Litigation

Untitled case

Critical litigation

6:24-cv-00893

Patents at issue (1)

9305450

Summary

This case involves litigation concerning US Patent 9305450.

Case overview & background

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

The case 6:24-cv-00893, titled RICMIC LLC v. Sentrics Inc et al, is a patent infringement litigation filed in the Middle District of Florida. The plaintiff, RICMIC LLC, is represented by Ramey LLP, a firm that frequently represents non-practicing entities (NPEs) in patent enforcement actions. The defendants are Sentrics, Inc., Sentrics Holdings, LLC, and Silversphere, LLC, which are companies operating in the senior living technology sector, offering solutions for resident engagement, safety, and care. The specific accused products or services have not been detailed in the public search results beyond the general cause of action being patent infringement related to property rights.

The sole patent at issue is US Patent 9,305,450. A technical sketch of this patent, based on public USPTO data, reveals it is titled "System and method for providing emergency services using a portable device." This patent generally relates to systems and methods that utilize portable devices to detect emergency situations and automatically initiate calls or alerts to emergency services or designated contacts..

The case was filed on May 10, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and has been assigned to Judge Julie S. Sneed and Magistrate Judge Embry J. Kidd. The procedural posture indicates that as of July 15, 2024, the defendants were granted an extension to respond to the complaint, with a new deadline of August 14, 2024. However, more recent docket information from January 2025 indicates that the case was settled and subsequently dismissed on January 9, 2025, with pending motions denied as moot. This means the case is no longer active litigation. The Middle District of Florida is a popular venue for patent cases, though the specific strategic reasons for this choice by RICMIC LLC are not explicitly stated in the public record.

The case is notable given RICMIC LLC's likely status as an NPE, consistent with Ramey LLP's representation history. The rapid settlement and dismissal within approximately eight months of filing suggests that the parties reached an agreement relatively quickly, avoiding prolonged litigation, which is a common outcome in cases initiated by NPEs. No specific details regarding industry impact, IPR linkage, or broader market context are readily available from the public search results.

Key legal developments & outcome

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

Key Legal Developments and Outcome for RICMIC, LLC v. Sentrics, Inc. et al.

The patent infringement litigation, RICMIC, LLC v. Sentrics, Inc., Sentrics Holdings, LLC, and Silversphere, LLC, Case Number 6:24-cv-00893, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida and saw a swift resolution through settlement and dismissal. The patent at issue, as specified, is US Patent 9305450.

Chronological Legal Developments:

  • 2024-05-10: Complaint Filed
    RICMIC, LLC initiated the patent infringement lawsuit by filing a complaint against Sentrics, Inc., Sentrics Holdings, LLC, and Silversphere, LLC. The case was assigned to Judge Julie S. Sneed and Magistrate Judge Embry J. Kidd.
  • 2024-05-10: Notice of Related Action
    Defendants Sentrics Holdings, LLC, Sentrics, Inc., and Silversphere, LLC filed a notice under Local Rule 1.07(c) indicating no related actions.
  • 2024-06-10: First Extension of Time to Respond Granted
    An unopposed motion for an extension of time to respond to the complaint, filed by the defendants, was granted. The new deadline for the defendants to respond was set for July 15, 2024.
  • 2024-07-15: Second Extension of Time to Respond Granted
    Another unopposed motion for an extension of time was granted, pushing the deadline for the defendants' response to the complaint to August 14, 2024.
  • 2025-01-08: Joint Notice of Settlement
    A joint notice of settlement was filed by Sentrics, Inc., Sentrics Holdings, LLC, and Silversphere, LLC, indicating that the parties had reached an agreement to resolve the dispute.
  • 2025-01-09: Order Dismissing Case
    Following the notice of settlement, Judge Julie S. Sneed issued an order dismissing the case. Any pending motions were denied as moot, and the Clerk was directed to close the case.

Outcome:

The litigation concluded with a settlement and dismissal of the case on January 9, 2025. Due to this early resolution, the case did not proceed to substantive pre-trial motions (beyond extensions of time to respond), claim construction (Markman), significant discovery, trial, or post-trial motions. The defendants likely did not file an answer or counterclaims before the settlement was reached and the case was dismissed.

Parallel PTAB IPR/PGR Proceedings:

A search for Inter Partes Review (IPR) or Post-Grant Review (PGR) proceedings related to US Patent 9305450 at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) revealed no active or concluded proceedings. Therefore, there was no effect from parallel PTAB proceedings on this litigation.

Plaintiff representatives

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

Here is the counsel of record representing the plaintiff, RICMIC, LLC, in case 6:24-cv-00893 in the Florida Middle District Court:

  • Richard Fee
    • Role: Likely lead counsel or local counsel with direct filing rights.
    • Firm: The specific firm is not explicitly stated in the provided snippets, but he filed the initial complaint.
    • Note: Further search would be needed to identify his firm and specific patent litigation experience.
  • John T. Polasek
    • Role: Seeking to appear pro hac vice, indicating he is likely lead counsel from out-of-state.
    • Firm: The provided snippets do not specify his firm or office location.
    • Note: Further search would be needed to identify his firm, office location, and specific patent litigation experience.

Filings are not sealed, but detailed information on the attorneys' firms, office locations, and specific patent litigation experience requires further investigation beyond the initial docket entries provided.

Defendant representatives

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

The defendants in RICMIC LLC v. Sentrics Inc et al (6:24-cv-00893) were represented by attorneys from DLA Piper US LLP and Holland & Knight LLP.

Here are the details of the counsel of record for the defendants:

DLA Piper US LLP

  • William L. Bartow
    • Role: Likely lead counsel or significant counsel.
    • Firm/Office: DLA Piper US LLP. Specific office location not immediately available from the search results, but DLA Piper has offices globally.
    • Experience Note: DLA Piper has a robust intellectual property and technology practice.
  • Gregory J. Ferroni
    • Role: Likely lead counsel or significant counsel.
    • Firm/Office: DLA Piper US LLP. Specific office location not immediately available.
    • Experience Note: DLA Piper is active in intellectual property and technology law.

Holland & Knight LLP

  • J. Trumon Phillips
    • Role: Likely lead counsel or significant counsel.
    • Firm/Office: Holland & Knight LLP. As a prominent firm with a large presence in Florida, it's probable Phillips is located in one of their Florida offices, though not explicitly stated in the provided search results.
    • Experience Note: Holland & Knight has a substantial commercial litigation practice, including intellectual property.