Sampo IP, LLC v. CB Apex Realtors, d/b/a Coldwell Banker Apex Realtors

The patent infringement lawsuit Sampo IP, LLC v. CB Apex Realtors, d/b/a Coldwell Banker Apex Realtors was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas on March 21, 2013. The plaintiff, Sampo IP, LLC, is a patent licensing company, a type of Non-Practicing Entity (NPE) or Patent Assertion Entity (PAE), which acquires patents to generate revenue through licensing campaigns and litigation. Sampo IP is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marathon Patent Group, Inc., a patent acquisition and monetization company. The defendant, CB Apex Realtors, d/b/a Coldwell Banker Apex Realtors, is a licensed real estate service provider with multiple office locations across Texas and Louisiana, offering residential and commercial real estate services.

The core of the dispute involves alleged infringement of US Patent 8,015,495. This patent is titled "Centrifugal Communication and Collaboration Method" and generally covers claims that facilitate communicating information among members of a distributed discussion group using communication devices and a central agent. While the specific accused product or service of Coldwell Banker Apex Realtors is not detailed in the provided search results, given the patent's description, it likely pertains to communication or collaboration systems used by the real estate firm in its operations.

The case's procedural posture in the Eastern District of Texas is notable due to the district's historical reputation as a plaintiff-friendly venue for patent litigation. Before the Supreme Court's TC Heartland decision in 2017, the EDTX was a nationwide hub for patent cases, known for its accelerated trial schedules and procedural rules that favored patent owners. Although TC Heartland significantly restricted patent venue, the district continues to be a key battleground for patent disputes, often attracting cases from PAEs due to its plaintiff-favorable environment, including a jury pool reportedly sympathetic to plaintiffs and judges generally reluctant to stay litigation pending patent reexamination. This case aligns with the pattern of NPEs asserting patents in the EDTX.

Sampo IP, LLC v. CB Apex Realtors: Limited Public Information on Patent Litigation (E.D. Tex. 2013)

Sampo IP, LLC filed a patent infringement lawsuit against CB Apex Realtors, d/b/a Coldwell Banker Apex Realtors, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas on March 21, 2013, alleging infringement of US Patent 8,015,495. The case, civil action number 2:13-cv-00171-JRG, is currently listed as "active" according to the provided case metadata. However, detailed public information regarding the key legal developments and the ultimate outcome of this specific litigation remains limited in readily available online sources.

Despite extensive searches across various legal databases, news outlets, and patent-related resources, specific docket entries, substantive motions (such as motions to dismiss, transfer, or for summary judgment), claim construction (Markman) orders, discovery milestones, trial events, or a final judgment/settlement for Sampo IP, LLC v. CB Apex Realtors (2:13-cv-00171-JRG) could not be identified through public web searches.

Furthermore, no parallel PTAB IPR (Inter Partes Review) or PGR (Post-Grant Review) proceedings specifically challenging US Patent 8,015,495 by CB Apex Realtors or related entities were found in public records.

Given the lack of publicly accessible detailed information, a comprehensive chronological list of legal developments and the definitive outcome for this particular case cannot be provided without direct access to the court's docket (e.g., via PACER). The case's current status is active, but its procedural history beyond the initial filing date is not publicly detailed.

Plaintiff's Counsel in Sampo IP, LLC v. CB Apex Realtors Not Publicly Available Through Web Search

As of May 31, 2026, a comprehensive web search for the counsel of record representing Sampo IP, LLC in the patent infringement case Sampo IP, LLC v. CB Apex Realtors, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (Case No. 2:13-cv-00168), did not yield specific attorney names or firm affiliations.

Publicly accessible information, including general patent litigation news, firm websites, and broad legal databases, did not provide the detailed docket entries necessary to identify the plaintiff's lead counsel, local counsel, or any in-house attorneys involved in this particular case. Identifying counsel of record typically requires direct access to the court's electronic filing system, PACER, or a specialized legal research platform that aggregates detailed docket information. Without such access, the specific attorneys and their roles in this active case cannot be definitively identified.

Identifying the counsel of record for the defendant, CB Apex Realtors, d/b/a Coldwell Banker Apex Realtors, requires reviewing docket information or publicly available case details. Based on general searches for the case and Coldwell Banker's legal representation, it is challenging to pinpoint specific counsel directly tied to this 2013 case without direct PACER access.

However, some general information regarding Coldwell Banker's legal structure and typical patent litigation counsel can be inferred:

• In-house Counsel: Shawn Bradia serves as the Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Anywhere Advisors LLC, responsible for legal matters affecting Coldwell Banker Realty. He manages a legal department that provides counsel to Coldwell Banker Realty's corporate executives and local companies nationwide. While not specifically named in direct relation to Sampo IP v. CB Apex Realtors, it is probable that in-house counsel would be involved in overseeing or coordinating the defense.
• Outside Counsel (General Patent Litigation): In patent litigation, defendants often engage law firms specializing in intellectual property. Firms like Sterne Kessler, Bracewell, and Holland & Knight have attorneys with relevant experience. For example, Deirdre M. Wells at Sterne Kessler is a director in their Trial & Appellate Practice Group with extensive experience in all aspects of intellectual property litigation, including utility patents, and has represented clients from various fields, including mobile content delivery. Patrick J. Connolly at Bracewell focuses on patent litigation and adversarial intellectual property matters in federal district courts, before the International Trade Commission (ITC), and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). David Donoghue at Holland & Knight is a patent trial attorney and partner with their Intellectual Property Group in Chicago, regularly advising retail and supply chain clients on IP topics. While these attorneys have relevant experience, there is no direct evidence from the search results that they specifically represent CB Apex Realtors in this particular case.

Without specific docket entries or detailed case outcomes readily available, naming the exact lead counsel, local counsel, or specific firm representing CB Apex Realtors in Sampo IP, LLC v. CB Apex Realtors cannot be definitively determined from the provided search results. The search results primarily offer general information about Coldwell Banker's corporate legal structure and prominent patent litigation attorneys at various firms, but not their specific involvement in this particular, older case.