James M. Francis

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James M. Francis — patent litigation summary

Focus and side preference. Francis is a Kentucky-based registered patent attorney whose tracked patent litigation is concentrated in a single long-running dispute: Flexiworld Technologies' wireless and mobile-printing patent campaign against Lexmark. The technology at issue is consumer-electronics connectivity — wireless printers, mobile print apps, proximity-based wireless detection (Wi-Fi Direct-style discovery), and intermediate output/raster data formatting. His prosecution-side practice descriptions (Avvo, firm bios) list the chemical, medical, software, and mechanical arts, with a life-sciences emphasis; he holds a B.S. in chemistry and began his career in R&D/engineering at Ashland Petroleum and Valvoline. Of his seven tracked appearances, six are on the plaintiff/patent-owner side and one on the defendant side — all as local counsel. The plaintiff-side pattern reflects representation of a licensing entity (Flexiworld) asserting patents, not a defense practice for operating companies.

Firm context. He appears in the tracked cases under Francis Law Firm PLLC and Francis Law Office PLLC (Lexington, Kentucky), the latter with addresses on Tates Creek Centre Drive and Alexandria Drive. Public bios describe an earlier private-practice path through Francis Law PLLC (2003–2006), Stoll Keenon Ogden (2006–2010), and Bingham Greenebaum Doll (2010–2011), plus an Of Counsel role at Fowler Bell PLLC; Gearhart Law (New Jersey) currently lists him as a partner, describing his prior firm as Francis Law Firm PLLC and his role there as patent attorney, and references Of Counsel work at Dentons Bingham Greenebaum where he co-chaired a Life Sciences practice group. The Gearhart listing appears to be the most recent, though it is not corroborated by the court dockets, which show Francis Law Firm through 2023–2024; treat the current-firm attribution as not firmly established.

Notable matters and outcomes. His most prominent tracked work is Flexiworld Technologies, Inc. v. Lexmark International, Inc. (E.D. Ky., consolidated lead case 5:22-cv-00097, Judge Karen K. Caldwell), where Flexiworld asserted roughly fifteen patents covering wireless printing and mobile-device connectivity against Lexmark's wireless printers and mobile print apps. He signed the complaints and amended complaints as counsel for Flexiworld and was one of three counsel of record (with Timothy Grochocinski and Charles Austin Ginnings). Interim results favorable to his client: the court denied Lexmark's motion to stay the four consolidated cases (Sept. 1, 2022) and denied Lexmark's renewed partial motion to dismiss the § 287(a) marking allegations (Mar. 20, 2023). The Lexmark and Flexiworld actions (and the mirror-image Lexmark International, Inc. v. Flexiworld Technologies, Inc. filings) were resolved by a January 16, 2024 patent license agreement, with the district court cases dismissed with prejudice and all pending disputes resolved (dismissals reported in 2024). His Avvo case list also notes a defense verdict in Sensormatic v. EAS Sensorsense, a matter not reflected in the tracked docket data. Separately, he represented Kentucky Mist Moonshine in its trademark dispute with the University of Kentucky (TTAB Opposition No. 91225884), which drew national press coverage.

PTAB/IPR. Lexmark filed IPRs against Flexiworld's U.S. Patent Nos. 7,609,402 (IPR2023-00845) and 9,965,233 (IPR2023-00846). Francis is not listed as counsel of record in those proceedings — Lexmark was represented by Perkins Coie, and Flexiworld by Nelson Bumgardner (Ginnings/Grochocinski). IPR2023-00846 was instituted November 14, 2023 and terminated as settled January 26, 2024 without a merits decision, consistent with the global license agreement. His published bio states litigation experience before the PTAB, but the tracked record does not show him personally appearing in IPR/PGR proceedings.

Bar and education. Admitted in Kentucky (2003); registered to practice before the USPTO (2003); admitted to the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky, the Eastern District of Texas, and the Federal Circuit, and per one bio the Sixth Circuit. J.D., University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law (2003); B.S. in chemistry, Marshall University (1990).

Disambiguation note: Search results also return a Texas attorney named James Michael Francis (N.D. Tex. matters such as Ferrari v. Francis) who is a different individual and not the subject of this summary.