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7 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
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WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY,
9
Plaintiff, No. 2:20-cv-00038
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v. COMPLAINT FOR PATENT
11 INFRINGEMENT
PRO ORCHARD MANAGEMENT,
12 LLC, a Washington limited liability
company, and APPLE KING, LLC, a
13 Washington limited liability company,
14 Defendants.
15
16 Plaintiff Washington State University (“WSU”), for its complaint against
Defendants Pro Orchard Management, LLC and Apple King, LLC alleges as
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follows:
18
NATURE OF THE ACTION
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1. This is an action for patent infringement arising under the patent laws
20 of the United States, Title 35 of the United States Code. Defendants have
21 infringed and are continuing to infringe a plant patent that WSU owns, U.S. Plant
22 Patent No. 21,710. Plant Patent No. 21,710 protects an apple cultivar developed
by WSU known as WA 2. Pro Orchard Management, LLC has infringed Plant
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1 Patent No. 21,710 by asexually reproducing and growing WA 2 apple trees and by
2 harvesting WA 2 apples and consigning them to Apple King, LLC for sale. Apple
King, LLC has infringed Plant Patent No. 21,710 by selling WA 2 apples that
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unlicensed growers such as Pro Orchard Management, LLC have consigned to it
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for sale. In addition, Pro Orchard Management, LLC and, on information and
5
belief, Apple King, LLC have induced infringement of Plant Patent No. 21,710 by
6 providing WA 2 budwood to unlicensed persons who have used the budwood to
7 asexually reproduce WA 2 apple trees. WSU seeks redress for Defendants’
8 infringing acts.
9 THE PARTIES
2. Washington State University is a state university of the State of
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Washington.
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3. Pro Orchard Management, LLC is a Washington state limited liability
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company with its principal place of business at 3581 Mapleway Road, Yakima,
13 WA 98908-9645. The members of Pro Orchard Management, LLC are Patricia
14 Keller, Raymond Keller, the Testamentary Trust of Richard Keller, and J. Michael
22 and 1338(a) because this action arises under the patent laws of the United States.
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8 varieties of apples suited to the unique climate of central Washington and make
them available to Washington growers. WSU seeks to breed apple varieties with
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improved eating quality, particularly focusing on outstanding texture and
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storability.
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9. WA 2 is the first apple variety that WSU released to the public from
12 its apple breeding program. WSU Professor Bruce Barritt bred WA 2 in 1994 from
13 a cross of the Splendour and Gala cultivars. Dr. Barritt and his colleagues then
20 11. Before Plant Patent No. 21,710 issued, WSU assigned the patent
application to Washington State University Research Foundation (“WSURF”), a
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non-profit corporation that used to handle technology licensing for WSU. When
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Plant Patent No. 21,710 issued, therefore, it was owned by WSURF. WSURF
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1 assigned Plant Patent No. 21,710 to WSU on July 1, 2013, and WSU continues to
8 earlier “Evaluation Agreement” between the licensed grower and WSURF, and any
other land owned by the licensed grower. The Non-Exclusive License Agreements
9
explicitly state that a licensed grower was permitted to propagate WA 2 plants only
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on land that was owned by the licensed grower and under its control. The Non-
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Exclusive License Agreements also “strictly prohibit[]” licensed growers from
12 “selling Licensed Plants or transferring Licensed Plants outside of the Territory.”
13 13. Neither Pro Orchard Management, LLC nor Apple King, LLC has a
14 license from WSURF or from WSU that grants either of them any rights under
Plant Patent No. 21,710 or to use WA 2 in any way.
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14. One of the growers to whom WSURF granted a Non-Exclusive
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License Agreement for WA 2 is Keller Fruit, Inc. The shareholders of Keller Fruit,
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Inc. are identical to the members of Pro Orchard Management, LLC and of Apple
18 King, LLC: Patricia Keller, Raymond Keller, the Testamentary Trust of Richard
19 Keller, and J. Michael Saunders. But Keller Fruit, Inc. is an entity that is separate
20 and distinct from both Pro Orchard Management, LLC and Apple King, LLC, and
the Non-Exclusive License Agreement to Keller Fruit, Inc. did not grant any rights
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to Pro Orchard Management, LLC or to Apple King, LLC to propagate, use or sell
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WA apple trees or apples. According to J. Michael Saunders, Keller Fruit, Inc.
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1 closed down its operations “around 2004, 2005,” long before it was granted a Non-
2 Exclusive License.
15. Pro Orchard Management, LLC has asexually reproduced WA 2 apple
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trees, induced third parties to asexually reproduce WA 2 apple trees by providing
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WA 2 scionwood to them, grown WA 2 apple trees, harvested WA 2 apples, and
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induced the sale of WA 2 apples by consigning them for sale.
6 16. Apple King, LLC has sold WA 2 apples that unlicensed growers such
7 as Pro Orchard Management, LLC have consigned to it for sale. Also, on
8 information and belief, Apple King, LLC has induced third parties to asexually
reproduce WA 2 apple trees by providing WA 2 scionwood to them.
