's
continued infringement through VPN on Demand, iMessage and
FaceTime.
Longview, Texas-based Ward,
Smith & Hill, PLLC, has tried more than 350 cases to verdict,
earning a national reputation in high-stakes claims involving
complex commercial litigation, intellectual property law, oil and
gas matters, bad faith insurance claims, and serious personal
injury claims. The firm frequently assists lawyers nationwide in
complex cases before Texas juries.
To learn more about the firm, click here:
http://www.wsfirm.com/.
For more information, please contact Bruce Vincent at 800-559-4534 or
bruce@androvett.com.
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ward-smith--hill-helps-virnetx-win-6256-million-verdict-in-eastern-district-300215594.html
SOURCE Ward, Smith & Hill, PLLC