ST. LOUIS — Pool maintenance and parts manufacturing company are suing an international pool products distributor for alleged unauthorized use of patented pool vacuum.
Water Technology LLC and Water Tech Corp. filed a complaint June 30 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri Eastern Division against Kokido Development and Menard Inc. alleging patent infringement.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that between 2013 and 2014, they sold a version of their battery-powered pool vacuum called Vektro to the defendants to be distributed and re-sold outside the United States. Despite owning the intellectual property rights to the product, the plaintiffs claim the product was copied several times and manufactured without their knowledge and permission.
The plaintiffs hold Kokido Development and Menard responsible because the defendant allegedly infringed and continue to infringed patented products by making, using, importing and selling a certain pool cleaning products without consent or permission.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek orders granting preliminary and permanent injunction, award for damages, together with pre-judgment interest, attorneys' fees costs, and further relief as the court deems proper. They are represented by Rudolph A. Telscher, Steven E. Holtshouser, Nathan Sportel and Shannon D. Peters of Husch Blackwell LLP in St. Louis.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri Eastern Division case number 4:17-cv-01906-RWS