CAFC in Lismont case finds laches applies to inventorship claims

From the decision:This appeal arises from an inventorship dispute betweenHedwig Lismont (Mr. Lismont) and AlexanderBinzel Schweisstechnik GmbH & Co. KG (Binzel-Germany), Abicor Unternehmensverwaltungs GmbH(Abicor), IBG Industrie-Beteiligungs-GmbH & Co. KG(IBG), Richard Sattler (Mr. Sattler), and Alexander BinzelCorporation (Binzel-USA) (collectively, Appellees). TheUnited States District Court for the Eastern District ofVirginia granted summary judgment in favor of Appellees,concluding that Mr. Lismont’s inventorship claim,which he filed ten years after the patent issued, wasbarred by laches. See Lismont v. Alexander Binzel Corp.,No. 2:12-cv-592, 2014 WL 4181586 (E.D. Va. Aug. 20,2014). Because we agree with the district court’s conclusionthat the presumption of laches applies against Mr.Lismont’s claim and that he failed to rebut that presumption,we affirm.ANDIf the presumption of laches attaches, a plaintiff maydefeat summary judgment by…