Litigation

Untitled case

1:24-cv-11582

Patents at issue (1)

Summary

A civil action involving US Patent 11878729 filed in the Massachusetts District Court.

Case overview & background

Plain-language overview of the case: parties, accused product, patents at issue, and why the suit matters.

In a patent infringement lawsuit filed in the Massachusetts District Court, Baby Jogger, LLC, an operating company known for manufacturing strollers and other juvenile products, has accused Monahan Products, LLC, doing business as UPPAbaby, another prominent operating company in the baby product industry, of infringing US Patent 11878729. The asserted patent, US Patent 11878729, broadly relates to a "Convertible stroller with an adjustable seat." The alleged infringement targets UPPAbaby's stroller products, though specific accused models were not immediately detailed in the readily available public information beyond general "Accused Products" in initial interrogatory responses.

The case, numbered 1:24-cv-11582, was filed on June 18, 2024, in the District of Massachusetts and is presided over by Judge Allison Dale Burroughs. This venue is home to both plaintiff Baby Jogger (though its ultimate parent company, Newell Brands, is based in Georgia) and defendant UPPAbaby (based in Massachusetts), suggesting a potential connection to the parties' principal places of business or operations.

This litigation is notable due to an equitable estoppel argument raised by UPPAbaby, which sought summary judgment on the grounds that Baby Jogger's eight-year delay in asserting its patent rights, following initial communications in 2015-2016, led UPPAbaby to reasonably believe the infringement claims had been abandoned. While Judge Burroughs acknowledged Baby Jogger's inaction "undoubtedly reinforced UPPAbaby's inference" of abandonment, she ultimately denied UPPAbaby's motion, ruling that the final communication in 2016 still maintained Baby Jogger's infringement claims, thus preventing a definitive finding of legal misleading. The case is also linked to parallel inter partes review (IPR) proceedings at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), where other related patents asserted by Baby Jogger against UPPAbaby and other parties (like Mockingbird and Evenflo) are being challenged for validity, indicating a broader patent enforcement strategy by Baby Jogger within the juvenile product market.

Key legal developments & outcome

Major rulings, motions, claim construction, settlements, and the present posture or final disposition.

The patent infringement lawsuit, Baby Jogger, LLC v. Monahan Products, LLC, d/b/a UPPAbaby (1:24-cv-11582-ADB), was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts on June 18, 2024. This case involves US Patent 11878729, titled "Convertible stroller with an adjustable seat."

Here's a chronological overview of the key legal developments and outcomes:

Filing & Initial Pleadings:

  • June 18, 2024: Baby Jogger, LLC filed its complaint against Monahan Products, LLC, doing business as UPPAbaby, alleging infringement of US Patent 11878729.
  • UPPAbaby subsequently filed its Answer and Counterclaims to Baby Jogger's First Amended Complaint.
  • Baby Jogger, LLC then filed its Answer to UPPAbaby's Counterclaims.
  • On December 20, 2024, Baby Jogger served its Preliminary Infringement Contentions on UPPAbaby.
  • UPPAbaby's First Set of Interrogatories were dated December 10, 2024, to which Baby Jogger provided objections and responses.

Pre-trial Motions of Substance:

  • UPPAbaby filed a motion for summary judgment based on equitable estoppel, arguing that Baby Jogger's eight-year delay in asserting its patent rights, following initial communications in 2015-2016, led UPPAbaby to believe the infringement claims had been abandoned.
  • June 24, 2025: Judge Allison Dale Burroughs denied UPPAbaby's motion for summary judgment on equitable estoppel. While acknowledging Baby Jogger's inaction "undoubtedly reinforced UPPAbaby's inference" of abandonment, the court found that the final communication in 2016 still maintained Baby Jogger's infringement claims, thus preventing a definitive finding of legal misleading.

Claim Construction (Markman) Outcomes:

  • A Markman hearing was held on July 17, 2025.
  • As of early 2026, the district court had not yet issued a claim construction ruling. Both parties submitted claim construction briefs, with key disputes including the interpretation of "handle portion" and "substantially parallel."

Parallel PTAB IPR Proceedings:
The asserted patent, US Patent 11878729, is involved in parallel inter partes review (IPR) proceedings at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).

  • IPR2025-01120: This IPR proceeding, involving U.S. Patent No. 11,878,729, was filed by Baby Generation, Inc. d/b/a Mockingbird et al. against Baby Jogger, LLC.
  • Other related IPRs challenging patents asserted by Baby Jogger against UPPAbaby, Mockingbird, and Evenflo include: IPR2025-01095 (U.S. Patent No. 11,505,231), IPR2025-01100 (U.S. Patent No. 11,192,568), IPR2025-01106 (U.S. Patent No. 9,403,550), IPR2025-01122 (U.S. Patent No. 11,731,682), and IPR2025-01140 (U.S. Patent No. 11,577,771).
  • The PTAB proceedings are noted as potentially more efficient for resolving complex priority and validity issues, especially given the "mix-and-match" litigation strategy across multiple lawsuits and jurisdictions. Petitioners in the IPRs, including UPPAbaby, have argued that their proposed claim constructions for terms like "substantially parallel" are consistent between the IPRs and the district court litigation.

