Apple Challenges $5.7B Taction Patent Verdict, Citing Barred Damages Expert

Apple $AAPL filed a new motion asking a federal judge to overturn a $5.7B jury verdict awarded to Taction Technology over two patents related to the Taptic Engine used in iPhones and Apple Watches. Apple stated in its filing that the $5.7B figure is the largest patent verdict in history by more than $3B. According to Apple's motion, the court previously excluded the royalty analysis of Taction's damages expert due to calculation flaws and barred the expert from testifying. Apple argues that Taction never presented evidence establishing what its technology was worth, instead asking jurors to award whatever reasonable royalty they thought was appropriate. Apple also pointed out that before the award was announced, the judge told attorneys he wasn't sure the figure on the verdict form was what the jury meant to convey. In the filing, Apple alleges that Taction technical expert Dr. Oliver relied on a "rigged" test created specifically for the lawsuit. Apple argues the test measured how its electronic control system regulates vibrations rather than testing whether the underlying transducer hardware produces the consistent, highly damped output across frequencies described in Taction's patents. Because the jury's verdict has not yet been formally entered as a final judgment, the court will now decide whether to uphold the $5.7B award, overturn the verdict with zero damages, or order a new trial covering infringement, validity, and damages. "Without any such evidence, the jury was left to speculate, contrary to the Court's instructions and binding Federal Circuit case law." — Apple Court Filing.