SITNETLLC v. META PLATFORMS, INC.

SITNETLLC, identified as a third-party funded patent assertion entity (PAE), initiated a patent infringement lawsuit against Meta Platforms, Inc., a major operating technology company and the parent of Facebook. The litigation centers on Meta's widely used platforms, specifically accusing features like Facebook's "Crisis Response" (formerly "Safety Check") and the Facebook Ad platform/Marketing API of infringing SITNETLLC's intellectual property. These Meta services are alleged to utilize methods related to situational networks and targeted advertising derived from such networks.

The primary patent at issue in this specific case (1:25-cv-06185-JAV) is U.S. Patent No. 12,336,052, titled "Method and system for using a situational network." This patent generally describes a network system designed to access situation-related information, form a "situational network" in response to an event (e.g., a disaster), connect participant devices within that network, and then query these devices for status updates via a "roll call" before aggregating the responses. The case is being heard in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, presided over by Judge Jeannette A. Vargas. The Southern District of New York is known for a relatively efficient median time-to-trial for patent cases, which can influence venue choice for plaintiffs seeking quicker resolutions.

This litigation is notable for several reasons, including SITNETLLC's pattern as a patent assertion entity. It represents a second, distinct lawsuit filed by SITNETLLC against Meta, following an earlier 2023 case (1:23-cv-06389) that also involved patents from the same family related to situational networks and targeted advertising and was stayed pending inter partes review (IPR) outcomes. Meta has aggressively leveraged the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) to challenge SITNETLLC's patents, securing final written decisions finding all challenged claims unpatentable in four IPRs against patents from the earlier litigation. Additionally, Meta has continued this strategy by filing new IPRs, such as IPR2026-00100, which challenges Patent 10,117,290, a related patent concerning network systems for accessing situation-related information. This ongoing dispute highlights the strategic interplay between district court litigation and PTAB challenges in patent enforcement against major technology companies.

Key Legal Developments and Outcome for SITNETLLC v. META PLATFORMS, INC. (1:25-cv-06185-JAV)

This patent infringement litigation, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, concerns U.S. Patent No. 12,336,052, among others. The case remains active as of May 29, 2026.

Chronological Summary of Legal Developments:

• Filing of Complaint: SITNETLLC initiated the lawsuit against META PLATFORMS, INC. on July 28, 2025. The complaint asserts six patents from the same family, including U.S. Patent No. 12,336,052, targeting Meta's Facebook Crisis Response feature and Facebook Ad platform.

• Civil Case Management Plan and Scheduling Order: A Civil Case Management Plan and Scheduling Order was filed on November 4, 2025.

• Parallel PTAB IPR Proceeding and Denial of Institution: Meta Platforms, Inc. filed an Inter Partes Review (IPR) petition, IPR2026-00113, against U.S. Patent No. 12,336,052 on November 12, 2025. The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) subsequently issued a discretionary denial of institution for this IPR on May 13, 2026. The denial was based on Fintiv factors, citing the advanced stage of the parallel district court litigation, meaning the PTAB did not evaluate the claims on their merits.

• Discovery Milestones: Discovery of electronically stored information has been ordered in the district court case.

• Settlement Discussions: As of November 4, 2025, settlement discussions had not yet taken place.

The case is currently ongoing, with the district court proceedings continuing following the PTAB's denial of institution for the IPR. No trial events, verdicts, or appeals specific to this case (1:25-cv-06185-JAV) or patent (12,336,052) have been reported beyond the IPR denial.

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The user is asking for the counsel of record for the plaintiff, SITNETLLC, in the case SITNETLLC v. META PLATFORMS, INC. (1:25-cv-06185-JAV). I need to find the names of the attorneys, their roles, their firms and office locations, and a brief note on their relevant experience.

I will use web search with the case name and number, focusing on finding plaintiff counsel information. I will look for docket entries, firm websites, and legal news sources.## Counsel of Record for Plaintiff SITNETLLC

In SITNETLLC v. META PLATFORMS, INC. (1:25-cv-06185-JAV), the plaintiff SITNETLLC is represented by counsel from both MoloLamken LLP and Skiermont Derby LLP.

