Sunstein Kann Murphy & Timbers has an outstanding record of important wins for our technology and life sciences clients through litigation, patent prosecution, IP portfolio development and business transactions.

We recently took advantage of the new accelerated examination procedure at the Patent and Trademark Office in obtaining U.S. Patent 7,337,705 for our clients Laura Catena and Elissa Hambrecht. Just five months after filing their application, we received a Notice of Allowance. Their patent describes a new invention for preparing and consuming a beverage, which is distinct from the common French press coffee brewing device. The invention allows enthusiasts of yerba mate and other brewed drinks to make their beverage in a single cup. In the typical French press, one pours hot water over coffee grounds, letting the coffee brew for a few minutes, and then pushes a sieve plunger to the bottom of the press to separate the brewed coffee from the coffee grounds. The coffee must then be poured into a separate cup. In Ms. Catena and Ms. Hambrecht's invention, the plunger may be a straw. The straw has holes above the sieve so that only filtered brewed beverage (whether coffee, tea or other herbal drink) is consumed through the straw. Thus, mate drinkers, for example, can brew the beverage, then consume it in traditional fashion through a straw without missing a beat.

Sunstein Client Wins Largest Massachusetts Verdict of 2006: $65 million
Sunstein teamed with Kaye Scholer of New York to obtain a $65 million patent infringement verdict for Ariad Pharmaceuticals, Inc. against Eli Lilly and Company.  In a complicated case involving methods of treating disease by regulating NF (kappa) B cell signaling activity, the legal team presented the testimony of two Nobel Prize winning scientists. "It’s kind of like the brass ring for a trial attorney to be able to take a difficult subject matter like this and make it comprehensible to a lay jury," Lee Bromberg said.
"Deep Pockets Yield Big Awards in Top Verdicts of ’06,"
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, 1.15.07

Sunstein Obtains $20.7 Million Verdict for First Act
"When our expert witness, who was a professional trumpet player testifying as to quality of the instruments, took one of the trumpets and played 'Misty' for the jury, it was quite an amazing moment in the trial. It really changed the mood in the courtroom, the way music can transport you."
- Lee Bromberg, "Instrument Company Hurt by False Advertising," Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, 1.6.06

Sunstein files Amicus brief for Boston Patent Law Association in Federal Circuit regarding subject matter of business method patents.

Tim Murphy to Chair MCLE's 11th Annual IP Law Conference.

Firm Newsletter: Click Here.

Julia Huston to Chair Equal Justice Coalition.

New rules on the Patent and Trademark Office: Although on hold for now, rule changes may yet transform patent prosecution.

Lisa Tittemore presents the "Year in Review: Trademarks in 2007" to the Boston Bar Association. 
Read her Overview. Decisions.