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Lear Corporation v. NHK Spring Company, Limited et al

Docket 2:18-cv-10613, Michigan Eastern District Court (Feb. 21, 2018)
District Judge Laurie J. Michelson, presiding, Magistrate Judge R. Steven Whalen
Patent

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No. 41 OPINION AND ORDER denying 18 Motion for Summary Judgment

Document Lear Corporation v. NHK Spring Company, Limited et al, 2:18-cv-10613, No. 41 (E.D.Mich. Feb. 26, 2019)
Motion for Summary JudgmentDenied
In part, NHK’s IP Director wrote, “It is true that NHK has developed a new seat active head restraint for Toyota vehicles, however, it is clear that this new mechanism has nothing [to do] with either LEAR patents or technical information.” (Id.) The letter then went on to detail, in NHK’s opinion, some of its innovations over the seesaw headrest.
The letter stated in part, “We recently had the opportunity to review a head restraint system that we understand was provided by NHK for use on a Toyota Highlander vehicle seat.
Thus, combining the Rule 56 standard governing a defendant’s summary judgment motion on an affirmative defense with the division of labor between jury and judge for a claim of equitable estoppel results in four inquiries.
In other words, had Lear sued in say, late 2010, Defendants may well have invoked the company policy only to conclude that Lear’s patents were not infringed or invalid, and thus, their adaptive head restraint product could continue to be sold without modification.
Consistent with earlier discussions about the resolution of their summary-judgment motion, Defendants have one week to inform the Court whether they still oppose consolidating this case with Lear’s suit against NHK Seating of America.
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No. 1 COMPLAINT for Patent Infringement filed by Lear Corporation against All Defendants with Jury ...

Document Lear Corporation v. NHK Spring Company, Limited et al, 2:18-cv-10613, No. 1 (E.D.Mich. Feb. 21, 2018)
Complaint
Upon information and belief, NHK Seating of America, Inc. (“NHK America”) is a Michigan corporation, having its principal place of business at 2298 West State Road 28, Frankfort, Indiana 46041.
On October 14, 2003, U.S. Patent No. 6,631,949 (“the ‘949 patent”), for “Variable Movement Headrest Arrangement,” was duly and lawfully issued, naming Mladen Humer, Yan Fan and Magnus Roland as inventors.
On November 25, 2008, U.S. Patent No. 7,455,357 (“the ‘357 patent”), for “Active Head Restraint System For A Vehicle Seat,” was duly and lawfully issued, naming Mladen Humer, Gerald S. Locke and Arjun V. Yetukuri as inventors.
On May 7, 2013, U.S. Patent No. 8,434,818 (“the ‘818 patent”), for “Variable Seat Having Active Head Restraint,” was duly and lawfully issued, naming Mladen Humer, Nagarjun Yetukuri, Gerald Locke and Dale Smallwood as inventors.
The NHK Active Head Restraint Systems are not a staple article or commodity of commerce suitable for any substantial use other than as a material part of a seat assembly.
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