Judge in AerSale Lawsuit Against JetAire Issues Favorable Recommendation

AerSale Corporation has received a favorable recommendation from a U.S. Federal Magistrate Judge regarding its ongoing patent lawsuit against Jetaire Aerospace, LLC, and its owner Michael Williams. The lawsuit, which began on December 17, 2020, centers around allegations from Jetaire that AerSale's AerSafe products, designed to mitigate the risk of catastrophic fuel tank explosions on various commercial aircraft, infringe on three of Jetaire's patents.

The contested AerSafe products are used in a range of aircraft including the Boeing 737 series, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Boeing 777, and the Airbus A319/320/321 family, highlighting the broad implications of this legal battle. Jetaire's lawsuit claims that these safety products infringe on their patented technologies.

In response to Jetaire's allegations, AerSale filed counterclaims seeking declaratory judgments from the court. The counterclaims argued that AerSafe products did not infringe on the Jetaire patents and further, that the patents in question should be declared invalid.

On April 17, 2024, the U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge issued a report and recommendation in favor of AerSale, suggesting that the District Court should invalidate Jetaire's patents and enter judgment for AerSale on the non-infringement and invalidity counterclaims. If the District Court agrees with this recommendation, it would effectively nullify Jetaire's patent claims, providing a clear path for AerSale to continue marketing and selling its AerSafe products without the looming threat of patent infringement.

Nicolas Finazzo, CEO of AerSale, expressed satisfaction with the Magistrate Judge's report, stating, "We appreciate the Magistrate Judge's well-reasoned report and recommendation in our favor. We are hopeful that the District Court will adopt the report and recommendation and enter judgment in AerSale's favor on all of Jetaire's claims against us."

This case illuminates the complexities of innovation, safety, and intellectual property rights within the aviation industry. The final decision by the District Court, pending their acceptance of the Magistrate Judge's recommendation, could have significant ramifications not only for the companies involved but also for the broader industry's approach to safety innovations and patent rights.

FMI: aersale.com