Longhorn Automotive Group LLC v. Volvo North America LLC et al.

Longhorn Automotive Group LLC, identified as a non-practicing entity (NPE) and an entity of Alpha Alpha Intellectual Partners LLC with backing from litigation funder Longford Capital Management, has initiated a patent infringement lawsuit against several units of the Volvo Group. The defendants are operating companies in the automotive and transportation sector: Volvo North America LLC, Mack Trucks Inc., Nova Bus US Inc., and Prevost Car US Inc. Volvo North America LLC encompasses various Volvo Group operations in North America, including trucks, construction equipment, and financial services. Mack Trucks Inc. is an American truck manufacturing company and a subsidiary of Volvo since 2000. Nova Bus US Inc. manufactures public transit buses and is also owned by Volvo, although it plans to cease US production by 2025. Prevost Car US Inc. is a manufacturer of premium coaches and bus shells, also part of the Volvo Group.

The complaint alleges infringement across a range of automotive technologies, including headlights, GPS, and mobile applications. More broadly, the accused products and services from Volvo Group vehicles are said to involve "adaptive headlights, telematics, direct injection engines, and advanced driver-assistance systems." Longhorn Automotive Group asserts four patents in this litigation: U.S. Patent No. 7,513,238, which pertains to direct-injection internal combustion engines with a specific piston design for improved fuel mixture; U.S. Patent No. 8,810,803, relating to adaptive headlight systems capable of generating textured light patterns for enhanced computer vision in object tracking; U.S. Patent No. 7,987,002, describing a distributed measurement system for obtaining measurements and simulations in a distributed control system; and U.S. Patent No. 8,085,192, for which a precise technical sketch in the context of this litigation was not immediately available in the provided search results.

The case was filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (EDTX) and is assigned to District Judge Rodney Gilstrap. The EDTX is a historically popular venue for patent litigation, often characterized by its plaintiff-friendly procedures and accelerated trial schedules. Despite the TC Heartland Supreme Court decision which aimed to restrict venue options, the EDTX remains a forum of choice, with some plaintiffs employing strategies that involve suing foreign affiliates to circumvent stricter venue requirements. This case is notable due to Longhorn Automotive Group LLC's status as an active NPE in the automotive sector, consistently asserting patents against various manufacturers. Furthermore, some of the patents at issue, specifically U.S. Patent Nos. 7,987,002 and 7,513,238, have already faced challenges, including ex parte reexamination filings and findings of prior art by Unified Patents, and U.S. Patent No. 8,265,353 (a patent asserted in a related Volvo case) is subject to an Inter Partes Review (IPR) petition by Volkswagen Group of America.

The patent infringement litigation Longhorn Automotive Group LLC v. Volvo North America LLC et al. (Case No. 2:26-cv-00235) was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas on March 24, 2026. The plaintiff, Longhorn Automotive Group LLC, asserts U.S. Patent Nos. 7,513,238, 8,810,803, 7,987,002, and 8,085,192 against defendants Volvo North America LLC, Mack Trucks Inc., Nova Bus US Inc., and Prevost Car US Inc. The case is currently active.

As of May 18, 2026, the specific docket for this newly filed case (2:26-cv-00235) is unlikely to show advanced stages of litigation such as claim construction, extensive discovery, or trial events. However, information from related cases involving Longhorn Automotive Group and parallel PTAB proceedings provides context for the likely trajectory and challenges in this litigation.

Key Legal Developments and Outcome:

1. Filing & Initial Pleadings:

• Complaint Filed: Longhorn Automotive Group LLC filed the patent infringement complaint on March 24, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The complaint alleges infringement of U.S. Patent Nos. 7,513,238, 8,810,803, 7,987,002, and 8,085,192.
• Details regarding the filing of answers or counterclaims in this specific case are not yet publicly available through general web searches, given the recent filing date.

2. Pre-trial Motions of Substance:

• No substantive pre-trial motions, such as motions to dismiss, transfer, or stay, have been reported for this specific case (2:26-cv-00235) in the readily available public records. However, venue has been a significant issue in related Longhorn Automotive cases against Volvo entities. For instance, in a separate but related case, Longhorn Automotive Group LLC v. Volvo Car Corporation et al. (Case No. 2:24-cv-00603) filed on July 30, 2024, in the Eastern District of Texas, a claim construction hearing is scheduled for September 8, 2026, and a case management conference for February 8, 2027. In another case, Intell. Ventures I LLC v. Volvo Car Corp., a patent infringement case against Volvo defendants was transferred from the Western District of Texas to the District of New Jersey on September 18, 2024, due to improper venue after the court found that Volvo dealerships did not constitute regular and established places of business for the defendants in the Western District of Texas. This suggests that venue challenges could be a strategic consideration for the defendants in the current litigation.

3. Claim Construction (Markman) Outcomes:

• The current case is too early in its lifecycle for a Markman hearing or ruling. However, for the related case Longhorn Automotive Group LLC v. Volvo Car Corporation et al. (2:24-cv-00603), a Claim Construction Hearing is scheduled for September 8, 2026.

4. Discovery Milestones with Strategic Significance:

• No specific discovery milestones have been reported for this recently filed case.

5. Trial Events, Verdict, and Post-trial Motions:

• This case has not reached the trial stage.

6. Settlement, Dismissal, Judgment, or Appeal:

• The case remains active.

