Hannibal IP, LLC v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Hannibal IP, LLC, an affiliate of Longhorn IP LLC, has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. in the Eastern District of Texas. Hannibal IP, LLC operates as a Non-Practicing Entity (NPE) or Patent Assertion Entity (PAE), specializing in acquiring and asserting portfolios of patents, particularly those related to 5G wireless communication technologies. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global operating company known for its consumer electronics, including devices that utilize 5G wireless communication standards. The lawsuit alleges that Samsung's products and services infringe U.S. Patent No. 11,641,661. This patent broadly describes methods and systems for digital communication, specifically focusing on how user equipment (UE) performs radio resource management (RRM) measurements during a measurement gap (MG) after receiving a cell-specific reference signal (CRS) from a base station. This technology is pertinent to optimizing wireless communication efficiency and managing handovers in 5G networks.

The case, 4:25-cv-00200, was filed on February 27, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, and is assigned to Judge Sean D. Jordan (indicated by "SDJ" in docket references). This venue is notable in patent litigation for its historically plaintiff-friendly procedural rules, fast trial schedules (a "rocket docket"), and a jury pool often perceived as sympathetic to patent holders, particularly against large technology companies. Despite the Supreme Court's TC Heartland decision limiting venue options, plaintiffs continue to find ways to litigate in the Eastern District of Texas, such as by targeting foreign parent companies like Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

This litigation is significant as it involves a patent assertion entity, Hannibal IP, LLC, asserting patents that are part of the 3GPP 5G Standard, against a major implementer of 5G technology, Samsung. The assertion of standard-essential patents (SEPs) often leads to complex licensing disputes with potential industry-wide implications. Samsung has actively challenged patents from Hannibal IP's portfolio, including filing Inter Partes Reviews (IPRs) against related patents such such as US11368911B2 and US11057896 at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, reflecting a common defensive strategy in such cases.

Hannibal IP, LLC v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.: Key Legal Developments

This patent infringement litigation, filed by Hannibal IP, LLC against Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. in the Eastern District of Texas (Case No. 4:25-cv-00200), commenced on February 27, 2025. The case is currently ongoing.

Key Developments:

• Complaint Filed (2025-02-27): Hannibal IP, LLC initiated the lawsuit by filing a complaint alleging patent infringement against Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
• Motion to Stay Pending Inter Partes Review (IPR) Filed by Samsung: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. filed a motion to stay the district court proceedings pending the outcome of an Inter Partes Review (IPR) at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).
• Opposition and Reply to Motion to Stay: Hannibal IP, LLC filed a response in opposition to Samsung's motion to stay, and Samsung subsequently filed a reply.
• Rule 16 Management Conference Cancelled (2025-09-19): A Rule 16 management conference, initially scheduled for September 24, 2025, was cancelled by District Judge Sean D. Jordan on September 19, 2025. The cancellation was explicitly made pending the Court's ruling on the motion to stay.
• Parallel PTAB IPR Proceeding Instituted (IPR2025-01187): Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. filed a petition for Inter Partes Review (IPR) against Hannibal IP, LLC, designated as IPR2025-01187, concerning the patent-in-suit. The IPR was filed around July 24, 2025, with Samsung as the Petitioner and Hannibal IP, LLC as the Patent Owner.

As of May 23, 2026, the court's ruling on Samsung's motion to stay pending the IPR, Samsung's answer and counterclaims, and the institution decision or any final written decision for IPR2025-01187 have not been publicly detailed in the search results. Further, there is no public information available regarding claim construction (Markman) outcomes, discovery milestones, trial events, verdict, or any final disposition of the district court case. The case remains active.

Here is the identified counsel of record representing Hannibal IP, LLC in Hannibal IP, LLC v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Case No. 4:25-cv-00200, in the Eastern District of Texas:

• Wesley Hill

  • Role: Likely lead or local counsel.
  • Firm: J. Wesley Hill, P.C., Longview, Texas.
  • Experience Note: Mr. Hill is an experienced trial lawyer with over two decades of practice in the Eastern District of Texas, including more than a dozen trials as lead or co-lead counsel in patent cases. He is intimately familiar with practice in the district, having served as chairman of the Eastern District of Texas Local Rules Committee.

