BOSTON - September 30, 2002 – Hale and Dorr LLP today announced a victory in a patent infringement lawsuit on behalf of its client Alcon Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: ACL), a leading eye care company headquartered in Ft. Worth, Texas, against the Japanese company Nidek Co., Ltd. and its U.S. subsidiaries. A jury in Boston found that Nidek and its EC-5000 excimer laser system used for laser vision correction willfully infringed upon all 14 asserted claims of the Marshall and Azema patents of Summit Technology, Inc., which Alcon acquired in 2000. The jury awarded Summit over $17.2 million in damages. In light of the verdict, Summit has also asked the court to enter a permanent injunction against Nidek and to treble the damages awarded.
"We are very pleased to have been able to achieve this result for Alcon," said Wayne Stoner, partner and lead counsel on the case from Hale and Dorr. "This victory confirms the position of Alcon and its patents in the laser vision correction industry."
Other Hale and Dorr attorneys and professionals representing Alcon included: Lisa Pirozzolo, partner; Sharon Simpson-Jones, associate; Patty Slentz-Howard, paralegal; and Michelle Lee, paralegal. Hale and Dorr attorneys handled the trial from the firm’s Boston office.
About Alcon, Inc.
Alcon, Inc. is the world's leading eye care company. Alcon, which has been dedicated to the ophthalmic industry for more than 50 years, develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceuticals, surgical equipment and devices, contact lens solutions and other vision care products that treat diseases, disorders and other conditions of the eye.