`
`IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
`TYLER DIVISION
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`
`
`
`
`
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`Civil Action No. 6:15-CV-907-JRG-KNM
`
`
`SIPCO LLC, and
`IP CO., LLC (d/b/a INTUS IQ)
`
`Plaintiffs,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`v.
`
`EMERSON ELECTRIC CO., EMERSON
`PROCESS MANAGEMENT LLLP,
`FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.,
`ROSEMOUNT INC., BP PLC, BP
`AMERICA, INC., and BP AMERICA
`PRODUCTION COMPANY
`
`
`
`Defendants.
`
`§
`§
`§
`§
`§
`§
`§
`§
`§
`§
`§
`§
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`BP AMERICA, INC’S ANSWER TO FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT
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`Defendant BP America, Inc., (“BP America”), answers the First Amended Complaint of
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`Plaintiffs SIPCO, LLC (“SIPCO”) and IP CO, LLC (d/b/a/INTUS IQ) (“IP CO”) (collectively,
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`“Plaintiffs”), as follows in the correspondingly numbered paragraphs:
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`1.
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`BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`2.
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`BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`3.
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`BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`4.
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`BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`Case 1:16-cv-02690-AT Document 52 Filed 02/29/16 Page 2 of 14
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`5.
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`BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`6.
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`BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`7.
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`BP America denies that BP America, Inc. can be served through the CT entity at
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`the address identified in this Paragraph; and admits the remaining allegations of this Paragraph.
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`8.
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`BP America denies that BP America Production Company can be served through
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`the CT entity at the address identified in this Paragraph; and admits the remaining allegations of
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`this Paragraph.
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`9.
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`BP America admits that BP p.l.c. is a British public limited company with its
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`corporate headquarters in London, England, SW1Y 4PD and that BP America, Inc. and BP
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`America Production Company are indirectly wholly-owned subsidiaries of BP p.l.c. BP America
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`denies the remaining allegations of this Paragraph.
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`10. Admitted that, in general, claims for patent infringement arise under the cited
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`statutes; denied that the Complaint actually asserts a claim for patent infringement under the
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`cited statutes.
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`11. Admitted.
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`12. BP America denies the allegations in the first sentence of this Paragraph. BP
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`America denies the allegations in the second and third sentences of this Paragraph including
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`allegations that these two sentences are an “example” of the allegations in the first sentence;
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`except that BP America admits that BP has reported its largest number of employees were in
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`Houston, 6000+ employees were in Texas and 28,000+ jobs were supported in Texas, $160
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`million+ royalties, property, production and state income/franchise taxes were paid in Texas,
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`Case 1:16-cv-02690-AT Document 52 Filed 02/29/16 Page 3 of 14
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`$9.2 million was spent with vendors, and Texas-based activities included oil and gas exploration
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`and production, research and innovation, natural gas and power trading, petrochemical
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`production and wind power generation, but denies that those activities were performed by the
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`entities specified in this Paragraph or lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief
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`as to the attribution of the entities specified in this Paragraph and therefore denies them. BP
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`America denies the remaining allegations of this Paragraph.
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`13. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`14. Denied.
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`15. Denied.
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`16. Admitted.
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`17. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`18. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`19. Denied.
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`20. Admitted.
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`21. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`22. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`23. Denied.
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`24. Admitted.
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`Case 1:16-cv-02690-AT Document 52 Filed 02/29/16 Page 4 of 14
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`25. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`26. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`27. Denied.
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`28. Admitted.
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`29. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`30. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`31. Denied.
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`32. Admitted.
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`33. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`34. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`35. Denied.
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`36. Admitted.
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`37. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`38. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`Case 1:16-cv-02690-AT Document 52 Filed 02/29/16 Page 5 of 14
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`39. Denied.
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`40. Admitted.
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`41. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`42. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`43. Denied.
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`44. Admitted.
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`45. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`46. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`47. Denied.
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`48. Admitted.
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`49. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`50. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`51. Denied.
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`52. Admitted.
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`53. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`Case 1:16-cv-02690-AT Document 52 Filed 02/29/16 Page 6 of 14
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`54. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`55. Denied.
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`56. Admitted.
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`57. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`58. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`59. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`60. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`61. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`62. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`63. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`64. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`65. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`Case 1:16-cv-02690-AT Document 52 Filed 02/29/16 Page 7 of 14
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`66. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`67. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`68. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`69. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`70. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`71. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`72. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`73. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`74. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`75. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`76. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`Case 1:16-cv-02690-AT Document 52 Filed 02/29/16 Page 8 of 14
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`77. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`78. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`79. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`80. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`81. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`82. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`83. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`84. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`85. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`86. BP America lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
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`truth of the allegations of this Paragraph, and therefore denies them.
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`87.-300.
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`BP America denies that it has bought, used or imported any of the
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`Emerson products identified in these paragraphs, and otherwise lacks knowledge or information
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`Case 1:16-cv-02690-AT Document 52 Filed 02/29/16 Page 9 of 14
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`sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations contained in the Paragraphs of these
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`Counts, and therefore denies them.
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`BP AMERICA’S RESPONSE TO
`PLAINTIFFS’ PRAYER FOR RELIEF
`BP America denies that Plaintiffs are entitled to any of the relief sought in their prayer for
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`relief.
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`BP AMERICA’S JURY DEMAND
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`BP America demands a trial by jury.