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17. On information and belief, Pro Orchard Management, LLC and Apple
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King, LLC have been aware of Plant Patent No. 21,710 since shortly after it issued
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on February 15, 2011.
12 CLAIM FOR RELIEF – PATENT INFRINGEMENT
13 18. Pro Orchard Management, LLC and Apple King, LLC have directly
14 infringed Plant Patent No. 21,710 through their actions alleged above, in violation
1 22. WSU has suffered irreparable harm, and will continue to suffer
21 WSU all WA 2 plants and plant material within their possession, custody, or
control;
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3. Find this case exceptional under 35 U.S.C. § 285;
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2 5. Grant such other and further relief as it deems just and proper.
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EXHIBIT A
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Case 2:20-cv-00038-SMJ ECF No. 1-2 filed 01/22/20 PageID.17 Page 1 of 1
JS 44 (Rev. 02/19) CIVIL COVER SHEET
The JS 44 civil cover sheet and the information contained herein neither replace nor supplement the filing and service of pleadings or other papers as required by law, except as
provided by local rules of court. This form, approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States in September 1974, is required for the use of the Clerk of Court for the
purpose of initiating the civil docket sheet. (SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON NEXT PAGE OF THIS FORM.)
(b) County of Residence of First Listed Plaintiff Whitman County of Residence of First Listed Defendant
(EXCEPT IN U.S. PLAINTIFF CASES) (IN U.S. PLAINTIFF CASES ONLY)
NOTE: IN LAND CONDEMNATION CASES, USE THE LOCATION OF
THE TRACT OF LAND INVOLVED.
(c) Attorneys (Firm Name, Address, and Telephone Number) Attorneys (If Known)
II. BASIS OF JURISDICTION (Place an “X” in One Box Only) III. CITIZENSHIP OF PRINCIPAL PARTIES (Place an “X” in One Box for Plaintiff
(For Diversity Cases Only) and One Box for Defendant)
’ 1 U.S. Government ’ 3 Federal Question PTF DEF PTF DEF
Plaintiff (U.S. Government Not a Party) Citizen of This State ’ 1 ’ 1 Incorporated or Principal Place ’ 4 ’ 4
of Business In This State
’ 2 U.S. Government ’ 4 Diversity Citizen of Another State ’ 2 ’ 2 Incorporated and Principal Place ’ 5 ’ 5
Defendant (Indicate Citizenship of Parties in Item III) of Business In Another State
)
)
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY )
)
Plaintiff(s) )
)
v. Civil Action No. 2:20-cv-00038
)
)
PRO ORCHARD MANAGEMENT, LLC and
)
APPLE KING, LLC
)
)
Defendant(s) )
Within 21 days after service of this summons on you (not counting the day you received it) — or 60 days if you
are the United States or a United States agency, or an officer or employee of the United States described in Fed. R. Civ.
P. 12 (a)(2) or (3) — you must serve on the plaintiff an answer to the attached complaint or a motion under Rule 12 of
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The answer or motion must be served on the plaintiff or plaintiff’s attorney,
whose name and address are:
Stuart Dunwoody
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
920 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3300
Seattle, WA 98104-1610
If you fail to respond, judgment by default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint.
You also must file your answer or motion with the court.
CLERK OF COURT
PROOF OF SERVICE
(This section should not be filed with the court unless required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 4 (l))
’ I left the summons at the individual’s residence or usual place of abode with (name)
, a person of suitable age and discretion who resides there,
on (date) , and mailed a copy to the individual’s last known address; or
’ Other (specify):
.
My fees are $ for travel and $ for services, for a total of $ 0.00 .
Server’s address
)
)
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY )
)
Plaintiff(s) )
)
v. Civil Action No. 2:20-cv-00038
)
)
PRO ORCHARD MANAGEMENT, LLC and
)
APPLE KING, LLC
)
)
Defendant(s) )
Within 21 days after service of this summons on you (not counting the day you received it) — or 60 days if you
are the United States or a United States agency, or an officer or employee of the United States described in Fed. R. Civ.
P. 12 (a)(2) or (3) — you must serve on the plaintiff an answer to the attached complaint or a motion under Rule 12 of
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The answer or motion must be served on the plaintiff or plaintiff’s attorney,
whose name and address are:
Stuart Dunwoody
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
920 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3300
Seattle, WA 98104-1610
If you fail to respond, judgment by default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint.
You also must file your answer or motion with the court.
CLERK OF COURT
PROOF OF SERVICE
(This section should not be filed with the court unless required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 4 (l))
’ I left the summons at the individual’s residence or usual place of abode with (name)
, a person of suitable age and discretion who resides there,
on (date) , and mailed a copy to the individual’s last known address; or
’ Other (specify):
.
My fees are $ for travel and $ for services, for a total of $ 0.00 .
Server’s address