Judge adds to Verizon penalty in patent case

NORFOLK

A federal judge tacked an additional $24 million on top of the $115 million that a jury ordered Verizon to pay to a small tech company for infringing on its patent.

The judge this week ordered Verizon to post a $145 million bond while the case is being appealed, despite objections from Verizon’s lawyers.

U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson added the $24 million after finding that Verizon is continuing to infringe on the patent of ActiveVideo Networks Inc.

Jackson also turned down Verizon’s request to throw out the jury’s verdict, rejecting the company’s arguments that the verdict was a miscarriage of justice or based upon false evidence.

The jury found that Verizon used ActiveVideo’s patents to develop part of its FiOS cable TV system. ActiveVideo is also now seeking a permanent injunction that could prevent Verizon from providing certain types of interactive services.