Sanctioned Patent Owner Confronts Skeptical Appeals Panel (1)

A Federal Circuit panel signaled it’s unlikely to overturn a district judge’s sanctions against a patent-infringement plaintiff who refused to travel to testify as part of a probe into litigation financing in his court.

Members of a three-judge appellate panel appeared dubious of arguments from Lori LaPray, a paralegal and owner of Backertop Licensing LLC, a company connected to prolific patent-monetization firm IP Edge. LaPray defied an order from District of Delaware Chief Judge Colm F. Connolly to travel to Wilmington to appear for what she called an “inquisition.”

LaPray argued she could refuse to participate due to a passage ...