Headwater Research LLC v. Charter Communications, Inc.

Case Overview and Background: Headwater Research LLC v. Charter Communications, Inc.

This ongoing patent infringement lawsuit, Headwater Research LLC v. Charter Communications, Inc., Case No. 2:25-cv-00904, was filed on August 27, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The plaintiff, Headwater Research LLC, is a Texas-based patent licensing entity (often referred to as a Non-Practicing Entity or NPE) with an extensive portfolio focused on mobile device management, intelligent data policy enforcement, and wireless network optimization technologies. Headwater Research's principal, Greg Raleigh, is a named inventor on many of its asserted patents, which broadly relate to mobile data management and security. The defendant, Charter Communications, Inc., is a major American telecommunications and mass media operating company, offering services branded as Spectrum, including internet, mobile, video, and voice services to millions of customers across 41 states.

The lawsuit alleges infringement of U.S. Patent No. 9,179,359. This patent generally relates to managing mobile data and device policies, and Headwater's assertion campaigns against major wireless carriers often target aspects such as tethering infrastructure and consumer devices, as well as wireless offloading functionalities. While specific accused products or services by Charter in this particular complaint were not explicitly detailed in publicly available summaries, Headwater's broader litigation pattern indicates that the infringement claims likely pertain to Charter's network infrastructure and customer devices that implement mobile data management and service policy enforcement functionalities, such as those related to tethering.

The case is being heard in the Eastern District of Texas by District Judge Rodney Gilstrap and Magistrate Judge Roy S. Payne. This venue is well-known as a significant forum for patent litigation, largely due to its plaintiff-friendly reputation and accelerated trial schedules, making it a common choice for patent assertion entities like Headwater Research. The case is notable as part of Headwater's aggressive and widespread patent assertion campaign against major wireless carriers and technology companies. Headwater has a track record of securing significant jury verdicts in other cases, such as a $278.8 million award against Samsung in the Eastern District of Texas in April 2025 involving other patents from its portfolio. Furthermore, its patents have been the subject of inter partes reviews (IPRs) at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) by other defendants, with some claims being invalidated. No IPRs specifically targeting U.S. Patent No. 9,179,359 were found in the provided search results.

Headwater Research LLC v. Charter Communications, Inc.: Key Legal Developments

The patent infringement lawsuit Headwater Research LLC v. Charter Communications, Inc. (Case No. 2:25-cv-00904) was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas on August 27, 2025. The case involves U.S. Patent 9,179,359 and is currently ongoing.

Parallel PTAB IPR Proceedings

A significant development related to the asserted patent is the initiation of an inter partes review (IPR) at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). On January 5, 2026, Google LLC, as Petitioner, served a petition for IPR2026-00049 against U.S. Patent 9,179,359, with Headwater Research LLC as the Patent Owner. This IPR proceeding has been identified as a related matter to the district court litigation.

As of May 15, 2026, specific details regarding initial pleadings (answer, counterclaims), pre-trial motions (such as motions to dismiss, transfer, or stay pending IPR), claim construction (Markman) outcomes, discovery milestones, or any trial events, verdicts, post-trial motions, settlement, dismissal, or judgment in the district court case are not publicly available in the provided search results. The case remains active.

The plaintiff, Headwater Research LLC, is represented by several law firms and attorneys in Headwater Research LLC v. Charter Communications, Inc. and related cases.

Lead Counsel:

• Marc A. Fenster (Lead Counsel)
  • Firm: Russ August & Kabat, Los Angeles, CA.
  • Experience: Mr. Fenster leads Russ August & Kabat's patent trial team and has secured significant patent infringement victories for Headwater Research LLC, including a $278.8 million verdict against [Samsung Electronics America Inc.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20America%20Inc.) and a $175 million verdict against Verizon Communications.
• Reza Mirzaie (Lead Counsel)
  • Firm: Russ August & Kabat, Los Angeles, CA.
  • Experience: Mr. Mirzaie is also a leader of Russ August & Kabat's patent trial team and has been instrumental in securing major verdicts for Headwater Research LLC against Samsung and Verizon.

