Some Coal Plants Finally Get a Win in Midwest Energy Patent Suit

Five defendants in a Midwest Energy Emissions Corp. lawsuit didn’t contribute to infringement of patents for a mercury-removal process because they didn’t sell refined coal, a federal judge ruled, whittling the issues for a broader looming jury trial.

Magistrate Judge Christopher J. Burke granted a noninfringement judgment as to all claims against Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.'s AJG Iowa Refined Coal LLC subsidiary, and as to all claims for contributory infringement against four CERT Operations entities, in an order issued Monday in the US District Court for the District of Delaware.

Burke denied the CERT Operations companies’ request for a ...