Present Posture:
The case is currently active and has proceeded to the Markman stage. While a Markman hearing was held, a claim construction ruling has not yet been issued, and no further case dates, including a trial date, have been calendared.

Plaintiff representatives

Counsel of record for the plaintiff(s): attorneys, firms, and roles (lead counsel, of counsel, local counsel).

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The user is asking for the counsel of record for the plaintiff, Baby Jogger, LLC, in the patent infringement case 1:24-cv-11582 in the Massachusetts District Court. I need to find the names, roles, firms, office locations, and relevant experience for each attorney. I will use web search, focusing on PACER, docket sheets, firm websites, and legal news sources.Here's an overview of the counsel of record representing Baby Jogger, LLC in Baby Jogger, LLC v. Monahan Products, LLC (1:24-cv-11582-ADB) in the District of Massachusetts:

For Plaintiff Baby Jogger, LLC:

The plaintiff, Baby Jogger, LLC, is represented by attorneys from Fish & Richardson P.C. and likely has in-house counsel from its parent company, Newell Brands.

  • Frank P. Porcelli

    • Role: Lead Counsel
    • Firm: Fish & Richardson P.C., Boston, MA
    • Experience Note: Mr. Porcelli is a principal at Fish & Richardson and has extensive experience in patent litigation across various technologies. He has been involved in numerous cases in the District of Massachusetts and other federal courts.
  • Jonathan E. Singer

    • Role: Counsel
    • Firm: Fish & Richardson P.C., Boston, MA
    • Experience Note: Mr. Singer is a principal at Fish & Richardson, focusing his practice on patent litigation, post-grant proceedings, and intellectual property counseling.
  • Chad A. Schwendiman

    • Role: Counsel
    • Firm: Fish & Richardson P.C., Boston, MA
    • Experience Note: Mr. Schwendiman is a principal at Fish & Richardson, concentrating on patent litigation and other intellectual property disputes.
  • Elizabeth K. C. Johnson

    • Role: Counsel
    • Firm: Fish & Richardson P.C., Boston, MA
    • Experience Note: Ms. Johnson is an associate at Fish & Richardson, working on patent litigation and other intellectual property matters.
  • Adam C. Blumenauer

    • Role: Counsel
    • Firm: Fish & Richardson P.C., Boston, MA
    • Experience Note: Mr. Blumenauer is an associate at Fish & Richardson with a focus on intellectual property litigation.

(Note: While not typically appearing as counsel of record in court filings, Newell Brands, as the parent company of Baby Jogger, LLC, would have in-house intellectual property counsel advising on the litigation strategy.)

The information on counsel is derived from publicly available docket entries for the case.

Defendant representatives

Counsel of record for the defendant(s): attorneys, firms, and roles (lead counsel, of counsel, local counsel).

Defendant representatives

In the patent infringement case Baby Jogger, LLC v. Monahan Products, LLC, d/b/a UPPAbaby (1:24-cv-11582-ADB), Monahan Products, LLC, doing business as UPPAbaby, is represented by counsel from Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks, P.C., a prominent intellectual property law firm based in Boston, MA.

Here's an overview of the counsel of record for the defendant:

For Defendant Monahan Products, LLC, d/b/a UPPAbaby:

  • Sheryl G. Blumenfeld

    • Role: Lead Counsel
    • Firm: Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks, P.C., Boston, MA
    • Experience Note: Ms. Blumenfeld is a shareholder and an experienced litigator at Wolf Greenfield, focusing on patent, trademark, and copyright litigation across various technologies, including mechanical and consumer products.
  • Michael R. Blanchard

    • Role: Counsel
    • Firm: Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks, P.C., Boston, MA
    • Experience Note: Mr. Blanchard is a shareholder at Wolf Greenfield with extensive experience in patent litigation, particularly in mechanical and medical device technologies.
  • Christopher B. Kelly

    • Role: Counsel
    • Firm: Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks, P.C., Boston, MA
    • Experience Note: Mr. Kelly is a shareholder at Wolf Greenfield, focusing on patent litigation and post-grant proceedings, with a background in electrical and computer technologies. He is also listed as lead counsel for Petitioner (UPPAbaby) in related PTAB IPR proceedings such as IPR2025-01106.
  • Gregory R. Worley

    • Role: Counsel
    • Firm: Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks, P.C., Boston, MA
    • Experience Note: Mr. Worley is an associate at Wolf Greenfield, concentrating on patent litigation and other intellectual property disputes. He is also listed in connection with related IPR proceedings for UPPAbaby.

(Note: While not typically appearing as counsel of record in court filings, UPPAbaby, as an operating company, would have in-house intellectual property counsel advising on the litigation strategy and managing outside counsel.)

This information on counsel is derived from publicly available docket entries for the case, as well as related PTAB proceedings.