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`BP AMERICA’S DEFENSES
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`BP America asserts the following additional defenses to the Complaint, without altering
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`the burden of proof. BP America does not assume the burden of proof on any issue that is
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`Plaintiffs’ burden as a matter of law. BP America reserves the right to amend or supplement
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`these defenses upon discovery and further investigation.
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`FIRST DEFENSE
`FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM
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`Plaintiffs’ Complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted and/or fails
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`to plead the allegations with sufficient particularity.
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`SECOND DEFENSE
`NONINFRINGEMENT
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`Upon information and belief, BP America does not infringe and has not infringed any
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`valid and enforceable claim of the Patents-In-Suit, either literally, or under the doctrine of
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`equivalents, directly, by active inducement, or by contributing to infringement by others.
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`THIRD DEFENSE
`INVALIDITY
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`Case 1:16-cv-02690-AT Document 52 Filed 02/29/16 Page 10 of 14
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`Upon information and belief, one or more of the claims of the Patents-In-Suit is invalid
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`for failure to satisfy one or more conditions for patentability set forth in Title 35 of the United
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`States Code, including without limitation, for example, 35 U.S.C. §§ 101, 102, 103, and/or 112
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`and the rules, regulations and laws associated with them.
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`FOURTH DEFENSE
`LIMITATIONS ON DAMAGES
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`Upon information and belief, Plaintiffs’ claim for damages for infringement of the
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`Patents-In-Suit is limited by 35 U.S.C. §§ 286 and 287.
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`FIFTH DEFENSE
`LACK OF STANDING
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`Upon information and belief, Plaintiffs lack standing to maintain the Complaint.
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`SIXTH DEFENSE PROSECUTION
`LACHES AND UNCLEAN HANDS
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`Upon information and belief, one or more of the claims of the Patents-In-Suit is
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`unenforceable as asserted, in whole or in part, by prosecution laches, and/or unclean hands.
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`SEVENTH DEFENSE
`PATENT EXHAUSTION/LICENSE/FULL COMPENSATION
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`Upon information and belief, Plaintiffs’ claims are precluded, in whole or in part, by
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`patent exhaustion and/or license.
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`EIGHTH DEFENSE
`WAIVER, LACHES, ACQUIESCENCE AND ESTOPPEL
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`Upon information and belief, Plaintiffs’ claims for enforcement of the Patents-In-Suit
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`against BP America are barred by waiver, laches, acquiescence and/or estoppel.
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`Case 1:16-cv-02690-AT Document 52 Filed 02/29/16 Page 11 of 14
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`NINTH DEFENSE
`INTERVENING RIGHTS
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`Upon information and belief, Plaintiffs’ claim for damages for infringement of the
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`Patents-In-Suit is limited by the doctrine of intervening rights.
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`TENTH DEFENSE
`NO INJUNCTIVE RELIEF
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`Upon information and belief, Plaintiffs are not entitled to injunctive relief.
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`WHEREFORE, BP America respectfully requests that the Court enter judgment:
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`1.
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`2.
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`3.
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`denying Plaintiffs the relief they seek;
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`dismissing Plaintiffs’ claims with prejudice;
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`declaring that each of the asserted claims of the Patents-in-Suit is invalid under 35
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`U.S.C. § 101 et seq. and unenforceable in equity;
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`4.
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`declaring that the accused products have not infringed, and will not infringe, any
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`of the asserted claims of the Patents-In-Suit, either directly, by active inducement, or by
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`contributing to infringement by others, either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents;
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`5.
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`enjoining the Plaintiffs and/or any affiliates, agents, successors and attorneys, and
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`all persons in active concert or participation with any of them, from directly or indirectly
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`asserting infringement against, or instituting any further action for infringement of the asserted
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`claims of the Patents-in-Suit against BP America, or any of its customers, affiliates, successors,
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`assigns, representatives, agents, subsidiaries, and vendors;
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`6.
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`finding that this is an exceptional case under 35 U.S.C. § 285 and awarding BP
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`America the costs and expenses of this litigation, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and
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`disbursements;
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`Case 1:16-cv-02690-AT Document 52 Filed 02/29/16 Page 12 of 14
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`7.
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`awarding to BP America such other and further relief as the Court may deem just
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`and proper under the circumstances.
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`Case 1:16-cv-02690-AT Document 52 Filed 02/29/16 Page 13 of 14
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`Dated: February 29, 2016
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`Respectfully submitted,
`
` /s/ Melissa R. Smith
`Melissa R. Smith
`State Bar No. 24001351
`GILLAM & SMITH, LLP
`303 South Washington Avenue
`Marshall, Texas 75670
`Telephone: (903) 934-8450
`Facsimile: (903) 934-9257
`Email: melissa@gillamsmithlaw.com
`
`Donald L. Jackson
`James D. Berquist
`J. Scott Davidson
`DAVIDSON BERQUIST JACKSON &
`GOWDEY, LLP
`8300 Greensboro Dr., Suite 500
`McLean, VA 22102
`
`Attorneys for BP AMERICA, INC.
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`Case 1:16-cv-02690-AT Document 52 Filed 02/29/16 Page 14 of 14
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`CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
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`The undersigned hereby certifies that on this 29th day of February, 2016, a true and
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`correct copy of the foregoing document has been served via the Court’s ECF system to all
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`counsel of record.
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`/s/ Melissa R. Smith______________
`Melissa R. Smith
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