‘Death Penalty Sanctions’ Levied in Fracking Services Patent Suit

Judge Alan Albright hit True Chemical Solutions LLC with “death penalty sanctions” in a West Texas patent lawsuit, after allegations the company withheld key evidence from a rival fracking chemical supplier.

Albright, of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, entered an order Tuesday finding True Chem willfully infringed Performance Chemical Co. patents on trailers used to deliver oil and gas chemicals to customers.

True Chem’s invalidity and non-infringement arguments were struck.

The judge also entered a preliminary injunction blocking True Chem from using its frac trailers or similar water treatment trailers. There will be a trial ...