Henderson firm in patent disputes

Tuesday, May 30, 2000 | 11:37 a.m.

Henderson waste containment system maker filed lawsuits against two rivals in which it is in disputes over patents for plastic liners.

Serrot International Inc. is seeking an injunction to stop Raven Industries Inc. of Sioux Falls, S.D., from making and selling multi-layered, multi-density geomembrane systems that allegedly infringe on Serrot's patent for a system that has three or more plastic layers.

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

Gary Conradi, Raven's vice president of administration, declined comment.

In a second lawsuit, Serrot is seeking an order to bar GSE Lining Technology Inc. of Houston from threatening Serrot's manufacture and sale of two-tone plastic liner systems, which GSE claims is an infringement of its patent.

The suit said GSE's patent includes numerous claims for a liner having a "reflective side" and a "non-reflective side."

Serrot, which said it makes and sells liner systems where one side of the liner is lighter in color than the opposite side, said it filed suit as a preemptive strike against GSE's alleged threats to sue Serrot for infringing GSE's patent.

The suit said GSE threatened to take legal action against Serrot last November for hiring Michael Mathieson, one of the inventors of the GSE patent and a former GSE employee.

The suit said GSE planned to sue Serrot once it settles its case against Poly-America Inc., another company that GSE accused of infringing its patent.

"GSE's assertions that Serrot is infringing its rights under the ... patent have placed a cloud over Serrot's plans to continue marketing two-tone liners and unless prevented by the court will continue to affect (its) business," the suit said.

GSE officials could not be reached for comment.