Cedarwood Ventures, Inc. v. Verizon Wireless

Case Overview and Background

This new patent infringement action is part of a broader campaign by the plaintiff, Cedarwood Ventures, Inc., a non-practicing entity (NPE), now targeting major telecommunications and technology companies. Filed on May 6, 2026, the lawsuit alleges that defendant Verizon Wireless, a leading operating company in the telecommunications sector, infringes three patents through its "Driving Mode Auto-Reply" feature available in the Verizon Messages application for Android. This tool is designed to enhance driver safety by detecting when a user is driving and automatically sending a customizable reply to incoming text messages. The case follows nearly identical suits filed by Cedarwood against Google on the same day and against Apple in April 2026, asserting the same patents against similar "driving mode" functionalities in their respective products.

The three patents-in-suit all relate to technology for managing communications while a user is driving. A brief technical sketch of each is as follows:

• U.S. Patent No. 11,516,643: Titled "System and method for providing an auto-reply message for a mobile device in a vehicle," it generally covers a system that determines if a mobile device is in a moving vehicle and sends an automatic reply to incoming messages.
• U.S. Patent No. 9,979,826: Titled "System and method for providing an auto-reply message indicating a user is driving," this patent describes a method for detecting a vehicle's motion and, in response, transmitting an auto-reply to incoming communications.
• U.S. Patent No. 10,841,248: Also titled "System and method for providing an auto-reply message indicating a user is driving," this patent covers similar technology for automatically replying to messages when the recipient's device is detected to be in a moving vehicle.

The case has been filed in the Austin division of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas (WDTX), long the nation's most active venue for patent litigation. Historically, a high concentration of patent cases, particularly those filed by NPEs, were assigned to Judge Alan D. Albright in the Waco division, who was known for plaintiff-friendly procedures and a reluctance to transfer cases. However, a July 2022 standing order now mandates the random assignment of patent cases filed in the Waco division among a larger pool of judges, a change that has slightly reduced the district's dominance. The parallel case against Google has been assigned to Senior Judge David A. Ezra. This litigation is notable as it exemplifies the common NPE strategy of serially asserting a single patent portfolio against multiple, high-value defendants in a favorable jurisdiction, creating pressure for settlements and raising the possibility of coordinated defensive actions, such as inter partes review (IPR) petitions at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

As of 2026-05-08, the patent infringement litigation Cedarwood Ventures, Inc. v. Verizon Wireless is in its earliest stage, with no significant legal developments beyond the initial filing. The case was initiated only two days prior, and the court docket reflects only the complaint and administrative entries.

Filing & Initial Pleadings

2026-05-06: Plaintiff Cedarwood Ventures, Inc. filed a patent infringement complaint against Defendant Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless ("Verizon") in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. The case is assigned to Judge David A. Ezra. The complaint alleges that Verizon's "Driving Mode Auto-Reply" tool infringes on three U.S. patents:

• 9,979,826: "System and method for filtering messages"
• 10,841,248: "System and method for filtering messages"
• 11,516,643: "System and method for filtering messages"

The plaintiff has demanded a jury trial. As of 2026-05-08, a summons has not yet been issued, and Verizon has not filed an answer or any other responsive pleading.

Wider Litigation Campaign

This lawsuit appears to be part of a broader patent assertion campaign by Cedarwood Ventures. On the same day, Cedarwood filed a nearly identical lawsuit against Google, asserting the same three patents against the Android Auto feature, also in the Western District of Texas (Cedarwood Ventures, Inc. v. Google LLC, 1:26-cv-01202). This follows a similar complaint filed by Cedarwood against Apple Inc. in April 2026, targeting the same patents (Cedarwood Ventures, Inc. v. Apple Inc., 7:26-cv-00152). This multi-front litigation strategy against major technology companies is common for patent assertion entities.

Pre-trial Motions and Other Developments

Given the nascent stage of the litigation, no substantive motions have been filed by either party. There have been no motions to dismiss, transfer, or stay the case.

Parallel PTAB Proceedings

A search of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) records indicates no Inter Partes Review (IPR) or Post-Grant Review (PGR) proceedings have been filed for the three asserted patents (11,516,643, 9,979,826, and 10,841,248) as of 2026-05-08.

It is a common defense strategy for defendants in patent litigation, particularly in cases involving multiple defendants like this one, to challenge the validity of the asserted patents at the PTAB. Any such filing by Verizon, Google, or Apple would be a key development to monitor, as a stay of the district court case pending the outcome of PTAB reviews would be highly probable.

Outlook

The case is currently in a procedural holding pattern, awaiting service of the complaint on Verizon. Once served, the key upcoming events will be:

• The appearance of counsel for Verizon.
• Verizon's responsive pleading (an answer and any counterclaims) or the filing of early motions, such as a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) or a motion to transfer venue.
• Potential filing of IPR petitions at the PTAB by Verizon or the other defendants in the parallel cases, which could significantly impact the timeline and progression of this litigation.

As the case was filed only two days ago, on May 6, 2026, notices of appearance for the full legal team are likely still being filed. Based on the initial complaint, the following attorney has been identified as representing the plaintiff, Cedarwood Ventures, Inc.

Counsel for Plaintiff Cedarwood Ventures, Inc.

Ni, Wang & Massand, PLLC

Based on the initial filing and the firm's involvement in a parallel case, it is anticipated that the following attorneys from Ni, Wang & Massand, PLLC will represent the plaintiff.

• Name: Nicholas E. Najera

  • Role: Local Counsel. Mr. Najera is the attorney who filed the original complaint in this case and in the companion case against Apple.
  • Firm: Ni, Wang & Massand, PLLC; Dallas, Texas.
  • Note: Mr. Najera's practice focuses on patent litigation and prosecution, and he previously externed in the Western District of Texas, Waco Division.

• Name: Hao Ni

  • Role: Lead Counsel (Anticipated). Mr. Ni is a founding partner of the firm.
  • Firm: Ni, Wang & Massand, PLLC; Dallas, Texas.
  • Note: Mr. Ni has extensive experience in patent and commercial litigation, previously practicing at McKool Smith and Patton Boggs.

• Name: Timothy Wang

  • Role: Of Counsel (Anticipated). Mr. Wang is a founding partner of the firm.
  • Firm: Ni, Wang & Massand, PLLC; Dallas, Texas.
  • Note: An experienced IP trial lawyer, Mr. Wang has handled high-profile litigation leading to significant settlements and was recognized as a rising star by Super Lawyers.

• Name: Neal Massand

  • Role: Of Counsel (Anticipated). Mr. Massand is a founding partner of the firm.
  • Firm: Ni, Wang & Massand, PLLC; Dallas, Texas.
  • Note: Mr. Massand is a registered patent attorney with a focus on patent litigation and prosecution, assisting clients in numerous patent monetization and litigation efforts.

As of May 8, 2026, only Nicholas E. Najera is listed on the docket as having filed the complaint. Further appearances are expected as the case progresses. The same firm and attorney recently filed a similar lawsuit for Cedarwood Ventures against Apple Inc. in the same district, suggesting this team will likely constitute the core counsel for the plaintiff.

As of May 8, 2026, counsel for the defendant, Verizon Wireless, has not yet made an appearance in the case of Cedarwood Ventures, Inc. v. Verizon Wireless.

The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas on May 6, 2026. Given the very recent filing date, Verizon Wireless has not yet formally responded to the complaint or designated its legal representation on the public docket.

Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a defendant typically has 21 days to file a responsive pleading after being served with the summons and complaint. Counsel's notice of appearance is generally filed on or before that deadline. Information regarding Verizon's counsel of record will be updated once an appearance is filed with the court.