7. Parallel PTAB IPR/PGR Proceedings on Asserted Patents and their Effect on the Litigation:
Several of the patents asserted in this litigation have been the subject of challenges before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB):

• U.S. Patent No. 7,513,238:
  • Prior Art Found: On December 21, 2024, Unified Patents announced that prior art had been found for this patent, which relates to wireless communication technology.
  • IPR Proceeding: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. filed an Inter Partes Review (IPR2025-01089) against this patent on June 3, 2025. The IPR was "Not Instituted - Procedural" on October 17, 2025.
• U.S. Patent No. 7,987,002:
  • Ex Parte Reexamination: Unified Patents filed an ex parte reexamination proceeding against this patent on February 26, 2025. The patent relates to a distributed measurement system.
  • Reexamination Instituted: On April 22, 2025, the Central Reexamination Unit (CRU) granted Unified Patents' request, finding substantial new questions of patentability on the challenged claims.
• U.S. Patent No. 8,810,803:
  • IPR Proceeding: Koito Manufacturing Co. Ltd. filed an IPR (IPR2025-00955) against this patent on April 30, 2025. This IPR was also "Not Instituted - Procedural" on September 19, 2025.
• U.S. Patent No. 8,085,192:
  • IPR Proceeding: Volkswagen AG, Volkswagen Group of America Inc., and Audi AG filed an IPR (IPR2025-00925) against this patent on April 24, 2025. This IPR was "Not Instituted - Procedural" on September 12, 2025.
  • Federal Circuit Mandamus Petition: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. challenged the discretionary denial of institution for IPR2025-00925 via a petition for a writ of mandamus to the Federal Circuit (Case No. 26-123). Longhorn Automotive Group LLC opposed this petition on February 4, 2026. The Federal Circuit ultimately denied the mandamus petition, affirming the USPTO's discretion to decline IPR institution.

While not one of the patents listed in the current case, it is worth noting that another patent asserted by Longhorn Automotive Group LLC, U.S. Patent No. 8,265,353, was the subject of an IPR (IPR2025-01064) filed by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. on May 30, 2025. Institution was granted on December 8, 2025, and the IPR was later terminated as settled on April 2, 2026. This demonstrates Longhorn's active patent enforcement strategy and a willingness by defendants to challenge these patents at the PTAB, sometimes leading to settlements.

Longhorn Automotive Group LLC is represented by attorneys from Rubino Law LLC and Fabricant LLP. The following counsel of record have filed notices of appearance in the related case Longhorn Automotive Group LLC v. Volvo Group North America, LLC et al. (E.D. Tex. Case No. 2:2026cv00235), which aligns closely with the provided case details.

Here is the plaintiff's counsel:

• Michael Mondelli, III

  • Role: Lead Counsel
  • Firm: Rubino Law LLC, Dallas, TX
  • Experience: Represents patent owners in infringement litigation, particularly in the Eastern District of Texas.

• John Andrew Rubino

  • Role: Lead Counsel
  • Firm: Rubino Law LLC, Dallas, TX
  • Experience: Experienced in intellectual property litigation, frequently representing Longhorn Automotive Group LLC in patent enforcement actions.

• Alfred Ross Fabricant

  • Role: Lead Counsel
  • Firm: Fabricant LLP, Rye, NY
  • Experience: A prominent patent litigator known for representing patentees in infringement cases across various technologies.

• Peter Lambrianakos

  • Role: Lead Counsel
  • Firm: Fabricant LLP, Rye, NY
  • Experience: Focuses on patent litigation, representing clients in district courts and before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).

• Vincent J Rubino, III

  • Role: Lead Counsel
  • Firm: Fabricant LLP, Rye, NY
  • Experience: Actively involved in patent litigation, including representing Longhorn Automotive Group LLC in various enforcement efforts and PTAB proceedings.

As of May 18, 2026, specific counsel of record for the defendants in Longhorn Automotive Group LLC v. Volvo North America LLC et al., filed on March 24, 2026, in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (Case No. 2:2026cv00235), have not been publicly identified through the initial docket search. The available Justia docket information was last updated on the filing date, March 23, 2026, and indicates that more recent filings, including attorney appearances, would require access to PACER.

Without direct access to the most current PACER docket for this specific case, the attorneys who have formally appeared on behalf of Volvo North America LLC, Mack Trucks Inc., Nova Bus US Inc., and Prevost Car US Inc. cannot be confirmed at this time. Filings, including initial appearances, may have occurred since the docket's last public update.

While previous patent litigation involving other Volvo entities (such as Volvo Car USA LLC or Volvo Group North America, LLC) has seen representation by firms like Stradling Law, Jenner & Block, Stamoulis & Weinblatt LLC, Kasowitz Benson Torres, and Hill Wallack, and Mack Trucks Inc. has an in-house General Counsel in Greg Higgins, these do not confirm their involvement in this newly filed case. Similarly, firms like Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, Steptoe, Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP, Hueston Hennigan, Dickinson Wright, Miller Nash LLP, Knobbe Martens, Covington & Burling LLP, and Troutman Pepper have extensive patent litigation experience and have represented automotive or technology companies, but their engagement in this specific case is unconfirmed. NOVA IP Law lists Mike Whitticar and Jonathan Brown as intellectual property attorneys with experience in patent litigation and prosecution, respectively, and Prevost Law Firm's founder, Neal Prevost, is a trial attorney with experience in corporate litigation, but neither is confirmed for this case.