Litigation

Untitled case

Active

1:25-cv-00263

Patents at issue (1)

Summary

This is an active district court case identified by Google Patents related to patent 12234510.

Case overview & background

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

This patent infringement litigation, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory v. Guardant Health, Inc., Case No. 1:25-cv-00263-JCG, is currently active in the District of Delaware. The plaintiff, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), is a not-for-profit educational corporation engaged in research and discovery across various biological fields, including cancer, neuroscience, genomics, quantitative biology, and plant biology. The defendant, Guardant Health, Inc., is an operating company in the early cancer screening field, known for its blood test products.

CSHL has accused Guardant Health's blood test products of infringing U.S. Patent Nos. 10,947,589 and 12,234,510. Both patents are titled "Varietal Counting of Nucleic Acids for Obtaining Genomic Copy Number Information" and broadly relate to methods for obtaining genomic copy number information from a sample of genomic material, a technology pertinent to cancer screening. The case, filed on March 6, 2025, is presided over by Judge Jennifer Choe-Groves. The District of Delaware is a prominent venue for patent litigation due to its specialized court and well-developed body of patent law.

The procedural posture of the case saw a notable development on October 10, 2025, when the court denied Guardant Health's partial motion to dismiss claims for willful infringement. The court found that CSHL had made specific factual allegations supporting pre-suit knowledge of the patents by Guardant Health, including Guardant's involvement in related research and opposition proceedings to CSHL's related European patents. This case is notable within the early cancer screening industry, particularly regarding the intersection of academic research and commercial products, and the scrutiny around allegations of pre-suit willful infringement. An Inter Partes Review (IPR2025-01355) was also filed by Guardant Health Inc. challenging U.S. Patent No. 10,947,589, indicating parallel PTAB proceedings for at least one of the asserted patents.

Key legal developments & outcome

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

The case Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory v. Guardant Health, Inc., Case No. 1:25-cv-00263-JCG, has seen several key legal developments since its filing in March 2025.

Filing & Initial Pleadings

  • Complaint: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) filed its complaint for patent infringement against Guardant Health, Inc. on March 6, 2025, in the District of Delaware. CSHL accused Guardant Health's blood test products of infringing U.S. Patent Nos. 10,947,589 and 12,234,510.
  • Amended Complaint: An amended complaint was filed, which included claims for willful infringement.

Pre-trial Motions of Substance

  • Motion to Dismiss Willful Infringement Claims: Guardant Health filed a partial motion to dismiss claims for willful infringement, arguing that CSHL failed to allege sufficient facts of pre-suit knowledge to support enhanced damages.
  • Denial of Motion to Dismiss: On October 10, 2025, Judge Jennifer Choe-Groves denied Guardant Health's motion to dismiss. The court found that CSHL had made specific factual allegations supporting pre-suit knowledge, including Guardant's involvement in related research and opposition proceedings to CSHL's related European patents. The court noted that while any of these items in isolation might be too speculative, taken collectively, they were sufficient to support the claim of pre-suit willful infringement.

Parallel PTAB IPR/PGR Proceedings

  • IPR2025-01355: Guardant Health Inc. filed an Inter Partes Review (IPR2025-01355) challenging U.S. Patent No. 10,947,589. While the status of IPR2025-01355's institution decision is not explicitly detailed in the provided search results, other IPRs filed around the same time have seen institution decisions in late 2025. It is worth noting that the PTAB under Director Squires has increasingly denied IPR petitions on discretionary grounds, with a focus on factors like "settled expectations" and the age of the patent. This trend has seen petitions for patents less than six years old more likely to be instituted.

Plaintiff representatives

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

tool_code
print(google_search.search(queries=["Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory v. Guardant Health, Inc. 1:25-cv-00263-JCG counsel of record", "Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory v. Guardant Health, Inc. 1:25-cv-00263-JCG docket counsel", "Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory 1:25-cv-00263 lead counsel", "Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory patent litigation counsel", "Jeffrey H. Lerner Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory", "Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP patent litigation", "Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP Delaware patent litigation"]))
thought
The user is asking for the counsel of record representing the plaintiff, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, in the case 1:25-cv-00263-JCG. I need to find the names, roles, firms, office locations, and relevant patent litigation experience for each attorney. I will use web search with specific queries targeting the case docket, firm websites, and legal news sources.

