Court dismisses complaint against JACO

JACO Environmental, Inc. of Everett, Washington (JACO) has prevailed in a lawsuit brought by Appliance Recycling Centers of America/California (ARCA).

The Complaint, filed in the United States District Court in Santa Ana, California in November of 2004, alleged that JACO unlawfully patented and unlawfully claimed development of JACO’s refrigerator and freezer recycling process, and that ARCA had been competitively harmed by JACO’s statements and patent.

JACO, represented by Hendricks & Lewis, PLLC, of Seattle, Washington, and Ropers Majeski Kohn & Bentley of Los Angeles, California, contested ARCA’s allegations and, on January 6, 2009, Chief Judge Alicemarie H. Stotler issued an order of summary judgment and a judgment of dismissal that provided in part: “It is Ordered and Adjudged: that plaintiffs (ARCA) shall take nothing from defendants (JACO), that judgment for defendants is granted and that defendants (JACO) shall recover their costs of suit.”

“We are very pleased with the Court’s decision and happy to put this behind us,” said JACO president Terry Jacobsen.

Recycling household appliances, including refrigerators and freezers, is a major part of JACO’s business.