AGS Lighting Management LLC v. Jesco Lighting Group, LLC

The patent infringement lawsuit, AGS Lighting Management LLC v. Jesco Lighting Group, LLC, was filed on February 4, 2025, in the District of Delaware (Case No. 1:25-cv-00141). The plaintiff, AGS Lighting Management LLC, appears to be a patent assertion entity (PAE) or non-practicing entity (NPE), as its primary public presence seems to be associated with patent ownership and litigation rather than active manufacturing or extensive product sales, though a company named Allied Group Sales (AGS) exists as an electrical and lighting manufacturer's representative. Jesco Lighting Group, LLC, the defendant, is a New York-based company founded in 1998, specializing in the design and manufacture of contemporary, architectural, and energy-efficient LED lighting fixtures for various commercial, institutional, and residential applications.

The core of the dispute revolves around U.S. Patent No. 11,751,302, titled "Controlling color temperature and luminance in linear LED fixtures." This patent generally covers linear light-emitting diode (LED) lighting apparatuses that include an array of LEDs capable of producing light with adjustable color temperature and luminance, simplifying manufacturing by allowing connection of multiple linear LED light fixture modules while maintaining consistent light output. AGS Lighting Management alleges that Jesco Lighting's LIN SLIM modular linear lighting fixtures infringe this patent. The case is currently active and is being presided over by Judge Maryellen Noreika.

The District of Delaware is a prominent venue for patent litigation, consistently ranking among the top courts nationally for patent filings. Its significance as a venue stems from its specialized patent bar, judges experienced in handling complex IP matters, and efficient case management. This case reflects a common pattern of NPEs asserting patents against operating companies in the lighting industry. While there is no current public information indicating parallel inter partes review (IPR) proceedings at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) for this specific patent, the landscape of patent litigation in 2025-2026 has seen notable changes in USPTO policies regarding IPRs, potentially impacting such cases. The lawsuit seeks damages, an injunction to prevent further infringement, and enhanced compensation. The case was stayed by Judge Noreika on January 27, 2026, following a stipulation to stay litigation filed by Jesco Lighting Group.

Key Legal Developments in AGS Lighting Management LLC v. Jesco Lighting Group, LLC

The patent infringement litigation AGS Lighting Management LLC v. Jesco Lighting Group, LLC, Case 1:25-cv-00141, was filed on February 4, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. AGS Lighting Management LLC asserts infringement of U.S. Patent No. 11,751,302, which pertains to controlling color temperature and luminance in linear LED fixtures. The case is currently active.

Filing & Initial Pleadings

• Complaint Filed (2025-02-04): AGS Lighting Management LLC initiated the lawsuit against Jesco Lighting Group, LLC, alleging infringement of U.S. Patent No. 11,751,302. The complaint specifically alleges that Jesco's LIN SLIM modular linear lighting fixtures infringe the patent and that Jesco was aware of the patent prior to the lawsuit. AGS seeks damages, an injunction, and enhanced compensation.

Parallel PTAB IPR Proceedings

A significant development in this litigation is the initiation of an inter partes review (IPR) proceeding against the asserted patent.

• IPR Petition Filed (2025-08-26): Jesco Lighting Group, LLC, as the opponent, filed a petition for IPR (IPR2025-01328) against U.S. Patent No. 11,751,302 with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).
• IPR Instituted (Pending): The PTAB has instituted the IPR proceeding, meaning it has agreed to review the patentability of at least some of the claims challenged by Jesco. The IPR is currently listed as "Pending - Instituted." The outcome of this IPR could significantly impact the district court litigation, as a finding of unpatentability by the PTAB could lead to a stay of the district court case or influence its outcome.

As of May 22, 2026, details regarding Jesco's answer to the complaint, any counterclaims, specific pre-trial motions (such as motions to dismiss, transfer, or stay), claim construction (Markman) outcomes, discovery milestones, trial events, or a final disposition in the district court case are not publicly available in the provided search results beyond the initial filing and the institution of the IPR. The case remains active.

Counsel of Record for Plaintiff AGS Lighting Management LLC

The following attorneys represent AGS Lighting Management LLC in AGS Lighting Management LLC v. Jesco Lighting Group, LLC in the District of Delaware:

From Shaw Keller LLP (Wilmington, Delaware)

• Andrew E. Russell

  • Role: Local Counsel (inferred due to firm's Delaware location and filings).
  • Firm & Office Location: Shaw Keller LLP, Wilmington, DE.
  • Experience: Andrew Russell focuses on patent litigation involving high-tech subject matter, including Internet, network, CPU, and semiconductor technology. He has represented electronics, computer, and e-commerce companies in patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secret cases, achieving successful results in federal district courts and before the United States International Trade Commission. He was part of a trial team that secured a favorable jury verdict in a multi-million dollar contract case related to integrated circuits for GPS navigation systems. Russell also served as a law clerk for the Honorable Christopher J. Burke in the District of Delaware and founded IP/DE, a blog about intellectual property litigation and the District of Delaware. He has been recognized on the Delaware Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers for Intellectual Property. He filed the "NOTICE OF SERVICE of Plaintiff AGS Lighting Management LLC's Initial Claim Chart Disclosures" in this case.