Here's my plan:

  1. Search for "Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory v. Guardant Health, Inc. 1:25-cv-00263-JCG counsel of record" and "docket counsel" to identify the attorneys.
  2. For each identified attorney, search for their firm, office location, and relevant patent litigation experience.
  3. Structure the output as requested by the user: Name, role, firm, office location, and a one-line note on experience.Counsel of record representing Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory v. Guardant Health, Inc., Case No. 1:25-cv-00263-JCG, are from Desmarais LLP and Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A..

From Desmarais LLP (Lead Counsel):

  • John M. Desmarais (Partner)
    • Firm: Desmarais LLP, New York, NY
    • Experience Note: A highly regarded patent litigator with a strong track record in complex intellectual property disputes, often involving high-stakes technology and pharmaceutical cases.
  • Brian D. Matty (Partner)
    • Firm: Desmarais LLP, New York, NY
    • Experience Note: Experienced in patent litigation across various technologies, including life sciences and medical devices, with a focus on trial work.
  • Kevin Goon (Attorney)
    • Firm: Desmarais LLP, New York, NY
    • Experience Note: Focuses on patent litigation across a range of technologies, contributing to trial and pre-trial phases.
  • Ashley DaBiere (Attorney)
    • Firm: Desmarais LLP, New York, NY
    • Experience Note: Practices in intellectual property litigation, supporting all aspects of patent disputes.

From Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. (Local Counsel):

  • Kelly E. Farnan (Partner)
    • Firm: Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., Wilmington, DE
    • Experience Note: Experienced Delaware counsel in complex intellectual property and commercial litigation, frequently representing clients in the District of Delaware.
  • Sara M. Metzler (Partner)
    • Firm: Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., Wilmington, DE
    • Experience Note: Focuses on intellectual property and commercial disputes, often serving as local counsel in high-profile patent cases in Delaware.

Defendant representatives

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

tool_code
print(google_search.search(queries=["1:25-cv-00263-JCG Guardant Health counsel of record", "Guardant Health Inc v. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory attorneys", "D. Del. 1:25-cv-00263 docket", "Guardant Health in-house counsel", "Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory v. Guardant Health Inc. lead counsel"]))
thought
The user is asking for the counsel of record for the defendant, Guardant Health, Inc., in the case 1:25-cv-00263.
I need to find the names of the attorneys, their roles, their firms and office locations, and a brief note on their relevant experience.
I will use web search with specific queries targeting the case number, defendant name, and terms like "counsel of record" and "attorneys".
I will check PACER, docket sheets, firm websites, and legal news sites like Law360 and Reuters Legal.### Defendant's Counsel of Record

Guardant Health, Inc., the defendant in Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory v. Guardant Health, Inc., Case No. 1:25-cv-00263-JCG, is represented by attorneys from several firms. Based on publicly available docket information, the following counsel are involved:

Lead Counsel:

  • Name: Michael T. Zeller

  • Firm: Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP

  • Office Location: San Francisco, CA

  • Experience Note: Mr. Zeller is a partner at Quinn Emanuel and frequently represents technology and life sciences companies in high-stakes patent litigation.

  • Name: Y. Mark Han

  • Firm: Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP

  • Office Location: Washington, D.C.

  • Experience Note: Mr. Han is a partner at Quinn Emanuel with a focus on intellectual property litigation, particularly in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors.

Local Counsel:

  • Name: John W. Shaw

  • Firm: Shaw Keller LLP

  • Office Location: Wilmington, DE

  • Experience Note: Mr. Shaw is a prominent Delaware patent litigator, often serving as local counsel in District of Delaware patent cases.

  • Name: Karen E. Keller

  • Firm: Shaw Keller LLP

  • Office Location: Wilmington, DE

  • Experience Note: Ms. Keller is a founding partner of Shaw Keller and has extensive experience in complex commercial and intellectual property litigation in Delaware.

Of Counsel/Additional Counsel:

Additional attorneys from Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, and potentially other firms, may also be involved in various capacities (e.g., of counsel, associate counsel) as the case progresses. Specific roles beyond lead and local counsel are typically detailed in appearances on the docket.

In-House Counsel:

Information regarding specific in-house counsel for Guardant Health, Inc. appearing on the docket for this case is not readily available through public search results at this time. In-house counsel often oversee litigation but may not formally appear on the court's docket unless directly involved in filings or arguments.