NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Enzo Biochem today said that a federal court has awarded the firm an additional $12.4 million in prejudgment interest in connection with a November 2012 jury verdict which found that Life Technologies infringed Enzo's patents.
A jury originally awarded Enzo nearly $49 million in 2012. With the $12.4 million awarded by the US District Court District of Connecticut on Jan. 3, the total amount awarded to Enzo increases to more than $61 million. Enzo said that additional post-interest on the full amount was awarded starting in November 2012 "until the total judgment is satisfied, which, it is estimated, could add several additional millions" of dollars in awards.
Enzo and Yale University sued Life Tech's predecessor, Applera, in 2004 alleging infringement of six patents. Eventually, only one of the six patents was left standing in dispute, US Patent No. 5,449,767.
This past summer, the court upheld the $48.6 million awarded to Enzo by a jury and denied Life Tech's request that Enzo's infringement claims are barred by laches and/or equitable estoppel. It also denied a motion by Life Tech for a new trial as well as Enzo's request for reconsideration seeking additional damages.
Laches is a legal doctrine that a claim cannot be enforced or allowed if a delay in asserting a right has harmed an opposing party. Equitable estoppel refers to a court denying legal relief to a party because of unfair behavior.