Gerwan Farming, Inc. v. Rehrig Pacific Company, No. 1:11-cv-01273 LJO BAM, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 50518 (E.D. Cal. Apr. 8, 2013)

(ruling on summary judgment motion in patent and ownership dispute between produce grower and manufacturer over plastic containers; court denied defendant’s motion that plaintiff lacked standing to revise patent to include inventor who is alter ego of company, plaintiff had ownership interest in action; court rejected laches argument due to lack of evidence from defendant regarding plaintiff’s knowledge of patent; summary judgment granted on plaintiff’s claim of inventive contribution due to lack of evidence presented by plaintiff; summary judgment also granted on plaintiff’s false promises claims to not use invention in other ways due to lack of evidence; plaintiff’s claim of misuse of invention for second generation product without payment or permission may proceed; court also held plaintiff’s knowledge of sale of second generation product meant suit was timely filed; plaintiff precluded from bringing punitive damage claim but other damage claims allowed as evidence permits).