Mark Zukowski and Erik Stone Successfully Obtained A Directed Verdict for WaterFurnace International, Inc.

The ACT Group v. WaterFurnace International, Inc – Jones, Skelton & Hochuli attorneys, Mark Zukowski and Erik Stone, successfully obtained a directed verdict on all claims in favor of their client, WaterFurnace International, Inc., during a highly complex copyright infringement trial held in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona.  The Plaintiff, The ACT Group, sought nearly $1 million in damages and alleged that WaterFurnace and co-defendant, James Hamlin, jointly infringed on The ACT Group’s copyrighted sales-training material.  At trial, Plaintiff argued that its former employee, Hamlin, used Plaintiff’s protected material to develop a series of sales-training seminars for WaterFurnace.  In defense, WaterFurnace argued that it did not participate in any allegedly infringing conduct and was not responsible for any unauthorized use of the Plaintiff’s protected material.  After completing the first week of a two-week trial, JSH attorneys Zukowski and Stone obtained a directed verdict in favor of WaterFurnace.  They will be seeking a full recovery of their client’s attorney fees and costs.

Mr. Zukowski joined Jones, Skelton & Hochuli in 1983, and has been a Partner since 1988. He is a 1980 graduate of the University of Arizona, College of Law. He has served on the firm’s management committee and is a past chair of the firm’s construction and insurance practice groups. He is a member of the USLAW network and was the founding chair of the network’s construction practice group. He is also a member of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance.

Mr. Stone joined Jones, Skelton & Hochuli as an Associate in 2010, and concentrates his practice on Commercial and Business Litigation; General Civil Litigation and Insurance Defense; Construction Litigation; and Wrongful Death and Personal Injury. Mr. Stone received his law degree from Boston University School of Law in 2009, and is admitted to practice in Arizona and California. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Stone served as a Judicial Clerk for the Honorable Patricia A. Orozco, of the Arizona Court of Appeals, Division I.