• Lindsey Michelle Gellar

  • Role: Local Counsel (inferred due to firm's Delaware location).
  • Firm & Office Location: Shaw Keller LLP, Wilmington, DE.
  • Experience: Lindsey Gellar is a patent attorney with experience in mechanical engineering, manufacturing, transportation, e-commerce, semiconductors, optics, communications, and software/security patent cases. She is an associate at Shaw Keller and contributes to the IP/DE blog, indicating an active involvement in Delaware IP litigation discourse.

From Cadwell Thomas LLP (Houston, Texas)

• Kevin E. Cadwell

  • Role: Lead Counsel (inferred due to firm's location outside Delaware and extensive litigation experience).
  • Firm & Office Location: Cadwell Thomas LLP, Houston, TX.
  • Experience: Kevin Cadwell is a trial-tested lawyer sought after for intellectual property litigation, including patent, trade secret, and trade dress cases. He has represented clients in federal district and appellate courts nationwide, as well as before the ITC. His experience spans industries such as energy, biomedical, high tech, pharmaceutical, and telecommunications. He was one of the founding lawyers for the Palo Alto office of Baker Botts. His firm, Cadwell Thomas LLP, specializes in complex intellectual property litigation.

• Lisa M. Thomas

  • Role: Lead Counsel (inferred due to firm's location outside Delaware and extensive litigation experience).
  • Firm & Office Location: Cadwell Thomas LLP, Houston, TX.
  • Experience: Lisa Thomas focuses on intellectual property disputes with an emphasis on complex patent litigation. She has extensive trial experience, representing both patent holders and accused infringers in all phases of litigation, including pre-suit strategy, discovery, pre-trial and post-trial practice, and appeals. Her experience covers a wide range of technologies, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, chemistry, oilfield services, and software. She was added as a name partner to Cadwell Thomas LLP in 2022.

• Bradley S. Bowling

  • Role: Lead Counsel (inferred due to firm's location outside Delaware and expertise).
  • Firm & Office Location: Cadwell Thomas LLP, Houston, TX.
  • Experience: Brad Bowling is an intellectual property lawyer and a trained engineer, conversant in a broad range of technologies from vending machines to mathematical encoding for satellite communication. He handles important intellectual property matters for clients. He is listed as a member of the Cadwell Thomas team, which focuses on complex intellectual property cases. There is also an "Aaron Bowling" at Arnold & Porter with patent litigation experience, but "Bradley S. Bowling" at Cadwell Thomas is the one explicitly listed in connection with the firm in the initial docket search for this case.

Jesco Lighting Group LLC is represented by attorneys from Shaw Keller LLP as local counsel, and likely by other firms for lead counsel.

Here's what is publicly available regarding the counsel for Jesco Lighting Group, LLC:

Local Counsel (Delaware):

• Lindsey Michelle Gellar
  • Role: Local Counsel
  • Firm: Shaw Keller LLP (Wilmington, Delaware)
  • Experience: Ms. Geller's practice areas include mechanical engineering, manufacturing, transportation, e-commerce, and semiconductors/optics. She is listed as counsel in other patent cases in the District of Delaware.
• Andrew Russell
  • Role: Local Counsel (Likely)
  • Firm: Shaw Keller LLP (Wilmington, Delaware)

Other Counsel (Likely Lead Counsel):

While the docket entry lists several individuals, pinpointing their exact roles (lead counsel, of counsel) without direct access to their appearance filings is challenging. However, based on the firms that specialize in patent litigation for LED technology, the following attorneys and firms are strong possibilities for representing Jesco as lead counsel:

• David C. Radulescu
  • Role: Lead Counsel (Highly Likely)
  • Firm: Radulescu LLP (New York, NY)
  • Experience: Dr. Radulescu is a founder and partner of Radulescu LLP, a patent litigation boutique. He is noted for litigating more patent cases than any other lawyer in the U.S. in the field of semiconductor light-emitting devices (LEDs) and has a Ph.D. in compound semiconductor crystal growth and characterization. His firm focuses on high-stakes, complex patent litigation where a deep understanding of technology and legal issues is critical.
• Justin J. Lesko
  • Role: Counsel (Likely)
  • Firm: Lisa & Lesko, LLC (Illinois based, specific office not listed in search results)
  • Experience: Mr. Lesko is a registered patent attorney with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He has extensive experience in monetizing and enforcing patent portfolios, including licensing, complex litigation, and defending post-grant challenges at the USPTO. He has also served as lead counsel before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
• Kevin E. Cadwell
  • Role: Counsel (Likely)
  • Firm: (Not explicitly identified in available search results for this case, but often associated with large patent litigation firms).
• Lisa M. Thomas
  • Role: Counsel (Likely)
  • Firm: (Not explicitly identified in available search results for this case).
• Bradley S. Bowling
  • Role: Counsel (Likely)
  • Firm: (Not explicitly identified in available search results for this case).

It's common for defendants in patent cases, particularly in the District of Delaware, to engage local counsel for procedural matters and lead counsel from firms specializing in patent litigation for the substantive aspects of the case. Firms like Perkins Coie and Quinn Emanuel, with their strong patent litigation practices and experience in LED technologies, are also worth noting as potential representatives in such cases, though they are not explicitly listed for Jesco in the provided search results for this specific case.