Metzfab Industries v. Schedule A Defendants: Dipstick Adapter Patent Case Settles in Florida
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📋 Case Summary
| Case Name | Metzfab Industries, LLC v. The Individuals, Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships, and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule A |
| Case Number | 1:25-cv-22220 (S.D. Fla.) |
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida |
| Duration | May 2025 – Oct 2025 153 days |
| Outcome | Settled – Voluntary Dismissal |
| Patents at Issue | |
| Accused Products | Dipstick Adapter Assemblies |
Case Overview
The Parties
⚖️ Plaintiff
A company associated with inventor Brandon Metzger, whose patent portfolio encompasses dipstick adapter technology — a mechanical innovation serving automotive, industrial, and heavy-equipment maintenance markets.
🛡️ Defendant
The defendant class — identified through a sealed Schedule A — represents “John Doe” or marketplace sellers frequently deployed in IP enforcement against e-commerce platforms.
Patents at Issue
This case involved two U.S. patents covering dipstick adapter assembly technology, crucial for fluid level measurement across various industries:
- • U.S. Patent No. 9,671,272 B1 — A utility patent covering dipstick adapter assembly innovations.
- • U.S. Patent No. 9,285,259 B1 — A related utility patent in the same technical family, covering dipstick adapter assembly configurations.
Developing a mechanical component?
Check if your design or sourcing might infringe these or related utility patents.
The Verdict & Legal Analysis
Outcome
The case concluded through **voluntary dismissal without prejudice** pursuant to a settlement agreement between the parties, filed under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a). The dismissal, dated October 10, 2025, specified that each party would bear its own costs and attorneys’ fees.
Legal Significance
While this case did not produce a precedential ruling, it reflects that utility patent holders in mechanical product categories are successfully leveraging Schedule A litigation frameworks to address patent infringement by anonymous online sellers.
Drafting utility patent claims?
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⚠️ Freedom to Operate (FTO) Analysis
This case highlights critical IP risks in mechanical components. Choose your next step:
📋 Understand Mechanical Patent Risks
Learn about the specific risks and implications from this utility patent litigation.
- View related utility patents in mechanical components
- See which companies are most active in utility patent enforcement
- Understand claim scope for mechanical innovations
🔍 Check My Product’s Risk
Run a comprehensive FTO analysis for your mechanical component or product.
- Input your product description or technical features
- AI identifies potentially blocking utility patents
- Get actionable risk assessment report
High Risk Area
Dipstick adapter assemblies & fluid measurement
2 Patents Asserted
In this specific case (more broadly in sector)
Early Settlement Possible
Common in Schedule A cases
✅ Key Takeaways
For Patent Attorneys
Schedule A litigation offers an efficient enforcement mechanism against distributed online infringement of utility patents.
Search Schedule A case law →Asserting multiple related patents increases settlement leverage and reduces invalidity risk in enforcement campaigns.
Explore utility patent strategies →For R&D Teams
Conduct freedom-to-operate (FTO) analysis on mechanical component designs before commercializing or sourcing.
Start FTO analysis for my product →Verify upstream supplier IP clearances when sourcing mechanical components for resale on e-commerce platforms.
Evaluate supplier IP →Ready to Strengthen Your Patent Strategy?
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