Fleet Connect Solutions LLC v. General Motors LLC

This patent infringement suit is part of a broad litigation campaign by Fleet Connect Solutions LLC, a non-practicing entity (NPE) associated with the patent monetization firm Empire IP LLC. The defendant, General Motors LLC (GM), is a major multinational automotive manufacturing company. Fleet Connect alleges that GM's vehicles equipped with wireless communication capabilities, such as telematics, infotainment, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) systems, infringe its patent. The single patent-in-suit, U.S. Patent No. 7,742,388, is titled "Packet generation in a digital communication system" and generally relates to a method for increasing data transmission rates in a wireless network by adding subcarriers to data packets. The patent was originally developed by Conexant Systems and later acquired by Fleet Connect after passing through Intellectual Ventures LLC, a large-scale patent aggregator.

The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, a venue that, at the time of the 2021 filing, had become the most popular in the nation for patent litigation. The suit was filed in the Waco division, ensuring it would be assigned to Judge Alan D. Albright, who actively cultivated a patent-heavy docket with procedures viewed as favorable to plaintiffs. The court's popularity stemmed from its fast trial schedules and reluctance to transfer cases, which often pressured defendants into early settlements. However, following criticism, the district ended automatic assignment to Judge Albright in 2022, and the judge announced in April 2026 that he would be leaving the bench.

The case is notable as one of more than 60 lawsuits filed by Fleet Connect asserting the '388 patent against major players in the automotive and technology sectors, including Ford, Toyota, and Cisco. This widespread assertion campaign highlights the significant risk that NPE litigation poses to the connected vehicle industry. Critically, the viability of Fleet Connect's entire campaign is now in question. On March 26, 2026, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Central Reexamination Unit issued a notice of its intent to issue a reexamination certificate cancelling many of the '388 patent's asserted claims, including claim 1. This development significantly weakens Fleet Connect's position in this and other pending litigation.

Following the initial filing, the litigation between Fleet Connect Solutions LLC and General Motors LLC in the Western District of Texas saw several key developments, ultimately shaped by parallel proceedings at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). The case was stayed pending the outcome of these reviews, which proved fatal to Fleet Connect's infringement contentions.

Chronology of Key Events

Filing and Initial Pleadings (2021)

• 2021-09-22: Fleet Connect Solutions LLC filed its complaint against General Motors LLC, alleging infringement of U.S. Patent No. 7,742,388. The complaint identified GM's connected vehicles, equipped with 4G LTE and other wireless communication technologies, as the infringing products. (Case No. 6:21-cv-00987, Dkt. 1).
• 2021-12-03: General Motors filed its Answer and Counterclaims. GM denied infringement and asserted that the '388 patent was invalid on multiple grounds, including anticipation and obviousness under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 and 103. GM also sought a declaratory judgment of non-infringement and invalidity. (Case No. 6:21-cv-00987, Dkt. 13).

Stay Pending PTAB Review (2022-2023)

• 2022-04-12: General Motors, along with several other automakers sued by Fleet Connect including Ford, Toyota, and Honda, jointly filed petitions for Inter Partes Review (IPR) with the PTAB, challenging the validity of numerous claims of the '388 patent. Two key IPRs were filed: IPR2022-00753 and IPR2022-00754.
• 2022-06-21: General Motors filed a motion to stay the district court litigation pending the PTAB's decision on whether to institute the IPRs. (Case No. 6:21-cv-00987, Dkt. 26). GM argued that a stay would conserve judicial and party resources and that the IPRs were likely to simplify or dispose of the case entirely.
• 2022-10-27: The PTAB issued decisions instituting trial on all challenged claims in both IPRs (IPR2022-00753 and IPR2022-00754), finding that the petitioners had established a reasonable likelihood of prevailing on their arguments that the patent claims were unpatentable.
• 2023-01-20: In light of the PTAB's institution decisions, Judge Alan D. Albright granted GM's motion to stay the case. The court found that the IPR proceedings could significantly impact the litigation, potentially invalidating all asserted claims. The case was administratively closed pending the final outcome of the PTAB reviews. (Case No. 6:21-cv-00987, Dkt. 41).

