SawStop wins Supreme Court action in antitrust suit against Black & Decker
SawStop
SawStop sliding table saw
WASHINGTON, D.C.SD3, SawStop's corporate parent, won U.S. Supreme Court support in its continuing antitrust lawsuit against Black & Decker, Robert Bosch Tool, Makita U.S.A. SD3 accuses the saw makers of boycotting its table saw safety technology.
 
Separately, SawStop is suing to block Bosch from selling its Reaxx saw, which incorporates a flesh-sensing safety trigger to brake the blade. 
 

ARTICLE

SawStop says it will win patent suit against Bosch

SawStop LLC has expressed confidence that the company will win its legal action to block Bosch from selling its Reaxx table saw in the U.S. 


The Supreme Court action, issued in a flurry of other legal determinations June 20, allowed a lower court's ruling to stand, permitting SawStop to sue the group. All are members of the Power Tool Institute, which advocates against efforts to require SawStop's flesh-sensing blade brake technology on saws. 

SawStop parent SD3 originally filed its case in February 2014. Based on public documents filed in the Supreme Court case, legal blog Law360 reports that its adversaries filed a petition with the Supreme Court on Jan. 27, asking it to reverse a Fourth Circuit panel's decision in September that support SawStop's claims. 

SawStop braking mechanism
 
SawStop says the manufacturers violated federal antitrust law by colluding through the Power Tool Institute. That suit also says the group tried to get Underwriters Laboratories not to include SawStop technology in its safety standards. Other defendants in the case brought by SawStop include Hitachi Koki USA Ltd., Milwaukee Tool, One World Technologies Inc., Ryobi, Techtronic Industries and Pentair Inc.
 

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Bill Esler | ConfSenior Editor

Bill wrote for WoodworkingNetwork.com, FDMC and Closets & Organized Storage magazines. 

Bill's background includes more than 10 years in print manufacturing management, followed by more than 30 years in business reporting on industrial manufacturing in the forest products industries, including printing and packaging at American Printer (Features Editor) and Graphic Arts Monthly (Editor in Chief) magazines; and in secondary wood manufacturing for WoodworkingNetwork.com.

Bill was deeply involved with the launches of the Woodworking Network Leadership Forum, and the 40 Under 40 Awards programs. He currently reports on technology and business trends and develops conference programs.

In addition to his work as a journalist, Bill supports efforts to expand and improve educational opportunities in the manufacturing sectors, including 10 years on the Print & Graphics Scholarship Foundation; six years with the U.S. WoodLinks; and currently on the Woodwork Career Alliance Education Committee. He is also supports the Greater West Town Training Partnership Woodworking Program, which has trained more than 950 adults for industrial wood manufacturing careers. 

Bill volunteers for Foinse Research Station, a biological field station staddling the border of Ireland and Northern Ireland, one of more than 200 members of the Organization of Biological Field Stations.