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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR 

THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA

Hammond Division

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STOPINC AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, :

a corporation of Switzerland :

:

Plaintiff, : Civil Action No.: 2:14-cv-238

:

-against- :

:

:

:

J. W. HICKS INC., :

a corporation of Indiana :

:

Defendant. :

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COMPLAINT

Plaintiff for its Complaint against the Defendant, respectfully alleges as follows:

The Parties

1. Plaintiff, Stopinc Aktiengesellschaft (hereinafter “Stopinc AG”) is organized 

and existing under the laws of Switzerland with its principal place of business at Bösch 

83a, CH-6331 Hünenberg, Switzerland.

2. Defendant J. W. Hicks Inc. is a corporation of the State of Indiana doing 

business within this judicial district at 8955 Louisiana Street, Merrillville, Indiana 46410.

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Jurisdiction and Venue

3. The claim herein is for infringement by J. W. Hicks Inc. of patent rights of 

Stopinc AG under the Patent Laws of the United States, 35 U.S.C. § 271, and jurisdiction is 

conferred by virtue of 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331(a) and 1338(a.)

4. Venue is proper in this district under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1391(b) and (c) and 1400(b)

Count I: Patent Infringement

5. Stopinc AG hereby charges J. W. Hicks Inc. with patent infringement under the 

Patent Laws of the United States, 35 U.S.C. § 271, and hereby realleges the allegations of 

paragraphs 1 through 4 above.

6. Plaintiff Stopinc AG is, from the grant of the patent to the present day, the 

owner by assignment of United States Patent no. 6,422,435 duly issued by the United 

States Patent and Trademark Office on July 23, 2002 for a Slide Gate for a Container 

Containing Molten Metal (the “ ‘435 patent.”) A true and correct copy of the ‘435 patent 

is attached hereto as Exhibit A. 

7. Plaintiff Stopinc AG is informed and believes, and therefore avers that 

subsequent to the issuance of the ‘435 patent, the Defendant J. W. Hicks Inc. has infringed 

upon the patent by, inter alia, importing into the United States, selling, and causing to be 

sold, and offering for sale from this judicial district, a refractory product known as the 

OMEGA Slidegate Systems and also known as the TITAN- Slidegate that infringe the ‘435 

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patent, including at least claims 1, 8, 11 and 12 of the ‘435 patent, without the permission 

or authorization of Stopinc AG. 

8. As a result of such actions, J. W. Hicks Inc. has also induced and contributed to 

the infringement of the Stopinc AG ‘435 patent by others using in the United States a 

OMEGA Slidegate Systems and also known as the TITAN- Slidegate acquired from J. W. 

Hicks Inc.

9. Upon information and belief, J. W. Hicks Inc. continues to infringe the ‘435 

patent and will continue to do so unless enjoined by this court.

10. Defendant J. W. Hicks Inc. has been notified of the ‘435 patent and has 

continued to commit its acts of infringement with knowledge of the ‘435 patent. Such 

continued infringement and inducement to infringe are, therefore, wilful, knowing and 

deliberate.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays:

A. That Defendant J. W. Hicks Inc. and its agents, servants, employees and 

attorneys and those persons in active concert or participation with the Defendant J. W. 

Hicks Inc. be permanently enjoined and restrained from marketing, importing, offering for 

sale, selling, advertising or promoting or distributing in the United States any products 

infringing Stopinc AG’s United States Patent No. 6,422,435.

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B. Further, that defendant J. W. Hicks Inc. be ordered:

(i) to deliver up for destruction all products infringing United States 

United States Patent No. 6,422,435, as well as all means for producing, 

advertising or promoting such infringing products;

(ii) to make diligent efforts to recall all of the infringing products set 

forth in paragraph (A) already distributed; and

(iii) to file with this court and serve on Plaintiff Stopinc AG thirty (30) 

days after the date of the injunction a report in writing and under oath setting 

forth in detail the matter or form in which J. W. Hicks Inc. has complied fully 

with the injunction;

C. That an accounting and judgment be rendered against the Defendant J. W. 

Hicks Inc. for:

(i) All profits received by the Defendant J. W. Hicks Inc. from the

importation or sale of products infringing the patent of the plaintiff as provided 

by 35 U.S.C. §284; as well as lost profits of Stopinc AG for sales it would have 

made but for the infringing activity of J. W. Hicks Inc.; 

(ii) that the Defendant J. W. Hicks Inc. account for and compensate 

Stopinc AG fully for all sales of products of Stopinc AG that have been diverted 

or reduced as a result of the infringement by J. W. Hicks Inc.;

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D. That Stopinc AG have and receive its costs in this action, including an 

award of its reasonable attorney's fees with interest from the date of the filing of this 

complaint pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §285;

E. That Stopinc AG receive interest on its damages awards from the date of 

injury; 

F. That the damages to Stopinc AG resulting from the patent infringement by J. 

W. Hicks Inc.be trebled pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §284; and

G. That the Plaintiff be granted such other and further relief as the Court deems 

just and appropriate.

Respectfully submitted,

Dated: July 10, 2014

 /s/ Michael J. Hays

Michael J. Hays (23606-71)

TUESLEY, HALL, KONOPA, LLP

212 E. LaSalle Ave., Suite 100

South Bend, IN 46617

Phone (574) 232-3538

Fax (574) 232-3790

mhays@thklaw.com

Of Counsel:

Gerard F. Dunne (jerry.dunne@dunnelaw.net)

Joseph A. Dunne (joe.dunne@dunnelaw.net)

Law Office of Gerard F. Dunne, P.C.

41 Union Square West

New York, New York 10003

212-645-2410

212-645-2435 (Fax)

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