Marshall’s Top Industry About To Collapse?

Ever since malpractice and product-liability lawyer T. John Ward was appointed by President Clinton to the federal bench in Marshall, Texas, the little town has become a magnet for patent lawsuits. (Some Dallas firms even have set up offices there.) It seems Judge Ward — big surprise —  is partial to plaintiffs’ attorneys. In December, the Fifth Circuit allowed one Ohio company to escape the judge’s claim to jurisdiction, spurring some hope of relief in the high-tech industry. Now, at last, the Senate is debating a patent-reform bill that will cut out forum-shopping. But there’s a danger here: that will leave Judge Ward shopping for another industry to target.