McMinnville, OR, September 26, 2013 – Ortho Classic, a leading supplier of high-quality orthodontics products distributed in 85 countries, announced another victory today concerning the federal court counterclaims that Ormco Corporation filed against Ortho Classic. In March of 2013, Ormco filed counterclaims in Case No. 3:13-cv-441-AC , U.S.D.C. for the District of Oregon, alleging interference with contracts Ormco had entered with two leading orthodontists, Dr. Tom Pitts and Dr. Duncan Brown. Ormco sought to bar sales of Ortho Classic’s new product, the H4 bracket. The H4 bracket was introduced by Ortho Classic in early 2013. Two days before the federal court hearing scheduled to decide the merits of Ormco’s preliminary injunction request, Ormco signed an agreement to give up and dismiss with prejudice all of its counterclaims against Ortho Classic concerning non-disclosure and non-compete contracts of Drs. Pitts and Brown, and did so without the payment of any monetary consideration by Ortho Classic.
In response, Ortho Classic President and CEO Mr. Hagelganz stated: “On August 23, Ormco gave up on its ability to win in the Oregon U.S. District court its patent infringement case against us. And, on September 23, Ormco agreed to drop its claims that Ortho Classic interfered with or caused Dr. Pitts and Dr. Brown to violate contracts they entered with Ormco. Ortho Classic’s invention of the H4 bracket has now been twice vindicated. We are ready to rock this market with a great product at a great price made right here in the USA.”