Untitled case

This patent infringement litigation, Case No. 2:24-cv-00589, was filed in the Utah District Court and involved plaintiff Germ Dome Industries, LLC against defendant PhoneSoap LLC. Germ Dome Industries, LLC is a Michigan-based company specializing in germ control, known for its "Anti Germ Dome" ultraviolet (UV) light sanitizers designed for door handles and other points of contact in public and commercial spaces. PhoneSoap LLC, headquartered in Lehi, Utah, manufactures UV light sanitizers and disinfectants primarily for personal electronic devices like smartphones, but also offers products for larger items and air purification. The accused products are presumably PhoneSoap's line of UV sanitizing devices, which sanitize objects placed within a housing using UV-C light.

The patent at issue is U.S. Patent No. 12,296,061, titled "SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR SANITIZING A DOOR OPENING DEVICE OR OTHER POINT OF CONTACT." This patent, issued on May 13, 2025, to inventor Dean Schumacher and assigned to Germ Dome Industries LLC, describes an apparatus that utilizes germicidal light, such as ultraviolet-C (UV-C), to disinfect high-touch surfaces or objects. The invention specifically addresses the spread of communicable germs on "points of contact" like doorknobs by employing a housing defining an interior cavity to accept an object, along with at least one germicidal light source within the cavity.

The procedural posture of the case saw it assigned to Magistrate Judge Jared C. Bennett in the Utah District Court. However, the litigation concluded with a stipulated dismissal with prejudice on September 4, 2025, meaning the case is no longer active. While no specific notability for the Utah venue was identified for this particular case, the dispute is notable for involving two companies operating in the UV sanitization industry, a sector that gained significant public attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. PhoneSoap, in particular, has achieved public recognition through its appearance on "Shark Tank" and subsequent commercial success. There is no public record of related Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceedings concerning patent 12296061.

This patent infringement litigation, Germ Dome Industries v. PhoneSoap, Case No. 2:24-cv-00589, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah and involved patent 12296061. The case concluded relatively quickly with a stipulated dismissal.

Here is a chronological summary of the key legal developments and outcome:

• Filing & Initial Pleadings:

  • The complaint was filed on August 16, 2024, by Germ Dome Industries against PhoneSoap in the Utah District Court. The nature of the suit was identified as patent infringement concerning U.S. Patent 12296061.

• Pre-trial Motions of Substance:

  • No significant pre-trial motions to dismiss, transfer, or stay pending IPR were reported in the available summaries before the case's resolution. Given the timeline, extensive motion practice was unlikely.

• Claim Construction (Markman) Outcomes:

  • The case did not reach the claim construction (Markman) stage due to its early dismissal.

• Discovery Milestones with Strategic Significance:

  • No strategically significant discovery milestones were reported before the case's conclusion.

• Trial Events, Verdict, and Post-Trial Motions:

  • The case did not proceed to trial, verdict, or post-trial motions.

• Settlement, Dismissal, Judgment, or Appeal:

  • On September 4, 2025, the parties filed a Stipulation of Dismissal with Prejudice.
  • The court issued a Notice from the Court on September 5, 2025, stating that, under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(ii), the stipulated dismissal with prejudice was self-effectuating. The case was dismissed with prejudice, with no fees, costs, or expenses awarded to any party. This indicates a settlement was reached between the parties leading to the voluntary dismissal of the lawsuit.

• Parallel PTAB IPR/PGR Proceedings:

  • A search of the USPTO's Patent Trial and Appeal Case Tracking System (P-TACTS) for patent 12296061 does not show any Inter Partes Review (IPR) or Post-Grant Review (PGR) proceedings filed against it. Therefore, no parallel PTAB proceedings affected this litigation.

Counsel of Record for Plaintiff Germ Dome Industries

In the patent infringement case Germ Dome Industries v. PhoneSoap, filed in the Utah District Court under case number 2:24-cv-00589, the plaintiff, Germ Dome Industries, was represented by the following counsel:

• Jessica Fleetham

  • Role: Counsel
  • Firm: Evia Law PLC
  • Office Location: Specific office location for Evia Law PLC was not immediately available in the search results.
  • Relevant Experience: Further details on specific patent litigation experience or notable past cases for Ms. Fleetham were not found in the initial search beyond her appearance in this case.

• Steven Susser

  • Role: Counsel
  • Firm: Evia Law PLC
  • Office Location: Specific office location for Evia Law PLC was not immediately available in the search results.
  • Relevant Experience: Further details on specific patent litigation experience or notable past cases for Mr. Susser were not found in the initial search beyond his appearance in this case.

• Kurtis M. Hendricks

  • Role: Counsel
  • Firm: Thorpe North & Western LLP
  • Office Location: Specific office location for Thorpe North & Western LLP was not immediately available in the search results.
  • Relevant Experience: Further details on specific patent litigation experience or notable past cases for Mr. Hendricks were not found in the initial search beyond his appearance in this case.

The case was filed on August 16, 2024, and was subsequently dismissed with prejudice on September 4, 2025, via a stipulated dismissal. Due to the dismissal, the involvement of counsel in extensive litigation beyond the initial stages may have been limited.

Here is the counsel of record representing the defendant(s) in Germ Dome Industries v. PhoneSoap, case number 2:24-cv-00589, in the Utah District Court:

Defendant: PhoneSoap

• Joshua G. Gigger

  • Role: Lead Counsel (prior to withdrawal)
  • Firm: Stoel Rives LLP
  • Office Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
  • Experience: Mr. Gigger is a partner whose practice focuses on registering, licensing, and enforcing patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and domain names. He advises clients on protecting and enforcing intellectual property, including litigation in federal courts. He withdrew from the case on August 7, 2025. [cite: 8 in prior turn]

• Kurtis M. Hendricks

  • Role: Counsel (likely local counsel or co-counsel)
  • Firm: Thorpe North & Western LLP
  • Office Location: Sandy, Utah, and Salt Lake City, Utah [cite: 1 in prior turn]
  • Experience: Mr. Hendricks' practice focuses on obtaining and enforcing intellectual property rights, including patent prosecution and litigation. He has experience in obtaining trademark and patent rights and protecting clients' rights through enforcement and negotiation. [cite: 7 in prior turn, 9 in prior turn] Thorpe North & Western LLP specializes in intellectual property law, including patent litigation. [cite: 3 in prior turn, 4 in prior turn]

The case was dismissed with prejudice on September 8, 2025, following a stipulation of dismissal filed by the plaintiff on September 4, 2025. [cite: 8 in prior turn]