Other Attorneys from Russ August & Kabat:

• Brian D. Ledahl (Counsel)
  • Firm: Russ August & Kabat, Los Angeles, CA.
• Benjamin T. Wang (Counsel)
  • Firm: Russ August & Kabat, Los Angeles, CA.
• James S. Tsuei (Counsel)
  • Firm: Russ August & Kabat, Los Angeles, CA.
• Kristopher Ryan Davis (Counsel)
  • Firm: Russ August & Kabat, Los Angeles, CA.
• Jason M. Wietholter (Counsel)
  • Firm: Russ August & Kabat, Los Angeles, CA.
• James Milkey (Counsel)
  • Firm: Russ August & Kabat.
• Paul Kroeger (Counsel)
  • Firm: Russ August & Kabat.
• Philip Wang (Counsel)
  • Firm: Russ August & Kabat.
• Adam S. Hoffman (Counsel)
  • Firm: Russ August & Kabat.
• Minna Jay (Counsel)
  • Firm: Russ August & Kabat.
• Dale Chang (Counsel)
  • Firm: Russ August & Kabat.
• Mackenzie Paladino (Counsel)
  • Firm: Russ August & Kabat.

Local Counsel:

• Andrea Leigh Fair (Local Counsel)
  • Firm: Miller Fair Henry PLLC (formerly listed as part of Russ August & Kabat's trial team in previous Headwater cases).
  • Note: A Notice of Attorney Appearance was filed by Andrea Leigh Fair on behalf of Headwater Research LLC on March 17, 2026, though it was later noted as filed in error in the member case and should be filed in the lead case.
• Johnny Ward (Local Counsel / Of Counsel)
  • Firm: Ward, Smith & Hill, PLLC, Longview, Texas.
  • Experience: Mr. Ward is a founder of Ward, Smith & Hill, PLLC, a firm recognized for high-stakes intellectual property trials in the Eastern District of Texas. He has secured major courtroom victories against companies like Apple, Samsung, Verizon, and Microsoft. He is also a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers.
• Wesley Hill (Local Counsel)
  • Firm: Ward, Smith & Hill, PLLC, Longview, Texas.
  • Experience: Mr. Hill is a partner at Ward, Smith & Hill and has successfully tried numerous cases to verdict, including more than a dozen patent infringement trials in East Texas courts.
• Chad Everingham (Local Counsel)
  • Firm: Ward, Smith & Hill, PLLC, Longview, Texas.
  • Experience: A former Eastern District magistrate judge, Mr. Everingham is recognized for his "unique insight into what does and doesn't work in this patent litigation hotspot."

While some PacerMonitor entries for Headwater Research LLC v. Charter Communications, Inc. (2:25-cv-00904) list attorneys from Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP and The Dacus Firm, PC as representing Headwater Research LLC as of the filing date (August 27, 2025), and there was an erroneous filing by Andrea Leigh Fair in March 2026, the consistent representation across multiple Headwater Research LLC patent infringement cases, including significant verdicts, points to Russ August & Kabat as the primary lead counsel and Ward, Smith & Hill, PLLC, along with Andrea Fair, as consistent local counsel. It is important to note that the specific counsel of record can evolve throughout litigation, and this information is based on available search results as of May 15, 2026.

As of May 15, 2026, the following counsel are representing Charter Communications, Inc. in Headwater Research LLC v. Charter Communications, Inc.:

Defendant's Counsel

Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP

• Daniel L. Reisner - Lead Counsel. Partner in the New York office. Mr. Reisner is a prominent patent litigator who recently led the Arnold & Porter team to a significant non-infringement victory for Charter Communications in the Eastern District of Texas against Touchstream Technologies Inc., a case involving patents related to video streaming.
• Elizabeth Anne Long - Counsel. Attorney with Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP.
• Ryan Richard Roberts - Counsel. Attorney with Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP.
• Jerrit Yang - Counsel. Attorney with Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP.
• Kolya Glick - Counsel. Attorney with Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP.

The Dacus Firm, PC

• Deron R. Dacus - Local Counsel. Mr. Dacus is likely serving as local counsel given the Eastern District of Texas venue and his firm's location.

In-House Counsel (Charter Communications, Inc.)

• Kirill Abramov - Group Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Intellectual Property Law. Mr. Abramov focuses on complex intellectual property disputes, including patent, trademark, and unfair competition litigation for Charter Communications.
• Jamal Haughton - Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary. Mr. Haughton oversees all legal functions for Charter Communications.

It is worth noting that Charter Communications frequently engages Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP for IP litigation, though they are not explicitly listed on the retrieved docket for this specific case.

The information regarding counsel is primarily sourced from PacerMonitor, which provides docket information, and firm news releases. A more recent docket listing may be available directly from PACER.