NEW YORK, June 1, 2026 – Baker Botts L.L.P., a leading international energy, technology, and life sciences law firm, secured the dismissal of all claims against its clients Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc. and Sonus Networks, Inc. in an indemnity suit brought by Charter Communications Operating, LLC in New York state court.

Charter sought to recover more than $130 million in indemnity obligations arising from a prior patent infringement lawsuit brought by Sprint concerning Charter's VoIP services. Charter claimed that multiple agreements required Ribbon to reimburse its defense costs and a portion of its global settlement with Sprint.

Charter sued Ribbon in 2022, seeking indemnification for amounts Charter paid to settle the Sprint suit, which Sprint had filed against Charter in 2017. Charter defended that suit itself for years before settling, then sought to recover its settlement payment and its defense costs from Ribbon under a supply agreement, contending that equipment Ribbon's predecessor sold to Charter was covered by an indemnification obligation.

New York Supreme Court Justice Anar Patel granted summary judgment to Ribbon and dismissed Charter's complaint in its entirety (Charter Communications Operating, LLC v. Sonus Networks, Inc. and Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc., No. 653435/2022).

The New York ruling followed a parallel win for Ribbon in Delaware. The Delaware case is a related indemnity action stemming from Charter's $220 million global settlement with Sprint, where the Superior Court granted Ribbon summary judgment, and the Delaware Supreme Court affirmed that dismissal in December 2025.

Baker Botts Lawyers/Offices Involved:

Intellectual Property: Kurt Pankratz (Partner, Dallas); Jacob McDonald (Senior Associate, Dallas); Jacqueline Chan (Associate, Dallas)

Litigation: Susan Kennedy (Partner, Dallas); Ryan Ward (Senior Associate, Dallas); Kirstie Mellon (Senior Associate, Dallas); John Mitchell (Senior Paralegal, New York); Olga Marshall (Paralegal, Dallas)

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