NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - A national law firm faces a federal lawsuit from a woman entangled in a patent dispute over a spill-proof lid.
Amanda Sima filed a lawsuit May 20 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against Nelson, Mullins, Riley & Scarborough LLP and Ashley Summer, Esq.
The case revolves around allegations of fraudulent conduct and professional misconduct related to Sima's invention, JoJo Cups, a spill-proof lid for children. Sima claims that her confidential designs were stolen by Waddington North America and subsequently patented by it.
The complaint alleges a series of events starting from 2013 when Sima began developing her product. She alleges that her communications with potential business partners were breached, leading to the unauthorized production and patenting of her design by Waddington North America.
Further complicating matters, one of her attorneys, Justin Barker from Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP, allegedly transitioned to work for the defendants' law firm during ongoing settlement discussions without informing her. Summer and Nelson Mullins represented Novolex in settlement discussions with Sima, she says.
Sima accuses the defendants of fraudulent inducement, omission, misrepresentation, concealment, constructive fraud, civil conspiracy, breach of implied contract and good faith covenant, tortious interference with business relations, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
She seeks $25 million in compensatory damages and $50 million in punitive damages. She is representing herself.