Untitled case

This patent infringement litigation, Case No. 1:25-cv-01335, is currently active in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. The plaintiff is Howmet Aerospace Inc., an operating company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, specializing in advanced engineered solutions for the aerospace and transportation industries, including components for jet engines, fasteners, titanium structures, and forged aluminum wheels. The defendants are Stanley Engineered Fastening, LLC, Avdel Holding Limited, and Avdel UK Ltd. Stanley Engineered Fastening, a subsidiary of Stanley Black & Decker Inc., is a global manufacturer of engineered mechanical fasteners and cold-formed components for various applications, including automotive, commercial technologies, electronics, construction, and industrial use.

The patent at issue is U.S. Patent No. 11,885,358, titled "Blind fastener and method of installation thereof," which was issued on January 30, 2024. This patent generally describes a two-piece blind fastener designed for "blind installation" scenarios where only one side of a workpiece is accessible. The invention features an outer sleeve and an inner mandrel; an installation tool pulls the mandrel through the sleeve to deform the blind end of the sleeve into a head and swage the near end into grooves on the mandrel, creating a secure joint. A key aspect of the patent is that the mandrel is designed to withstand installation forces without fracturing, addressing limitations of conventional blind fasteners. Howmet Aerospace alleges that the defendants' Avdel Avbolt ECO line of blind fasteners and their installation methods infringe this patent.

The case is proceeding in the District of Delaware before Judge Jennifer L. Hall. Delaware is a significant venue for patent litigation due to a high percentage of U.S. companies being incorporated there, a factor that became more critical after the Supreme Court's TC Heartland decision restricted patent venue to a defendant's state of incorporation or where an infringing act occurred and the defendant has a regular and established place of business. The District of Delaware is known for its experienced bench of judges well-versed in patent law, well-developed local rules, and a substantial body of patent-specific precedent, which offers a degree of predictability in complex technical litigation. The case is notable as it involves a dispute between major players in the specialized aerospace and industrial fastening systems market, highlighting the ongoing innovation and competitive landscape within this industry.

The patent infringement litigation, Howmet Aerospace Inc. v. Stanley Engineered Fastening, LLC et al., Case No. 1:25-cv-01335, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, concerning U.S. Patent No. 11,885,358. The case is currently active, with a trial scheduled for April 2028.

Here is a chronological summary of key legal developments:

Pre-Litigation and Initial Pleadings:

• 2024-01-30: U.S. Patent No. 11,885,358, titled "Blind fastener and method of installation thereof," was issued.
• 2025-05-15: Howmet Aerospace Inc. (Plaintiff) sent a notice letter of infringement to the Defendants.
• 2025-05-29: The parties engaged in discussions regarding the infringement allegations.
• 2025-10-31: Howmet Aerospace Inc. filed its complaint, initiating the patent infringement lawsuit against Stanley Engineered Fastening, LLC, Avdel UK Ltd., and Avdel Holding Limited (Defendants). The complaint alleges infringement related to the Defendants' Avbolt ECO line of blind fasteners and their installation methods.

Pre-Trial Motions of Substance:

• 2026-01-16: Defendants Stanley Engineered Fastening, LLC, Avdel UK Ltd., and Avdel Holding Limited filed a Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction Over the Person and for Failure to State a Claim.
• 2026-01-30: A stipulation to extend time for the Plaintiff to respond and Defendants to reply to the Motion to Dismiss was filed.
• 2026-02-20: Defendants filed a reply brief in support of their Motion to Dismiss.
• 2026-02-20: The Defendants also filed a "NOTICE of IPR Event and Withdrawal of Motion to Stay." This indicates that an Inter Partes Review (IPR) petition was filed at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) challenging the asserted patent, and a motion to stay the district court litigation pending the IPR outcome was subsequently filed and then withdrawn.
• 2026-04-06: Howmet Aerospace Inc. filed a "NOTICE of IPR Event," further confirming ongoing parallel PTAB proceedings.

Scheduling and Discovery Milestones:

• 2026-04-16: A comprehensive Scheduling Order was signed by Judge Jennifer L. Hall, outlining key upcoming deadlines:
  • 2026-09-02: Joint Claim Construction Chart due.
  • 2026-09-09: Interim Status Report due.
  • 2026-11-17: Joint Claim Construction Brief due.
  • 2026-11-24: Joint Amended Claim Construction due no earlier than this date.

Claim Construction (Markman) Outcomes:

• 2026-12-04: A Markman Hearing is set for 3:00 PM before Judge Jennifer L. Hall.

Further Pre-Trial Milestones and Trial Events:

• 2027-01-13: Joinder of Parties and Amended Pleadings due.
• 2027-03-31: Fact Discovery to be completed.
• 2027-07-21: Expert Discovery due.
• 2027-08-18: Dispositive and Daubert Motions due.
• 2027-11-24: A Motion Hearing is set for 10:00 AM before Judge Jennifer L. Hall.
• 2028-03-14: Proposed Joint Pretrial Order due.
• 2028-03-21: Pretrial Conference is set for 3:00 PM.
• 2028-04-03: A 5-day Jury Trial is scheduled to commence at 9:30 AM before Judge Jennifer L. Hall.

