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PHOENIX, ARIZONA
85012
3300
2000
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v.
Rich Godfrey & Associates, Inc., an
Arizona Corporation, dba Coleman
Powersports; Richard W. Godfrey and
Jane Doe Godfrey, husband and wife;
Cabelas, Inc., a foreign corporation;
BJs Wholesale Club, Inc., a foreign
corporation; Recon Enterprise, LLC,
an Arizona limited liability company;
John and Jane Does 1-97, and Black
and White Companies 1-97,
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No.
AND
DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
Defendants.
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Plaintiff MMI, Inc. (hereinafter Plaintiff), for its Complaint against the
Defendants, alleges as follows:
THE PARTIES
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existing under the laws of the State of Arizona, with its principal place of business at
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2.
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Richard W. Godfrey and Jane Doe Godfrey (hereinafter Godfrey), were husband
and wife, and reside in Maricopa County, Arizona. At all times material to the
furtherance of his marital community with his wife, Jane Doe Godfrey. The name
Jane Doe Godfrey is a fictitious name used to represent the wife of Defendant
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Arizona.
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County, Arizona.
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associations or otherwise of defendants John and Jane Does 1 through 97, and Black
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and White Companies 1-97, are unknown to Plaintiff, who therefore sues said
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alleges, that each of the Defendants designated herein as such is legally responsible in
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some manner for the events and happenings herein referred to, and thereby
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proximately caused injury and damage to Plaintiff as herein alleged. Plaintiff prays for
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leave to amend this Complaint so as to allege their true names and capacities as
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ascertained.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
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1331 and 1338 because this action, at least in part, is for patent infringement and
arises under the Patent laws of the United States, Title 35 of the United States Code.
Jurisdiction also exists pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1332(a) because complete diversity of
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citizenship exists between the parties and the amount in controversy exceeds the sum
or value of $75,000, exclusive of interest and costs. This Court has jurisdiction over
any Arizona state law claims under principles of pendent, ancillary, and supplemental
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1400(b) because, inter alia, one or more of the acts of infringement complained of took
place in this district and have had or will have had effect in this judicial district.
GENERAL AVERMENTS
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA
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MMI and its principal have been leaders in designing and developing
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procured several patents, including design patents. Plaintiffs products built around
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these patented designs have been widely successful, appreciated and embraced by the
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industry.
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On April 28, 2009, United States Patent No. D591,203S (the 203
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Patent) was duly and legally issued to Christopher V. Martin. MMI is the assignee of
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all rights in and title to the 203 Patent. A true and correct copy of the 203 Patent is
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engaged and continue to engage in the manufacture, marketing, distribution and sale of
mini bikes.
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Godfrey was made well aware of the existence, value and scope of that Patent, as well
Godfrey was a material witness in a prior lawsuit for infringement of the 203 Patent
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Defendant Godfrey entered into discussions with Plaintiff to license the 203 Patent
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Defendant Godfrey was provided with a prototype mini bike that Plaintiff had built
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using the design set forth in the 203 Patent. That prototype remained the property of
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Plaintiff at all times. Defendant Godfrey specifically agreed he would return the
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distributing agreements for the mini bike pursuant to the proposed license.
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Instead of using the prototype mini bike for the intended purposes,
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Defendant Godfrey took possession and control of it, deprived Plaintiff of it. Upon
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shipped to China to be copied into an almost identical mini bike model that directly
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incorporated the design elements of the 203 Patent (hereinafter referred to as the
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Infringing Products).
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Defendant Godfrey failed and refused to return the prototype mini bike,
Defendant Godfrey failed and refused to reduce the terms to writing. Nonetheless,
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the parties very plainly agreed, and Defendant Godfrey specifically acknowledged, that
he would only manufacture, market, import, distribute or sell mini bikes pursuant to a
Infringing Products.
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the value and scope of the 203 Patent, upon information and belief, Defendant
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ISRAEL & GERITY, P.L.L.C.
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sold the Infringing Products to, or have otherwise made the Infringing Products
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imported, distributed, sold, offered for sale and/or used Infringing Products.
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sold the Infringing Products to, or have otherwise made the Infringing Products
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imported, distributed, sold, offered for sale and/or used Infringing Products.
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sold the Infringing Products to, or have otherwise made the Infringing Products
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imported, distributed, sold, offered for sale and/or used Infringing Products.
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actively induced and currently are actively inducing others to infringe one or more
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contributorily infringed and currently are contributorily infringing the 203 Patent by
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been aware of their infringing activity since the time the prototype was taken on or
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Upon information and belief, Defendants Cabelas, BJs and Recon have
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been aware of the infringing activity since at least June 25, 2014, when they were sent a
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importation, distribution, sale, offers for sale and/or use of the Infringing Products,
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COUNT I
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PATENT INFRINGEMENT
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This cause of action arises under the Laws of the United States, Title 35,
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under 35 U.S.C. 271 et seq. Upon information and belief, this infringement was
intentional.
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Patent under 35 U.S.C. 271 et seq. Upon information and belief, these ongoing acts
Upon information and belief, Defendants have infringed the 203 Patent
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respective officers and owners, have, without authority, consent, right or license, and
in direct infringement of the 203 Patent, made, imported, distributed, sold, offered for
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sale and/or used the Infringing Products in this country, and such Infringing Products
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provided for by 35 U.S.C. 289 applies, and Defendants are liable to Plaintiff to the
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extent of their total profit on the Infringing Products, but not less than $250.
