Hill-Rom is suing General Electric Co., for alleged patent infringements related to a system that monitors hand washing by healthcare workers.
The Batesville-based hospital furniture company filed the federal lawsuit claiming GE’s product violates three of its patents.
According to the suit, GE is actively marketing the product that was developed by Hill-Rom 15 years ago. The product is designed to monitor employees in potentially contaminated areas and verify they wash their hands.
Two inventors of the Hill-Rom product reside in the region, Dennis Gallant of Harrison, Ohio, and Timothy Wildman of Metamora.
Hill-Rom is seeking a jury trial, a block on the use of patents, and financial compensation.
The 12-page suit states, “Hill-Rom has suffered and continues to suffer substantial injury, including irreparable harm and damages including loss of sales and profits that Hill-Rom would have made but for the infringement.”
