Case 1:15-cv-00887-WTL-DML Document 1 Filed 06/05/15 Page 1 of 6 PageID #: 1

Provided by:
Overhauser Law Offices LLC
www.iniplaw.org
www.overhauser.com

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

DONALDSON COMPANY, INC.,

Case No. 1:15-cv-887

v.
ACTION FILTRATION, INC.
Defendant.

COMPLAINT AND DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL

Plaintiff Donaldson Company, Inc. (Donaldson), for its Complaint against defendant
Action Filtration, Inc. (Action Filtration), states and alleges as follows:
PARTIES
1.

Plaintiff Donaldson is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of

business at 1400 West 94th Street, Bloomington, Minnesota 55431.

Defendant Action Filtration is an Indiana corporation with its principal

place of business at 221 Raymond Street, Hope, Indiana 47246.

This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this Complaint

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1331 and 1338(a) because the claims alleged herein arise under the
Patent Laws of the United States, 35 U.S.C. 1, et seq.
4.

This Court has personal jurisdiction over Action Filtration because its

principal place of business is in the Southern District of Indiana, and because Action Filtration
transacts business and has continuous and systematic contacts in this district, maintains an

Case 1:15-cv-00887-WTL-DML Document 1 Filed 06/05/15 Page 2 of 6 PageID #: 2

ongoing presence within this district, has purposefully availed itself of the privileges and
benefits of the laws of the state of Indiana, and has engaged in acts causing injury to Donaldson
in this district.
5.

Venue is proper in this judicial district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1391(b) and

(c) and 1400(b).

On December 3, 2002, the United States Patent and Trademark Office

duly and legally issued United States Patent No. 6,488,746 (the 746 patent), entitled Air
Filter Assembly Having Non-Cylindrical Filter Elements, For Filtering Air With Particulate
Matter, naming as inventors Kristofer G. Kosmider, Steven A. Johnson and Thomas D. Raether.
A copy of the 746 patent is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
7.

Kristofer G. Kosmider, Steven A. Johnson, and Thomas D. Raether

assigned the entire right, title, and interest in and to the 746 patent to Donaldson. The entire
right, title, and interest in the 746 patent is owned by Donaldson.
8.

On November 30, 2004, the United States Patent and Trademark Office

duly and legally issued United States Design Patent No. D499,177 (the 177 patent), entitled
Filter Element Having Oval Shape, naming as inventors Kristofer G. Kosmider, Steven A.
Johnson and Thomas D. Raether. A copy of the 177 patent is attached hereto as Exhibit B.
9.

Kristofer G. Kosmider, Steven A. Johnson, and Thomas D. Raether

assigned the entire right, title, and interest in and to the 177 patent to Donaldson. The entire
right, title, and interest in the 177 patent is owned by Donaldson.
10.

On September 4, 2007, the United States Patent and Trademark Office

duly and legally issued United States Patent No. 7,264,656 (the 656 patent), entitled Air
Filter Assembly Having Non-Cylindrical Filter Elements, For Filtering Air With Particulate

Case 1:15-cv-00887-WTL-DML Document 1 Filed 06/05/15 Page 3 of 6 PageID #: 3

Matter, naming as inventors Kristofer G. Kosmider, Steven A. Johnson and Thomas D. Raether.
A copy of the 656 patent is attached hereto as Exhibit C.
11.

Kristofer G. Kosmider, Steven A. Johnson, and Thomas D. Raether

assigned the entire right, title, and interest in and to the 656 patent to Donaldson. The entire
right, title, and interest in the 656 patent is owned by Donaldson.
COUNT I: INFRINGEMENT OF THE 746 PATENT
12.

Donaldson incorporates the allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through

11 above as though fully set forth herein.

Action Filtration has infringed and is continuing to infringe one or more

claims of the 746 patent by making, using, offering to sell, and/or selling replacement noncylindrical filter elements (e.g., Action Filtrations oval filter DF007000-BH) for dust collection
systems, including Donaldson Torit Downflo Oval Dust Collectors, in this district and
elsewhere in the United States in violation of 35 U.S.C. 271.
14.

On information and belief, Action Filtration will continue to infringe the

746 patent unless and until Action Filtration is enjoined by this Court.
15.

Donaldson has suffered irreparable harm by Action Filtrations

infringement of the 746 patent and will continue to suffer irreparable harm in the future unless
and until Action Filtration is enjoined from infringing the 746 patent.
16.

