Minneapolis (26-February-2013) - On Feb. 21, 2013, Faegre Baker Daniels LLP secured dismissal of a $60 million patent infringement lawsuit against 3M Company in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. After a 16-year legal battle in the Illinois and Iowa federal court systems, the circuit court affirmed the ruling of the district court that the plaintiff, Middleton Inc., lacked standing to bring the lawsuit, which involved a patent for floor-finishing products and methods.

Led by James Poradek, David Gross, Chris Burrell, Tim Grimsrud and Kate Razavi, Faegre Baker Daniels signed on to defend 3M in 2011. The team identified the plaintiff's lack of standing and won dismissal of the entire case on the eve of trial.

"We are very pleased with the case dismissal and favorable result for 3M," said Poradek. "After 16 years, the company can finally put this dispute behind it."

The decision by the Federal Circuit affirmed the January 2012 dismissal of the case by Judge Mark W. Bennett in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.

3M is a global innovation company creating ingenious products and powerful technologies that improve daily life. With $30 billion in annual sales, the company employs 88,000 people in 70 countries.