Press Releases

CHICAGO – Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the United States, today announced that its client, MarcTec LLC, based in Effingham, IL, reached a settlement with California-based ArthroCare Corp. in a patent lawsuit involving 10 patents related to suture anchors used in rotator cuff surgery and other arthroscopic procedures.

“Although I am unable to disclose the complete details of the settlement, ArthroCare will pay MarcTec $2.75 million plus future royalties related to the licensing of certain MarcTec patents,” said Ralph J. Gabric, an attorney at Brinks who represented MarcTec. 

MarcTec is controlled by its founder, Dr. Peter Bonutti, an orthopedic surgeon, inventor and business developer.  Dr. Bonutti is a pioneer in Minimally Invasive Total Knee Replacement and holds nearly 200 patents on orthopedic devices, implants and instrumentation. 

In its complaint, MarcTec asked the court to declare that its patents are valid, enforceable and infringed, and requested a permanent injunction to stop the manufacture and sale of the infringing product, as well as damages, attorneys’ fees and costs.

Brinks attorneys Ralph J. Gabric and Richard D. Watkins represented MarcTec LLC in cooperation with attorneys from Hepler, Broom, MacDonald, Hebrank, True & Noce LLP in Edwardsville, IL.  Attorneys Fredric D. Tannenbaum of Gould & Ratner in Chicago and Paul Bianco of Fleit, Kain, Gibbons, Gutman, Bongini & Bianco P.L. in Miami assisted with the negotiations of the licensing agreement.

Founded in 1917, Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione is based in Chicago with four additional offices across the country serving the intellectual property needs of clients from around the world. The firm is one of the largest IP law firms in the country, with more than 150 attorneys, scientific advisors and patent agents specializing in intellectual property litigation and all aspects of patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, unfair competition, intellectual asset management and technology and licensing agreements. Brinks routinely handles assignments in fields as diverse as electrical, chemical, mechanical, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, nanotechnology, Internet and computer technology, as well as in trademarks and brand names for a wide variety of products and services.