Here are the identified counsel:

MoloLamken LLP

• Jeffrey A. Lamken
  • Role: Lead Counsel
  • Firm & Office Location: MoloLamken LLP, Washington, D.C.
  • Experience: Mr. Lamken is known for his extensive appellate and Supreme Court litigation practice, often handling complex intellectual property appeals.
• Daniel L. Geyser
  • Role: Lead Counsel
  • Firm & Office Location: MoloLamken LLP, Washington, D.C.
  • Experience: Mr. Geyser has a significant appellate practice, including arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court, with experience in patent and intellectual property matters.
• Amy K. Lucas
  • Role: Counsel
  • Firm & Office Location: MoloLamken LLP, New York, NY
  • Experience: Ms. Lucas focuses on complex litigation, including appellate matters, with experience across various legal areas.

Skiermont Derby LLP

• Paul J. Skiermont
  • Role: Lead Counsel
  • Firm & Office Location: Skiermont Derby LLP, Dallas, TX
  • Experience: Mr. Skiermont is a highly experienced patent litigator, frequently representing plaintiffs in high-stakes patent infringement cases across various technology sectors.
• Joshua W. Budwin
  • Role: Counsel
  • Firm & Office Location: Skiermont Derby LLP, Dallas, TX
  • Experience: Mr. Budwin focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation, particularly patent infringement disputes.

Meta Platforms, Inc. is represented by a team of experienced patent litigation attorneys from prominent law firms, along with in-house counsel.

Here's a breakdown of the counsel of record for the defendant:

Winston & Strawn LLP

• Krishnan Padmanabhan (Lead Counsel)
  • Firm & Office: Winston & Strawn LLP, New York.
  • Note: Krishnan Padmanabhan is recognized for developing "winning arguments" and finding case-dispositive threads that others overlook, with strong technological expertise in district courts. Winston & Strawn's patent litigation practice is highly regarded, noted for its extensive courtroom experience and consistently ranking among the top national patent defense firms. The firm has a strong track record in high-tech, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device sectors, including cases involving AI.
• Other notable patent litigators at Winston & Strawn with relevant experience:
  • George Lombardi (Chicago) is a leading patent litigator for cases involving telephone and computer technology.
  • David Enzminger (Los Angeles) is well-regarded for his work on complex hardware and software patent infringement cases.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

• Brian Rosenthal (Lead Counsel)
  • Firm & Office: Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, New York.
  • Note: Brian Rosenthal is praised as "one of the best trial lawyers" and is known for his sharp intellect and ability to grasp technical details, having litigated over 120 patent cases, mostly as lead counsel. His representative clients include major technology companies such as Cisco, AT&T, Google, and NXP Semiconductors. Gibson Dunn's patent litigation practice has a national reputation for excellence in high-stakes patent litigation, with a distinguished track record of trial victories for leading tech and telecom companies. They are adept at defending clients against non-practicing entities (NPEs).
• Other notable patent litigators at Gibson Dunn with relevant experience:
  • Josh Krevitt focuses on high-stakes patent litigation across wireless technologies, ANDA litigation, telecommunications hardware, and semiconductors.
  • Jane Love specializes in pharmaceutical and biotechnology patents and is known for her compelling and persuasive legal analysis.
  • Charlotte Jacobsen (New York) has over two decades of experience representing life sciences clients and combines legal expertise with advanced scientific degrees.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

• Doug Lumish (Counsel)
  • Firm & Office: Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, California.
  • Note: Doug Lumish co-heads IP, Technology & Science Litigation and is recognized for his work in high-exposure patent litigation for technology companies. He has recently represented Meta Platforms and Google and secured the reversal of a $600 million patent verdict at the Federal Circuit.

In-House Counsel for Meta Platforms, Inc.

• Katie Brockway (Associate General Counsel of IP Litigation)
  • Role: In-house counsel managing domestic and international patent and trade secret litigation for Meta's family of apps.
  • Note: Prior to joining Meta, Ms. Brockway was an associate at Latham & Watkins LLP, focusing on patent and trade secret litigation across various technologies.
• Tolani Akinkuotu (Lead Counsel on the patent team)
  • Role: In-house counsel, working with various engineering and product teams, including the Advertising and Business Platform team, providing counsel on protecting Meta's intellectual property, portfolio management, IP strategy, and risk mitigation.
• Amanda Do Couto (Lead Patent Counsel)
  • Role: In-house counsel responsible for the global patent strategy for various Meta products and tech areas, including WhatsApp, Instagram, Threads, and virtual reality.
  • Note: Ms. Do Couto previously practiced patent litigation at a leading global law firm and served as a federal clerk for the U.S. District Courts.