A North Carolina jury has found that Voltage willfully infringed Shoals’ patents, awarding the company more than $96 million in damages. Voltage says it will seek a review of the verdict and a new trial.
A federal jury in a North Carolina U.S. District Court has awarded electrical balance of systems (EBOS) provider Shoals more than $96.38 million in damages in its case against its competitor, Voltage Energy.
The jury found Voltage willfully infringed on two patents covering Shoals’s Big Lead Assembly trunk bus technology when it imported its LYNX trunk bus products into the U.S., ultimately awarding the money based on lost profits and price erosion suffered by Shoals as a result of the infringement.
Because the jury determined the infringement was willful, the court has the discretion to increase the total damages award. Additionally, Shoals says the court indicated it will grant a preliminary injunction preventing the manufacture, distribution and sale of Voltage’s LYNX products in the United States.
In a statement following the verdict, Shoals CEO Brandon Moss said “Shoals’ patented BLA solution helped revolutionize the solar industry. These outcomes affirm the strength of our intellectual property and the importance of protecting the innovations behind our differentiated solutions. We are grateful to the Court and jury for their time, attention, and careful consideration. Shoals will continue to compete aggressively, invest in American manufacturing, and defend the technology that supports our long-term growth.”
