Sanastar Inc. v. Fresh Products LLC

This patent infringement litigation, Sanastar Inc. v. Fresh Products LLC, was filed on March 3, 2025, in the Ohio Northern District Court under case number 3:25-cv-00418. Plaintiff Sanastar Inc. is an operating company known for its restroom hygiene products, including "Wizkid Antimicrobial Big A Toilet Mats" and "Wizkid Antimicrobial Original Urinal Mats," which aim to eliminate odors and inhibit bacterial growth. Defendant Fresh Products LLC, a family-owned business based in Perrysburg, Ohio, is a leading innovator and supplier of odor control products for the facilities services sector, offering items such as urinal screens (like the patented Wave 3D), restroom fresheners, and other air care solutions. The dispute arises between two direct competitors in the commercial restroom hygiene and odor control market.

The patent at issue is US Patent 10,294,649, titled "URINAL ANTI-SPLASH DEVICE." This patent, which describes a device designed to prevent splash-back from urinals, is assigned to Vectair Systems Georgia LLC. Notably, in November 2025, Vectair Systems acquired WizKid Products, which appears to be Sanastar's product line, indicating a strategic consolidation within the industry. The accused products are likely Fresh Products' competing odor control or urinal screen products, given the nature of both companies' businesses.

The case is being heard in the Northern District of Ohio, which is the home forum for the defendant, Fresh Products LLC. Magistrate Judge Darrell A. Clay has been assigned in the event of a referral, and the action is subject to the court's Local Patent Rules. The procedural posture indicates an active and potentially complex dispute, with Fresh Products LLC having already filed two inter partes reviews (IPRs) against Sanastar Inc.'s patents, specifically IPR2025-01366 against US 10,294,649 B2 and IPR2025-01339 against US 10,036,154 B2, highlighting a broader intellectual property conflict between the two companies. As of April 15, 2025, a joint motion to stay all deadlines was granted, suggesting the parties might be pursuing settlement. This litigation is notable as it involves direct competitors vying for market share in the commercial restroom hygiene and odor control sector, with parallel PTAB challenges adding a layer of complexity to the dispute.

Sanastar Inc. v. Fresh Products LLC: Legal Developments

Case Caption: Sanastar Inc. v. Fresh Products LLC
Case Number: 3:25-cv-00418
Court: Ohio Northern District Court
Filed: 2025-03-03
Status: Open
Patents at Issue: 10,294,649

As of May 23, 2026, the patent infringement lawsuit Sanastar Inc. v. Fresh Products LLC is active in the Ohio Northern District Court. Key legal developments are as follows:

Filing & Initial Pleadings:

• Complaint: Sanastar Inc. filed a complaint against Fresh Products LLC on March 3, 2025, initiating the patent infringement litigation.
• Details regarding Fresh Products LLC's answer, any counterclaims, or other initial pleadings are not publicly available through web searches at this time.

Pre-trial Motions of Substance:
No specific information regarding motions to dismiss, transfer, or stay pending IPR, or summary judgment motions has been publicly reported or found through web searches. Given the case filing date of March 2025, it is likely that the case is still in relatively early pre-trial stages.

Claim Construction (Markman) Outcomes:
There is no publicly available information indicating that the case has reached the claim construction (Markman) stage, nor have any Markman opinions or rulings been reported. The case summary indicates a "potential Claim Construction Hearing scheduled," suggesting this stage may be anticipated but has not yet concluded.

Discovery Milestones:
No specific details on significant discovery milestones or disputes have been publicly reported.

Trial Events, Verdict, and Post-Trial Motions:
The case is still open and in pre-trial phases; therefore, no trial events, verdicts, or post-trial motions have occurred.

Settlement, Dismissal, Judgment, or Appeal:
The case remains open, and no final disposition such as settlement, dismissal, judgment, or appeal has been reached.

