Reliant sues Laser Industries

17 Jun 2002

Reliant Technologies has filed a lawsuit against Laser Industries (Tel Aviv, Israel) and its Sharplan Lasers subsidiary. The suit alleges the companies tried to monopolize the market for medical-laser-scanning systems through a patent that Reliant alleges was obtained by fraud. Reliant said it is seeking at least $20 million in general and punitive damages for antitrust violations, unfair competition, and general business torts.

The suit responds to a patent-infringement suit Laser Industries and Sharplan Lasers filed against Reliant Technologies in September 1995. That suit alleges that Reliant, by manufacturing, using, and selling a laser-scanner device, infringes Laser Industries and Sharplan intellectual-property rights.

Laser Industries called the Reliant lawsuit "meritless." The company has amended its original complaint to include "additional counts against Reliant Technologies based on facts learned during discovery proceedings."