Bill Sigler is a skilled trial and appellate lawyer with extensive experience in intellectual property litigation matters. Mr. Sigler has participated in several trial victories, including two recent patent infringement jury trials in the Eastern District of Texas (Marshall Division) and has worked on a number of winning appellate matters, including three victories before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in the past three years. Mr. Sigler is also well versed in reexamination practice at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
MEHRAs a result of these and other matters, Mr. Sigler has participated in litigation in federal and state courts in California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
Professional Associations
Mr. Sigler serves in the leadership of the American Bar Association’s Section of Litigation as co-chair of the Intellectual Property Committee's Patents Subcommittee.
Representative Matters
Trial Victories
Alexsam, Inc. v. Pier 1 Imports, Inc. (E.D. Tex. October 17–24, 2011): Represented defendant Pier 1 Imports, Inc. in a patent infringement case in Marshall, Texas involving Pier 1's gift card system. The jury returned a verdict that the two asserted patents were not infringed.
Cooper Technologies Company v. Thomas & Betts Corporation (E.D. Tex. September 8–11, 2008): Represented defendant Thomas & Betts in a patent infringement case in Marshall, Texas, involving high-voltage electrical connectors, resulting in a jury verdict that the two asserted patents were invalid for anticipation and obviousness.
Barry Fiala, Inc. v. Stored Value Systems, Inc. (W.D. Tenn. October 16–November 3, 2006): Represented defendant Stored Value Systems in a patent infringement case involving gift card technology, resulting in the jury verdict that the patent was not infringed, invalid for obviousness, invalid for failure to name all of the inventors, and unenforceable due to inequitable conduct before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Dispositive Motions Granted
Ceridian Stored Value Solutions, Inc. v. Card Activation Technologies, Inc. (D. Del. 2011): Represented Ceridian Stored Value Solutions as a declaratory judgment plaintiff seeking invalidation of the defendant's patent purportedly covering prepaid debit cards and phone cards. Successful summary judgment motions resulted in the invalidity of all claims of the patent-in-suit.
Juniper Networks, Inc. v. Bahattab (D.D.C. 2009): Represented Juniper Networks and secured summary judgment of non-infringement of a patent involving network routers.
Every Penny Counts v. First Data Corporation, et al. (M.D. Fla. 2008): Represented Comdata Stored Value Solutions in patent infringement case involving prepaid debit cards and electronic funds transfer, and obtained dismissal of matter based on summary judgment of non-infringement.
Cooper Technologies Co. v. Dudas, Thomas & Betts Corp. (E.D. Va. 2007): Represented defendant intervenor in dispute regarding the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s interpretation of the statutes establishing inter partes re-examination of patents. Successfully obtained relief through the court’s denial of the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment, and granting of the defendant’s motions for summary judgment.
Realsource, Inc. v. Costco Wholesale Corporation (W.D. Tex. 2007): Represented defendant Costco and successfully obtained the district court’s grant of summary judgment of non-infringement of a patent involving gift card technology.
Venetian Casino Resort, LLC v. VenetianGold.com (E.D. Va. 2005): Represented plaintiff in a trademark and domain name dispute. Successfully defeated counterclaims on a motion to dismiss and obtained relief through the court’s granting of plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment.
Federal Circuit Affirmances
Every Penny Counts, Inc. v. Stored Value Solutions, Inc. (Fed. Cir. 2009): Represented appellee Stored Value Solutions and successfully obtained affirmance of lower court’s grant of summary judgment of non-infringement of a patent involving gift card technology.
Cooper Technologies Company v. USPTO and Thomas & Betts Corporation (Fed. Cir. 2008): Represented appellee Thomas & Betts regarding the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s interpretation of the statute establishing inter partes re-examination of patents. Successfully obtained relief through the Federal Circuit’s affirmance of the district court’s grant of summary judgment.
Realsource, Inc. v. Costco Wholesale Corporation (Fed. Cir. 2008): Represented appellee Costco and successfully obtained affirmance of lower court’s grant of summary judgment of non-infringement of a patent involving gift card technology.
Pro Bono Work
Mr. Sigler has successfully represented foreign nationals in immigration proceedings. In 2006, Mr. Sigler first chaired a trial on the merits that resulted in a grant of asylum to a client from Guinea.
