Ward, Smith & Hill Recognized for Three Jury Verdicts in Texas’ Top 100 for 2016

LONGVIEW, Texas – Three intellectual property trial wins Ward, Smith & Hill helped secure against technology giant Apple Inc. have been recognized among Texas Lawyer magazine’s list of the Top 100 Verdicts in Texas for 2016.

The top three intellectual property verdicts for the year also ranked second, fourth and 16th among all verdicts.

“We are honored to be recognized for our work representing clients whose intellectual property has been abused,” said Ward, Smith & Hill founder Johnny Ward. “In each of these cases, we worked with other legal teams to produce successful solutions and winning results.”

After a one-week trial before Judge Robert W. Schroeder III in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in Tyler last September, Mr. Ward helped convince a jury to award VirnetX Holding Corp. $302 million against Apple for infringing on four of VirnetX’s internet security patents. The jury award was based on what Apple owes VirnetX in royalties. That trial followed a $625 million verdict won earlier in the year, which was later vacated.

Also in September 2016, name partner Wesley Hill secured a $22 million verdict for Cellular Communications Equipment LLC. The jury found that Apple willfully infringed a wireless communications patent owned by Cellular and used it in iPhones and iPads.

Ward, Smith & Hill is nationally known for its trial work in patent infringement cases. Read more about the firm here: https://wsfirm.com/practice-areas/patent-litigation/.

The annual Texas Top 100 Verdicts list is compiled based on research by VerdictSearch, which maintains a comprehensive database of verdicts and settlements. Texas Lawyer magazine is publishing the full list of Top Texas Verdicts in its September 2017 edition.