US Tennis Association sued over roof technology

US-based architecture firm Uni-Systems has filed a lawsuit against the United States Tennis Association (USTA) over retractable roof technology.

The case was filed on Wednesday, January 11 in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York, alleging patent infringement, trade secret misappropriation and unfair competition.

Uni-Systems also sued Rossetti, Hunt Construction, Hardesty & Hanover, Morgan Engineering Systems and Geiger Engineers.

Hunt, which had worked with Uni-Systems back in 2003 to build a roof system for American football franchise the Arizona Cardinals, allegedly conspired with Hardesty & Hanover to take over maintenance of the roof.

Through this, Hardesty & Hanover allegedly gained access to Uni-Systems’ trade secret-protected retractable roof technology.

In 2011, Uni-Systems learned that the USTA planned to construct a retractable roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, which was later designed by Rossetti and built by Hunt.

Hardesty & Hanover was given the design work for the Arthur Ashe retractable roof, and in doing so allegedly used Uni-Systems’ trade secrets which it had gained from the maintenance of the Arizona Cardinals’ roof.

In the complaint, Uni-Systems states that it notified the companies in May 2016 of its claims for patent infringement of US numbers 6,789,360 and 7,594,360, as well as misappropriation of trade secrets, but was ignored.

Uni-Systems has asked the court to permanently enjoin the allegedly infringing companies from proceeding with the project. It has also asked to be awarded enhanced damages up to three times the amount of damages found.

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