Star Scientific to Challenge Patent Ruling

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 06/18/2009

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co said yesterday it was very pleased with a jury's verdict in a patent infringement lawsuit brought against the company by Star Scientific. The jury, in the US District Court of Maryland, Northern Division, ruled the patents in question, involving a method of treating tobacco substantially to prevent the formation of tobacco-specific nitrosamines, were invalid and not infringed. "Certainly, we are pleased with the jury's decision," said August Borschke, chief patent counsel for R.J. Reynolds. "The jury carefully evaluated all of the evidence presented and came to the right conclusion. They saw what we have known all along, that Star's patents are invalid, and they should not have been issued in the first place. "The jury also confirmed R.J. Reynolds did not infringe Star's patents in any event." Star said after the ruling that its counsel would file a motion with the US District Court for judgment as a matter of law or a new trial within the next 10 days. If that motion was not granted, Star added, its appellate counsel would file a notice of its intention to appeal the verdict with the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit as soon as practically possible. Enditem