Summary Judgment Win for Irell Client B/E Aerospace

01.2015

On January 23, 2015, U.S. District Judge James Otero granted three summary judgments of non-infringement in favor of Irell & Manella client B/E Aerospace in a patent lawsuit brought by MAG Aerospace Industries Inc., a Zodiac Aerospace company, in the Central District of California. Based on the rulings, the entire case against B/E Aerospace was dismissed.

MAG Aerospace sued B/E Aerospace in August 2013 for allegedly infringing three patents related to vacuum toilets that can be used on commercial aircraft. The patents pertain specifically to vacuum toilet assemblies and methods for repairing these toilets (U.S. Patent Numbers 6,353,942; 6,536,054; and 6,536,055). In its complaint, MAG Aerospace claimed that B/E Aerospace’s patented lightweight Ecosystems vacuum toilet infringed MAG’s earlier patents. Within days of receiving the complaint, B/E Aerospace publicly denied these allegations and shortly thereafter retained Irell to defend against MAG Aerospace’s claims. After claim construction hearings in July 2014, the court issued a ruling highly favorable to B/E. On December 8, 2014, the parties filed motions for summary judgment.

Irell's Morgan Chu argued on behalf of B/E Aerospace at the summary judgment hearing on January 15, 2015. The judge’s January 23 ruling established that MAG Aerospace’s patents do not cover B/E’s lightweight aircraft vacuum toilet.

The case is MAG Aerospace Industries Inc. v. B/E Aerospace Inc., case number 2:13-cv-06089, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

B/E Aerospace is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of aircraft cabin interior products. B/E Aerospace designs, develops and manufactures a broad range of products for both commercial aircraft and business jets. B/E Aerospace manufactured products include aircraft cabin seating, lighting systems, oxygen systems, food and beverage preparation and storage equipment, galley systems, and modular lavatory systems. The company also provides cabin interior reconfiguration, program management and certification services. B/E Aerospace sells and supports its products through its own global direct sales and product support organization.