AUSTIN, March 6, 2026 – Baker Botts L.L.P., a leading international energy, technology, and life sciences law firm, represented Lyft, Inc. (“Lyft”) in securing a favorable jury verdict that rejected the plaintiff’s demand and limited patent damages to a lump sum of $1.05 million through patent expiration in 2035. The jury verdict is less than one-half of 1% of the amount sought by the plaintiff in the litigation. The result follows a five-day trial in Quartz Auto Technologies LLC v. Lyft, Inc. (Case No. 1:20-cv-00719) before Hon. Alan Albright in the Austin Division of the Western District of Texas.

Of the five patents originally asserted against Lyft’s rideshare platform, Baker Botts successfully eliminated four before the jury was seated. The Firm secured dismissal of U.S. Patent No. 7,958,215 for improper venue. It then obtained judgment on the pleadings for U.S. Patent Nos. 6,446,004, 6,807,464, and 7,370,085, which Judge Albright found directed to abstract ideas that were patent ineligible.

For the remaining patent, U.S. Patent No. 9,460,616, Quartz Auto alleged that Lyft’s Smart Trip Check-In feature infringed. The jury returned a $1.05 million “lump sum” verdict covering any activity through 2035. Taken together, the pretrial rulings and the jury’s award rejected Plaintiff’s demands and confirmed Lyft’s position.

This lawsuit in the Austin Division is not the only lawsuit between Lyft and Quartz Auto. In March 2021, Lyft filed a declaratory judgment action “to clear itself of the allegations cast by Quartz Auto over Lyft and its products” in the Northern District of California. Lyft sought judgment that four additional Quartz Auto patents were not infringed and invalid. After securing personal jurisdiction over Quartz Auto, Baker Botts successfully eliminated all asserted patents during claim construction and with patent eligibility rulings that were upheld by the Federal Circuit. 

“Patent holders often believe that accused infringers will eventually settle because the math of litigation feels impossible. We made sure that math worked differently here,” said Roger Fulghum, who led the Baker Botts trial team. “Four patents were gone before trial, and the lump sum verdict on the last one gives Lyft real finality. That’s what this team built toward from the beginning.”

Baker Botts was recently named Law360’s IP Practice Group of the Year for 2025, marking the second time in three years the firm has won the award. In two years, Baker Botts achieved nearly $3 billion in IP verdicts won or overturned across telecommunications, consumer technology, and fintech disputes. Baker Botts’ IP department is also the reigning Texas Lawyer IP Litigation Department of the Year.

Baker Botts Lawyers/Offices Involved:

Intellectual Property: Roger Fulghum (Partner, Houston and Austin); Jeremy Taylor (Partner, San Francisco); Lauren Dreyer (Partner, Washington); Katherine Burgess (Senior Associate, San Francisco); Nick Baniel (Senior Associate, Washington); Nolan McQueen (Associate, Dallas); Kira Gill (Associate, San Francisco); Billy Ellis (Associate, San Francisco).

Litigation: Danny David (Managing Partner, Houston); Scott Powers (Partner, Austin)

ABOUT BAKER BOTTS L.L.P.
Baker Botts is an international law firm whose lawyers practice throughout a network of offices around the globe. Based on our experience and knowledge of our clients' industries, we are recognized as a leading firm in the energy, technology and life sciences sectors. Since 1840, we have provided creative and effective legal solutions for our clients while demonstrating an unrelenting commitment to excellence. For more information, please visit bakerbotts.com.