• Vishal Patel

  • Role: Counsel.
  • Firm: Not explicitly stated in the provided snippets for this case, but a docket entry mentions his name in relation to a filing for Hannibal IP, LLC.
  • Experience Note: The search results indicate Vishal Patel filed a response in opposition on behalf of Hannibal IP, LLC. Further web search would be needed to detail his specific patent litigation experience or firm.

• Elias H. Portnoy

  • Role: Counsel.
  • Firm: Portnoy Schneck, L.L.C. (Office location not specified for patent litigation, but the firm has offices in New Jersey).
  • Experience Note: Mr. Portnoy has successfully litigated cases involving patent infringement, among other business disputes.

A Christopher M. Goff was also mentioned in general intellectual property litigation contexts during the search; however, other search results indicate a prominent Christopher M. Goff is currently a Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court, making his active participation as counsel in this Texas case highly improbable. Therefore, without further specific docket entries clarifying his role in this particular case, he is not listed as active counsel.Here is the counsel of record representing the plaintiff, Hannibal IP, LLC, in Hannibal IP, LLC v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Case No. 4:25-cv-00200, in the Eastern District of Texas:

• Wesley Hill

  • Role: Local Counsel / Co-Lead Counsel.
  • Firm: J. Wesley Hill, P.C., Longview, Texas.
  • Experience Note: Mr. Hill is a highly experienced trial lawyer with over 20 years of practice in the Eastern District of Texas, having served as lead or co-lead trial counsel in more than a dozen trials, including ten patent cases. He is also a former chairman of the Eastern District of Texas Local Rules Committee.

• Vishal H. Patel

  • Role: Lead Counsel.
  • Firm: Cole Schotz P.C., Dallas, Texas.
  • Experience Note: Mr. Patel is a veteran intellectual property lawyer specializing in patent and trade secret litigation, with a technical background that allows him to effectively advocate complex technologies. He has represented clients in various industries before state and federal courts and the International Trade Commission. Docket entries confirm his active filing on behalf of Hannibal IP, LLC.

• Elias H. Portnoy

  • Role: Counsel (specific role as lead or of counsel is not definitively indicated by available information but he is associated with patent litigation).
  • Firm: Portnoy Schneck, L.L.C., Hamilton, New Jersey, and Hawthorne, New York.
  • Experience Note: Mr. Portnoy has successfully litigated cases involving patent infringement, alongside other complex commercial and business disputes.

The following counsel of record represent Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. in Hannibal IP, LLC v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.:

• Maram Alshaer

  • Role: Associate, Pro Hac Vice
  • Firm: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP, Washington, DC office
  • Experience: Specializes in patent litigation and prosecution across a range of technical fields, including telecommunications, artificial intelligence (AI), automotive systems, and electric vehicles (EVs). She manages complex litigation before U.S. district courts and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).

• Melissa R. Smith

  • Role: Partner, Local Counsel
  • Firm: Gillam & Smith, LLP, Marshall, Texas office
  • Experience: An experienced trial lawyer in the Eastern District of Texas, she has successfully defended multiple patent cases to verdict, achieving non-infringement and invalidity rulings. She has served as local counsel in over three thousand patent cases and is recognized as a "go-to" lawyer for intellectual property matters by numerous Fortune 500 Companies. She has previously represented Samsung, contributing to trial teams, jury selection, and witness examinations.

• Chen Zang, Ph.D.

  • Role: Partner (as of January 2026), Pro Hac Vice
  • Firm: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP, Washington, DC office
  • Experience: Maintains a diverse patent practice including inter partes review (IPR) proceedings, district court litigation, International Trade Commission (ITC) investigations, and patent prosecution. His technical background in physics allows him to work on various electrical and mechanical technologies, and he has experience in over 30 IPRs, district court cases, and ITC investigations.

• Robert K. High

  • Role: Partner
  • Firm: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP, Atlanta, GA office
  • Experience: Focuses on patent litigation, post-grant proceedings, and appeals, with experience in over thirty post-grant proceedings before the PTAB. He handles intellectual property disputes in U.S. district courts, the PTAB, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), and the Federal Circuit. He has represented clients in industries involving mechanical, aerospace, medical device, electrical, and computer technologies.