London, Eng.--Following a lengthy trial, the High Court of Justice in London found that Cinemeccanica Italiana Srl and four other defendants had infringed Leonard Studio Equipment's European patents for its dolly hoisting mechanism, ground and track wheel unit, and dolly leg king pin assembly in a ruling March 8.

Leonard Studio Equipment was granted an injunction to restrain infringement of the patents and costs of the litigation were awarded against the defendants.  The defendants are also liable to pay punitive damages and surrender the Dario and Super Dario Dollies to Leonard Studio Equipment.

Cinemeccanica attacked the validity of one of the Leonard Studio patents, but the London Court rejected the accusation, finding it was based on false testimony and altered documents.

Relying on the testimonies of Leonard Chapman and Dennis Fraser of Grip House Limited, the Court found that supplying even modified design found in both the Dario and Super Dario Dollies would infringe the plaintiff's patent in the United Kingdom.

Michael Silverleaf and Piers Acland, Barristers, defended Leonard Studio Equipment at the proceedings, assisted by Mr. Coe A. Bloomberg and colleagues of the firm of Lyon & Lyon in Los Angeles, who successfully defended Leonard Studio Equipment in a previous case against Cinemeccanica's predecessor, Meccanica Italiana, which is now in liquidation.   Mr. Roy Marsh, of patent agents, Hoffman, Eitle & Partner of Munich and London, also assisted Leonard's legal team in the trial.