United States Federal Circuit

In a patent infringement action involving a vehicle seat control system that provides massage capability, District Court's of grant summary judgment of dismissal of the complaint because of Plaintiff's failure to join an alleged co-inventor is reversed, where any contribution co-Defendant made to the invention was insignificant and therefore prevents it from attaining the status of a co-inventor.

Appellate Information

• Decided 03/05/2009
• Published 03/05/2009

Judges

• LOURIE, Circuit Judge., Before LOURIE, DYK, and PROST, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Federal Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Frank A. Angileri, Brooks Kushman, P.C., Southfield, Michigan, argued for plaintiff-appellant.   With him on the brief were Robert C.J. Tuttle, Thomas A. Lewry, and Marc Lorelli.


• For Appellees:
  
• Jeffrey A. Sadowski, Howard & Howard Attorneys, P.C., Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, argued for defendant-appellee.   With him on the brief were Melanie T. Frazier.   Of counsel was Michael J. Sheehan.