AgroFresh Awarded $31.1 Million in Damages in Connection With Federal Court Lawsuit Against Decco Post-Harvest, Inc. & Its Pa...
October 14 2019 - 4:45PM
Business Wire
Jury finds
Decco and UPL liable for trade secret misappropriation and willful
patent infringement
AgroFresh Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:AGFS), a global leader in
produce freshness solutions, was awarded a verdict of $31.1 million
in damages by a jury in the United States District Court in
Delaware in its litigation against Decco Post-Harvest, Inc. and
Decco’s parent company, UPL Limited. The award is subject to any
appeals that may be taken by the parties in the future. The verdict
included a determination that UPL and Decco had willfully and
maliciously misappropriated AgroFresh trade secrets, willfully
infringed an AgroFresh patent, converted AgroFresh property,
engaged in unfair competition, and interfered with AgroFresh’s
contractual relationships. AgroFresh will petition the Court for an
award of up to three times its compensatory damages based on the
finding by the jury of a willful infringement.
“We are pleased with the verdict and the determinations about
the conduct of Decco and its parent, UPL. AgroFresh remains
committed to investing in proprietary innovations to offer its
3,900 customers unparalleled technology and service to improve
fresh product quality and reduce food waste,” said Jordi Ferre,
AgroFresh CEO.
Background
In an earlier ruling in June 2017, the Delaware Court had
determined that AgroFresh was the owner of the TruPick patent,
which had been developed by AgroFresh’s former consultant as a part
of a joint venture with Decco. In the Court’s Opinion, the Court
held that the relevant sections of the agreements between AgroFresh
and its former consultant were “clear and unambiguous” and that
under the terms of those agreements, AgroFresh’s former consultant
automatically assigned to AgroFresh the TruPick patent and
technology.
About AgroFresh
AgroFresh (NASDAQ:AGFS) is a leading global innovator and
provider of science-based solutions, data-driven technologies and
experience-backed services to enhance the quality and extend the
shelf life of fresh produce. For more than 20 years, AgroFresh has
been revolutionizing the apple industry and has launched new
innovative solutions in a variety of fresh produce categories from
bananas to cherries and citrus to pears. AgroFresh supports
growers, packers and retailers by providing post-harvest solutions
across the industry to enhance crop values while conserving our
planet’s resources and reducing global food waste. Visit
agrofresh.com to learn more.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191014005684/en/
For AgroFresh Solutions, Inc: Media Inquiries: Bill Lucas
Vice-President, Global Marketing AgroFresh wlucas@agrofresh.com
267-317-9201
Investor Relations Inquiries: Jeff Sonnek ICR
Jeff.sonnek@icrinc.com 646-277-1263
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