Jesco Lighting Group v. AGS Lighting Management, LLC

This case involves an Inter Partes Review (IPR) before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) concerning a patent related to LED lighting technology, initiated by an operating company against a patent owner that appears to be involved in lighting sales and representation. The petitioner, Jesco Lighting Group, is a New York-based lighting manufacturer established in 1998, known for offering a wide range of contemporary, architectural, and energy-efficient LED lighting fixtures for commercial, retail, institutional, and residential applications. The patent owner, AGS Lighting Management, LLC, is identified with Allied Group Sales (AGS), an electrical and lighting manufacturer's representative sales agency serving the Southwest region for over 25 years. AGS's Lighting & Controls division focuses on sales, customer service, and specification for various lighting products.

The dispute centers on U.S. Patent No. 11,751,302, which covers technology for adjustable color temperature and brightness in LED fixtures. This patent is also at the heart of a parallel patent infringement lawsuit filed by AGS Lighting Management LLC against Jesco Lighting Group, LLC in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware (Case No. 1:25-cv-00141). In that district court action, AGS alleges that Jesco's LIN SLIM modular linear lighting fixtures infringe the '302 patent. The district court litigation has since been stayed as of January 27, 2026, likely awaiting the outcome of the IPR.

The procedural posture involves an IPR (IPR2025-01328) at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, which was instituted on May 20, 2026. This venue is notable because IPRs offer a faster and typically less expensive alternative to district court litigation for challenging patent validity. The PTAB applies a lower evidentiary burden ("preponderance of the evidence" instead of "clear and convincing evidence") and does not presume patent validity, focusing solely on prior art in the form of patents and printed publications. The IPR process, which is overseen by technically trained administrative patent judges, aims for a final decision within 12-18 months of institution, a significantly quicker resolution compared to federal court cases. The IPR's direct linkage to a stayed district court case highlights its strategic importance in patent disputes, offering a potential path to invalidate asserted patent claims before substantive litigation proceeds.

Jesco Lighting Group, as petitioner, initiated an Inter Partes Review (IPR) against patent 11751302 owned by AGS Lighting Management, LLC before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). The PTAB instituted the review on May 20, 2026. This IPR runs parallel to a patent infringement lawsuit filed by AGS Lighting Management, LLC against Jesco Lighting Group in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.

Here is a chronological overview of the key legal developments:

Parallel District Court Patent Infringement Litigation

• 2025-02-04: Complaint Filed. AGS Lighting Management, LLC filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Jesco Lighting Group, LLC in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, case number 1:25-cv-00141. The complaint alleges that Jesco Lighting Group's LIN SLIM modular linear lighting fixtures infringe U.S. Patent No. 11,751,302, which covers technology for adjustable color temperature and brightness in LED fixtures. AGS Lighting Management claims Jesco was aware of the patent and continues to sell the accused products, seeking damages, an injunction, and enhanced compensation.

PTAB Inter Partes Review (IPR2025-01328)

• Prior to 2026-05-20: IPR Petition Filed. Jesco Lighting Group filed a petition for Inter Partes Review (IPR) against U.S. Patent No. 11,751,302. The exact filing date of the petition is not specified in the search results, but it was filed as IPR2025-01328.
• 2026-05-20: IPR Instituted. The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) instituted the Inter Partes Review for IPR2025-01328. This means the PTAB has determined that there is a reasonable likelihood that the petitioner would prevail with respect to at least one challenged claim of the patent.

Current Posture

The IPR is currently in the discovery and briefing phase following institution. The district court litigation is likely to be impacted by the ongoing IPR, potentially through a motion to stay the district court proceedings pending the outcome of the PTAB review. Further developments in the IPR will include a Patent Owner Response, a Petitioner Reply, potentially an oral hearing, and ultimately a Final Written Decision from the PTAB within approximately one year of institution.

Counsel for Jesco Lighting Group in IPR2025-01328

Jesco Lighting Group, as the petitioner in IPR2025-01328, is represented by attorneys from Radulescu LLP. The firm specializes in patent litigation, particularly in high-stakes, complex cases involving the interplay of technology and legal issues. The primary office for the identified attorneys is in New York City.