Action Filtrations acts of infringement have caused and continue to cause

monetary damage to Donaldson, and Donaldson is entitled to recover from Action Filtration the
monetary damages sustained by Donaldson and any additional remedy in an amount to be
determined at trial.

Case 1:15-cv-00887-WTL-DML Document 1 Filed 06/05/15 Page 4 of 6 PageID #: 4

COUNT II: INFRINGEMENT OF THE 177 PATENT

Donaldson incorporates the allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through

11 above as though fully set forth herein.

Action Filtration has infringed and is continuing to infringe one or more

claims of the 177 patent by making, using, offering to sell, and/or selling replacement noncylindrical filter elements (e.g., Action Filtrations oval filter DF007000-BH) for dust collection
systems, including Donaldson Torit Downflo Oval Dust Collectors, that embody the design of
the 177 patent, in this district and elsewhere in the United States in violation of 35 U.S.C. 271.
19.

Action Filtrations replacement non-cylindrical filter elements embody the

design of the 177 patent such that an ordinary observer would be deceived into believing that
Action Filtrations replacement non-cylindrical filter elements are the same as the design of the
177 patent.
20.

Action Filtrations acts of infringement have caused and continue to cause

monetary damage to Donaldson, and Donaldson is entitled to recover from Action Filtration the
monetary damages sustained by Donaldson and any additional remedy in an amount to be
determined at trial.
COUNT III: INFRINGEMENT OF THE 656 PATENT
21.

Donaldson incorporates the allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through

11 above as though fully set forth herein.

Action Filtration has infringed and is continuing to infringe one or more

claims of the 656 patent by making, using, offering to sell, and/or selling replacement noncylindrical filter elements (e.g., Action Filtrations oval filter DF007000-BH) for dust collection
systems, including Donaldson Torit Downflo Oval Dust Collectors, in this district and
elsewhere in the United States in violation of 35 U.S.C. 271.

Case 1:15-cv-00887-WTL-DML Document 1 Filed 06/05/15 Page 5 of 6 PageID #: 5

23.

Donaldson has suffered irreparable harm by Action Filtrations

infringement of the 656 patent and will continue to suffer irreparable harm in the future unless
and until Action Filtration is enjoined from infringing the 656 patent.
24.

Action Filtrations acts of infringement have caused and continue to cause

monetary damage to Donaldson, and Donaldson is entitled to recover from Action Filtration the
monetary damages sustained by Donaldson and any additional remedy in an amount to be
determined at trial.
DEMAND FOR A JURY TRIAL
25.

Pursuant to Rule 38(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Donaldson

respectfully requests a trial by jury on any and all issues on which a trial by jury is available
under applicable law.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, Donaldson respectfully requests this Court enter judgment in its
favor and against Action Filtration, as follows:
A.

To enter judgment that Action Filtration has infringed the 746, 177, and

656 patents in violation of 35 U.S.C. 271;

To enter orders preliminarily and permanently enjoining Action Filtration,

and its respective officers, agents, servants, and employees, and all persons in active concert or
participation with any of the foregoing, who receive actual notice by personal service or
otherwise of the orders, from infringing the 746, 177, and 656 patents in violation of 35
U.S.C. 271;
C.

To award Donaldson an accounting for damages and its damages in

amounts sufficient to compensate it for Action Filtrations infringement of the 746, 177, and

Case 1:15-cv-00887-WTL-DML Document 1 Filed 06/05/15 Page 6 of 6 PageID #: 6

656 patents, together with pre-judgment and post-judgment interest and costs, pursuant to 35
U.S.C. 284;
D.

To award Donaldson an additional remedy to the extent of Action

Filtrations total profit derived from the sale of replacement non-cylindrical filter elements for
dust collection systems, including Donaldson Torit Downflo Oval Dust Collectors, that
embody the design of the 177 patent, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 289;
E.

To declare this case to be exceptional under 35 U.S.C. 285 and to

award Donaldson its attorneys fees, expenses, and costs incurred in this action; and
F.

To award Donaldson such other and further relief as this Court deems just

and proper.

Date: June 5, 2015

Respectfully submitted,
By: /s/ R. Trevor Carter
R. Trevor Carter, #18562-49
Trenton B. Morton, #30777-49
FAEGRE BAKER DANIELS LLP
300 N. Meridian St., Suite 2700
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Ph: 317-237-0300
Fax: 317-237-1000
[email protected]
[email protected]
Attorneys for Plaintiff, Donaldson Company, Inc.