Final Disposition/Present Posture:
The case is in its early stages of litigation, with a detailed scheduling order in place leading to a jury trial in April 2028. No final judgment, settlement, or appeal has occurred, and the case remains active. The existence of IPR proceedings is acknowledged, but a motion to stay the district court case pending those outcomes was withdrawn, indicating the district court is proceeding as scheduled for now.

Parallel PTAB IPR/PGR Proceedings:
Defendants Stanley Engineered Fastening, LLC, Avdel UK Ltd., and Avdel Holding Limited have initiated Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceedings against U.S. Patent No. 11,885,358. Notices of these IPR events were filed with the District Court on February 20, 2026, and April 6, 2026. A motion to stay the district court proceedings pending the IPR outcomes was also filed and subsequently withdrawn by the Defendants on February 20, 2026. The IPR process, conducted by the PTAB, typically involves challenging patentability based on prior art and aims for a final written decision within 12-18 months of institution. While the IPRs are active, the withdrawal of the motion to stay suggests the district court will continue with its established schedule.

Howmet Aerospace Inc. is represented by Greenberg Traurig, LLP. The primary attorney identified as counsel of record for the plaintiff in this case (1:25-cv-01335) is:

• Benjamin J. Schladweiler
  • Role: Counsel for Plaintiff (likely Lead Counsel and Local Counsel due to extensive Delaware experience).
  • Firm: Greenberg Traurig, LLP, Wilmington, Delaware office.
  • Experience Note: Mr. Schladweiler is a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig and focuses on complex patent litigation in the District of Delaware, having litigated hundreds of matters and more than a dozen patent trials over 20 years. His experience spans diverse technologies including electronic arts, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. He is recognized for his patent litigation work in Delaware by IAM Patent 1000.

Currently, the available docket information primarily identifies Benjamin J. Schladweiler as the attorney filing on behalf of Howmet Aerospace Inc.. While Greenberg Traurig, LLP has a robust Intellectual Property Litigation practice with many accomplished patent litigators across various offices, specific appearances by other attorneys from the firm in this particular case are not explicitly detailed in the provided search results.

Regarding in-house counsel:

• Jonathan A. Arena serves as Executive Vice President, Chief Legal & Compliance Officer and Secretary for Howmet Aerospace. He joined Howmet Aerospace in this role on April 13, 2026. His background includes senior legal roles at Huntington Ingalls Industries, The Boeing Company, and NASA. While he oversees the company's legal affairs, he is not identified as counsel of record for this specific litigation in the public docket information.
• Margaret Lam is the Associate General Counsel, Chief Securities and Governance Counsel, and Assistant Secretary for Howmet Aerospace. Her role primarily focuses on securities, corporate governance, and finance matters. She is not identified as counsel of record for this specific litigation.

Therefore, Benjamin J. Schladweiler is the identified counsel of record representing the plaintiff.

The defendants in Howmet Aerospace Inc. v. Stanley Engineered Fastening, LLC et al. (1:25-cv-01335) are represented by attorneys from Fish & Richardson P.C. and local counsel in Delaware.

Here is the counsel of record representing the defendants:

Fish & Richardson P.C.

• Jeffrey A. Dennhardt (Lead Counsel)
  • Firm & Office Location: Fish & Richardson P.C., location not specified in docket, but Fish & Richardson has offices in Boston, MA, and is recognized for its patent litigation practice nationwide.
  • Relevant Experience: Fish & Richardson is a top-ranked patent litigation firm, handling more patent cases in District Courts, the Federal Circuit, the ITC, and the PTAB than any other national firm.
• Lance M. Peterzell (Lead Counsel)
  • Firm & Office Location: Fish & Richardson P.C., location not specified in docket.
  • Relevant Experience: As part of Fish & Richardson, Mr. Peterzell is part of a firm known for its extensive experience in high-stakes patent and trade secret litigation.
• Mary Pheng (Lead Counsel)
  • Firm & Office Location: Fish & Richardson P.C., location not specified in docket.
  • Relevant Experience: Fish & Richardson lawyers are recognized for their ability to handle complex intellectual property matters across various industries.
• Omar A. Khan (Of Counsel)
  • Firm & Office Location: Fish & Richardson P.C., location not specified in docket.
  • Relevant Experience: Fish & Richardson emphasizes that its patent attorneys approach prosecution and counseling matters with an eye toward future litigation, contributing to increased strength and durability of client patents.

Local Counsel (Delaware)

• Michael J. Flynn (Local Counsel)
  • Firm & Office Location: Not explicitly stated in the provided snippets, but typically Delaware counsel are registered users of CM/ECF and are required to file all papers.

These attorneys have entered appearances for all three defendants: Stanley Engineered Fastening, LLC, Avdel UK Ltd., and Avdel Holding Limited.