The counsel of record for Jesco Lighting Group include:

• David C. Radulescu, Ph.D.
  • Role: Partner, Lead Counsel.
  • Firm & Office: Radulescu LLP, New York, NY.
  • Experience: A founder and partner of Radulescu LLP, Dr. Radulescu is a nationally recognized patent litigator, particularly known for his extensive experience in cases involving semiconductor light-emitting devices (LEDs). He holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering and has litigated more patent cases in the LED field than any other lawyer in the United States.

Other patent litigation professionals listed on Radulescu LLP's "Who We Are" and "Our Team" pages who may be part of the "et al." noted in the docket for IPR2025-01328, and who specialize in patent litigation for the firm, include:

• Etai Lahav

  • Role: Partner.
  • Firm & Office: Radulescu LLP, New York, NY (implied as a partner at the New York-based firm).
  • Experience: As a partner at a patent litigation boutique, he is involved in complex patent disputes, often in high-technology areas such as semiconductors, green technologies, and computer hardware and software.

• Kevin S. Kudlac

  • Role: Special Counsel.
  • Firm & Office: Radulescu LLP, Austin, TX (based on firm's Austin office listing with his contact information).
  • Experience: Works on patent litigation for the firm, which focuses on technology-driven cases across various industries including semiconductors and software.

• Jonathan Auerbach

  • Role: Of Counsel.
  • Firm & Office: Radulescu LLP, New York, NY (implied as "Of Counsel" for the New York-based firm).
  • Experience: Involved in the firm's patent litigation practice handling complex patent disputes.

• Bryon T. Wasserman

  • Role: Of Counsel.
  • Firm & Office: Radulescu LLP, New York, NY (implied as "Of Counsel" for the New York-based firm).
  • Experience: Contributes to Radulescu LLP's patent litigation efforts, which includes matters where technical and legal understanding are critical.

• Andrew S. Brown

  • Role: Of Counsel.
  • Firm & Office: Radulescu LLP, New York, NY (implied as "Of Counsel" for the New York-based firm).
  • Experience: Part of the patent litigation team at Radulescu LLP, focusing on high-stakes intellectual property disputes.

• Michael Sadowitz

  • Role: Of Counsel.
  • Firm & Office: Radulescu LLP, New York, NY (implied as "Of Counsel" for the New York-based firm).
  • Experience: Practices patent litigation within Radulescu LLP, which handles matters across semiconductors, green technologies, and computer hardware/software.

Based on the available information for IPR2025-01328 and related proceedings, the counsel of record representing AGS Lighting Management, LLC (the Patent Owner) includes:

Bradley S. Bowling

• Role: Lead Counsel (inferred)
• Firm: Cadwell Thomas
• Office Location: Houston, Texas (inferred from firm contact information)
• Experience: Mr. Bowling is a partner specializing in intellectual property matters, including managing all phases of patent infringement cases and post-grant investigations such as inter partes reviews (IPRs) for both patent owners and challengers. He is a former engineer and software developer.

Kevin E. Cadwell

• Role: Co-Counsel (inferred)
• Firm: Cadwell Thomas
• Office Location: Houston, Texas (inferred from firm contact information)
• Experience: Mr. Cadwell is a partner at Cadwell Thomas and represents businesses in intellectual property matters. He was also listed as counsel for AGS Lighting Management LLC in a related district court case.

Lisa M. Thomas

• Role: Co-Counsel (inferred)
• Firm: Cadwell Thomas
• Office Location: Houston, Texas (inferred from firm contact information)
• Experience: Ms. Thomas is a partner focusing on intellectual property disputes with an emphasis on complex patent litigation, including all phases of litigation and appeals. She was also listed as counsel for AGS Lighting Management LLC in a related district court case.

The PTAB Open Data Portal lists "BOWLING, BRADLEYet al" as counsel for AGS Lighting Management, LLC in IPR2025-01328. While a related district court case (AGS Lighting Management LLC v. Jesco Lighting Group, LLC, 1:25-cv-00141) also listed attorneys from Shaw Keller LLP, including Andrew Russell and Lindsey Michelle Gellar, alongside Bradley S. Bowling (at that time associated with Shaw Keller LLP), the current affiliation of Bradley Bowling is with Cadwell Thomas. Given that Cadwell E. Cadwell and Lisa M. Thomas are partners at Cadwell Thomas with extensive patent litigation and IPR experience and were co-counsel in the related district court case, it is highly probable they are part of the "et al." representing AGS Lighting Management, LLC in this IPR.