Parallel PTAB IPR/PGR Proceedings:
Searches for Inter Partes Review (IPR) or Post-Grant Review (PGR) proceedings concerning U.S. Patent 10,294,649 at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) did not yield any active or concluded proceedings for this specific patent.

Sanastar Inc., the plaintiff in Sanastar Inc. v. Fresh Products LLC, is represented by counsel from two law firms: The Concept Law Group, P.A. and Renner Otto Boisselle & Sklar LLP.

Here are the details for each attorney:

From The Concept Law Group, P.A. (Fort Lauderdale, FL):

• Scott D. Smiley
  • Role: Partner, Registered Patent Attorney.
  • Firm & Office Location: The Concept Law Group, P.A., Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
  • Relevant Experience: Mr. Smiley is a founder of The Concept Law Group and holds a degree in Electrical Engineering. He specializes in patent and trademark law and has extensive experience in patent infringement litigation, including a notable case against The Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., which resulted in a nearly $25 million award for his client. He is also recognized as a "Super Lawyer" in Intellectual Property.
• Alexander D. Brown
  • Role: Partner, Litigation and Entertainment Law.
  • Firm & Office Location: The Concept Law Group, P.A., Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
  • Relevant Experience: Mr. Brown focuses on litigation, including intellectual property disputes such as patent, trademark, and copyright infringement. He successfully prosecuted a trade secret misappropriation and copyright infringement claim that resulted in a $26 million jury award. He is AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized as a "Top Lawyer" in Florida.
• Zac Davis
  • Role: Associate.
  • Firm & Office Location: The Concept Law Group, P.A., Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
  • Relevant Experience: Mr. Davis focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation, including related contract disputes, domain name disputes, and anti-counterfeiting actions.

From Renner Otto Boisselle & Sklar LLP (Cleveland, OH):

• Mark C. Johnson
  • Role: Partner.
  • Firm & Office Location: Renner Otto Boisselle & Sklar LLP, Cleveland, Ohio.
  • Relevant Experience: Mr. Johnson focuses on intellectual property enforcement and defense, with experience in federal district courts across the country, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). He has been recognized as a "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers.
• Sarah L. Boone
  • Role: Associate Attorney, Registered Patent Attorney.
  • Firm & Office Location: Renner Otto Boisselle & Sklar LLP, Cleveland, Ohio.
  • Relevant Experience: Ms. Boone concentrates her practice on intellectual property disputes involving patents, trademarks, copyrights, and unfair competition. She has represented clients in various U.S. District Courts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the PTAB, and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB).

Here is the counsel of record representing defendant Fresh Products LLC:

• Joseph F. Jennings

  • Role: Lead Counsel
  • Firm: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
  • Office Location: Likely from Knobbe Martens' multiple offices; given the other Knobbe Martens attorney is from Irvine, it is reasonable to infer Joseph Jennings is also from an office like Irvine or another major patent hub.
  • Relevant Experience: Joseph Jennings is an experienced patent litigator with Knobbe Martens. While specific notable past cases are not detailed in the provided search results, his role as lead counsel for a prominent patent firm suggests extensive experience in patent infringement defense.

• Rhett D. Ramsey

  • Role: Counsel
  • Firm: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
  • Office Location: Irvine, California
  • Relevant Experience: As an attorney with Knobbe Martens, a firm well-known for intellectual property law, Rhett Ramsey likely possesses experience in patent litigation.

• Carrie L. Urrutia

  • Role: Local Counsel
  • Firm: Eastman & Smith Ltd.
  • Office Location: Toledo, Ohio
  • Relevant Experience: Carrie Urrutia is listed as representing Fresh Products LLC and is associated with an Ohio-based firm, suggesting a role as local counsel for the Northern District of Ohio.

• Jade L. Robinson

  • Role: Local Counsel
  • Firm: Eastman & Smith Ltd.
  • Office Location: Toledo, Ohio
  • Relevant Experience: Jade Robinson is also associated with Eastman & Smith in Toledo, indicating a role as local counsel in this Ohio Northern District Court case.