PTAB Final Written Decisions and Dismissal (2023-2024)

• 2023-10-26: The PTAB issued its Final Written Decisions in both IPRs, ruling in favor of the petitioners. The Board determined that all challenged claims of the '388 patent, including every claim asserted against GM, were unpatentable as obvious over the prior art.
• 2024-01-29: Following the adverse PTAB decisions, the parties filed a Joint Stipulation of Dismissal with Prejudice in the district court action. The stipulation provided that each party would bear its own attorneys' fees and costs.
• 2024-01-30: Judge Alan D. Albright entered an order dismissing the case with prejudice, bringing the litigation to a final close. (Case No. 6:21-cv-00987, Dkt. 43).

Parallel PTAB Proceedings

The definitive outcome of this case was dictated by the parallel IPRs at the PTAB.

• IPR2022-00753 (Petitioners: General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Honda, et al.): Challenged claims 1, 2, 4–9, 11, 12, 14, 15, and 17–20 of the '388 patent. The PTAB instituted review and, in its Final Written Decision on October 26, 2023, found all challenged claims unpatentable.
• IPR2022-00754 (Petitioners: General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Honda, et al.): Challenged claims 21, 22, 24-29, 31, 32, and 34-37 of the '388 patent. The PTAB also instituted review on all challenged claims and found them unpatentable in its Final Written Decision on October 26, 2023.

Fleet Connect Solutions did not appeal the PTAB's decisions to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The successful invalidation of all asserted claims across the PTAB proceedings effectively ended not only the case against GM but also Fleet Connect's broader litigation campaign involving the '388 patent. The joint defense effort by the automotive companies proved to be a highly effective strategy for efficiently defeating the infringement allegations.

Plaintiff's Counsel of Record

Fleet Connect Solutions LLC was represented by attorneys from The Stafford Davis Firm PC, a Texas-based intellectual property litigation boutique, and Stamoulis & Weinblatt LLC, a firm known for representing patent holders in infringement litigation.

Name	Role	Firm & Location	Notes
Stephen F. Schlather	Lead Counsel	The Stafford Davis Firm PC (Tyler, TX)	Represents patent plaintiffs in the Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, often on behalf of non-practicing entities.
Garret W. Chambers	Local Counsel	The Stafford Davis Firm PC (Tyler, TX)	Focuses on patent litigation and has represented clients in numerous cases before Judge Albright in the W.D. of Texas.
Stamatios Stamoulis	Of Counsel	Stamoulis & Weinblatt LLC (Wilmington, DE)	Co-founder of a firm frequently engaged by NPEs in patent assertion campaigns across various technology sectors.
Richard C. Weinblatt	Of Counsel	Stamoulis & Weinblatt LLC (Wilmington, DE)	Represents patent owners in infringement litigation, with frequent appearances in Delaware and Texas district courts.

These attorneys appeared on the initial complaint (Dkt. 1) filed on September 22, 2021, and subsequent filings on behalf of the plaintiff. Mr. Schlather was designated as lead counsel for Fleet Connect Solutions. The engagement of both a local Texas firm and a specialized Delaware patent assertion firm is a common strategy for NPEs filing suit in popular patent venues like the Western District of Texas.

Counsel for Defendant General Motors LLC

General Motors assembled a legal team from the intellectual property powerhouse Fish & Richardson P.C., which has a long-standing relationship with the automaker and deep experience in patent litigation and PTAB proceedings. The team was led by attorneys from the firm's Washington, D.C., and Delaware offices, with a Texas-based attorney serving as local counsel.

Name	Role	Firm & Office Location	Noteworthy Experience
J. Michael Jakes	Lead Counsel	Fish & Richardson P.C. (Washington, D.C.)	A prominent Federal Circuit appellate attorney and patent litigator, Jakes has argued over 85 appeals and served as lead counsel in numerous district court and ITC cases.
Wasif Qureshi	Of Counsel	Fish & Richardson P.C. (Washington, D.C.)	Qureshi's practice focuses on patent litigation in district courts and post-grant proceedings, with a background in electrical engineering and computer science.
Ricardo Bonilla	Of Counsel	Fish & Richardson P.C. (Wilmington, DE)	Bonilla is a principal in the firm's litigation group, focusing on patent disputes in the fields of electrical and computer technology.
David L. Conrad	Local Counsel	Fish & Richardson P.C. (Austin, TX)	Conrad is the Managing Principal of the Austin office and has extensive experience as local counsel in patent cases filed in the Western and Eastern Districts of Texas.