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COUNT II
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This cause of action arises under the Patent Laws of the United States,
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respective officers and owners, have, in this country, actively and/or intentionally
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induced others to make, import, distribute, sell, offer for sale and/or use the Infringing
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This cause of action arises under the Patent Laws of the United States,
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made, imported, distributed, sold, offered for sale and/or used within the United
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material part of the invention, knowing the same to be especially made or adapted for
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use in the infringement of the 203 Patent and not a staple article or commodity of
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COUNT IV
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BREACH OF CONTRACT
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agreements regarding the use of the prototype mini bike and any subsequent sales of
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Plaintiff has made demand upon Defendant Godfrey for the return of
the prototype mini bike. Defendant Godfrey has failed and refused to return it,
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Plaintiff has made demand upon Defendant Godfrey to cease and desist
all sales of Infringing Products, or to finalize a license agreement as was agreed by the
parties. Defendant Godfrey has failed and refused to do so, although demand therefor
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Plaintiff, an amount to be proven at trial, but in no event less than the value of the
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prototype mini bike, plus interest on the amount unpaid at the rate of ten percent
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(10%) per annum until paid, which amount remains due and owing despite demand
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therefor.
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contractual and legal obligations to Plaintiff, thereby causing Plaintiff to suffer damage,
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injury, and loss for which it is entitled to recover against Defendant. In addition,
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Plaintiff seeks its costs, expenses, and attorneys fees, and such other and further relief
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as the court deems just and reasonable, pursuant to A.R.S. 12-341.01 and the terms
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COUNT V
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herein, a covenant of good faith and fair dealing. The actions of Defendant Godfrey,
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including but not limited to those described above, constitute breaches of the
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FRAUD
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85012
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NORTH CENTRAL AVENUE, SUITE
and fair dealing, Plaintiff has suffered damages in an amount to be proven at trial.
COUNT VI
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state material facts necessary to prevent statements made from being false, and/or
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made promises he did not intend to fulfill. Defendant Godfrey knew that these
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statements were false when made, that the omissions rendered certain statements false,
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material facts or making promises he did not intend to fulfill was in conscious
disregard of Plaintiffs rights and interests and therefore warrants the imposition of
punitive damages.
COUNT VII
FRAUDULENT INDUCEMENT
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ISRAEL & GERITY, P.L.L.C.
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disclose to Plaintiff facts and conditions concerning his intentions of entering into a
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failure to disclose all relevant facts and conditions surrounding that proposed
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agreement would have the effect of materially misleading Plaintiff into providing
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Defendant Godfrey with the prototype mini bike. Upon information and belief,
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omissions.
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to Plaintiffs basic decisions concerning Defendant Godfrey, and Plaintiff would not
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have provided the prototype mini bike to Defendant Godfrey but for his
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misrepresentations.
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Plaintiff did not and should not have known that the misleading or
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Godfrey.
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induced Plaintiff to provide him with the prototype mini bike, and Plaintiff is entitled
to recover from Defendant Godfrey the damages resulting from Plaintiffs reliance
COUNT VIII
NEGLIGENT MISREPRESENTATION
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Defendant Godfrey knew or should have known that Plaintiff would rely
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on this information in making its decision to provide Defendant with the prototype
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mini bike.
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COUNT IX
INJUNCTIVE RELIEF
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enjoined from continuing improper acts, including but not limited to, wrongfully
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infringing, inducing infringement of, and contributing to the infringement of the 203
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Patent.
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permanent injunction, prohibiting Defendants from making, using, selling, offering for
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sale, importing and offering to import any and all Infringing Products.
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(a) because
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Plaintiff has a likelihood of success on the merits; (b) Plaintiff faces immediate and
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irreparable harm due to Defendants acts and conduct; (c) that there is a special
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urgency warranting the grant of injunctive relief; and (d) the balance of hardship tips in
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favor of Plaintiff.
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DAMAGES
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harm and injury as a result of Defendants aforesaid activities. Defendants will, unless
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restrained and enjoined, continue to act in the unlawful manner complained of herein,
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suffered monetary damages in an amount that has not yet been determined, but upon
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Infringing Products; the imposition of a constructive trust for the benefit of Plaintiff
upon all such funds in the custody or control of Defendants; and to such other
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ISRAEL & GERITY, P.L.L.C.
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total profit on the Infringing Products, but not less than $250, as an additional remedy
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induced others to infringe, and/or contributorily infringed United States Letters Patent
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No. D591,203S.
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B.
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servants, attorneys, privies, successors and assigns, and all holding by, through or
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under Defendants, and all those acting for or on the behalf of Defendants, or in active
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immediately and preliminarily, during the pendency of this action and permanently
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thereafter from:
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(1)
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(2)
C.
servants and employees, to deliver up to this Court, and to permit the seizure by
Officers appointed by the Court of all articles and materials infringing upon the rights
destruction on the issuance of a final Order in this action, including all Infringing
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Products, and all equipment, molds and other matter or materials for reproducing such
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Infringing Products.
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(30) days after entry of final judgment of this cause a written statement under oath
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setting forth the manner in which Defendants have complied with the final judgment.
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E.
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design patent, be ordered to account for and pay over to Plaintiff all their respective
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gains, profits and advantages derived from the infringement of Plaintiffs Patents,
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pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 289, or such damages as may appear to the Court as proper
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G.
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H.
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patent rights, that Defendants be ordered to pay Plaintiff enhanced damages (e.g.,
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treble damages).
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Plaintiffs patent rights, that this case be found to be exceptional and that Defendants
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L.
That Plaintiff has such other and further relief as the Court may
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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that on this 11th day of March 2015, I electronically transmitted
Plaintiffs Complaint and Jury Demand using the CM/ECF system for filing. There
are no CM/ECF registrants at this time.
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EXHIBIT A
203 Patent