BCLP Litigation team wins jury trial for McLear

International law firm BCLP Litigation Practice won a significant decision for client McLear & Co. recently, when a three-week jury trial ended with a complete victory. This follows an earlier bench trial win for McLear.

McLear is a global technology startup that designs and manufactures electronic smart rings, including payment rings, all over the world. McLear asserted three claims against two cross-defendants, McLear’s former chief operating officer and her company, which she began to form while she worked for McLear. McLear alleged that the former officer and her company stole McLear's patent for the smart rings and then claimed they had the exclusive right to sell these rings in the U.S.

The jury found in favor of McLear on all three of its claims and awarded the company approximately $15.8 million in compensatory damages, $9.9 million in punitive damages and $2.4 million in prejudgment interest.

This verdict follows a bench trial held one year earlier in which the court ruled that McLear, and not the former officer and her company, owned the patent and that the former officer had forged assignment documents and then falsely claimed she and her company owned the patent based on those documents.  

The cross-defendants did not appeal the Judgment covering the jury award and bench trial rulings.

The BCLP team for both trial wins was led by Partners Chris Dueringer, John Amberg and David Harford, Associate Kristin Webb and Paralegal Terry Randerson. Also contributing to these wins were Partner Dan Crowe and Associates Ellen Komlos and Christian Bromley.