Innovac Technology, Inc., Plaintiff-appellee, v. Ryan Engineering, Inc. and Robert Ryan, Defendants-appellants, 878 F.2d 1447 (Fed. Cir. 1989)

DECISION

Ryan Engineering, Inc. (Ryan) and Robert Ryan appeal from a judgment of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, docket no. C86-532(D)WD, holding claims 1, 5, 10, 11, and 14 of United States Patent No. 4,517,099 ('099) infringed, imposing personal liability on Robert Ryan, and permanently enjoining further infringement. We affirm.

OPINION

Ryan has failed to show reversible error in the district court's interpretation of the claims, or in its finding of infringement, or in its imposition of personal liability on Robert Ryan. The court's interpretation of claims 1 and 11 was not overly broad and the court correctly found each limitation of the claims, or a substantial equivalent, present in the Ryan device. The court's finding that Robert Ryan personally made and controlled all the major decisions and actions relating to the design, manufacture, and sale of the infringing device is not clearly erroneous, and that finding warrants the imposition of personal liability. See Orthokinetics, Inc. v. Safety Travel Chairs, Inc., 806 F.2d 1565, 1578-79, 1 USPQ2d 1081, 1090 (Fed. Cir. 1986).

On these facts, we cannot say the district court abused its discretion in enjoining future infringement. See KSM Fastening Sys., Inc. v. H.A. Jones Co., 776 F.2d 1522, 1527, 227 USPQ 676, 679 (Fed. Cir. 1985). The injunction reasonably describes the prohibited acts. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(d).