Serrot hits competitor with patent suit

Thursday, Aug. 3, 2000 | 11:06 a.m.

Serrot International Inc., a Henderson waste containment system maker, is seeking an injunction to stop a rival from making and selling a plastic liner that allegedly infringes on Serrot's patent.

In a U.S. District Court lawsuit, Serrot alleged Carlisle SynTec Inc. of Carlisle, Pa., violated a 1994 confidentiality agreement when its employee Thomas Willequer allegedly created drawings of Serrot's equipment and recorded its process conditions and operating procedures during a visit at its manufacturing operations.

Serrot, which said it patented a product called a fabric mesh reinforced monolithic thermoplastic membrane, said Carlisle then misappropriated the information to make and sell a similar product.

Carlisle officials couldn't be reached for comment.

Separately, Serrot filed lawsuits in May against two rivals in which it also had disputes over patents for plastic liners. Serrot sought injunctions to bar Raven Industries Inc. of Sioux Falls, S.D., and GSE Lining Technology Inc. of Houston from making and selling multi-layered geomembrane systems that allegedly infringe Serrot's patents.

Geomembrane or flexible plastic liner systems are used in landfills, ponds or other containment sites to prevent contamination of surrounding soil and ground water.