Printer Co. Not Liable For Restaurant Tablet Issues, Jury Says

Law360 (October 30, 2019) A printer component manufacturer beat back claims it was liable for more than $197 million in damages for causing malfunctions in tablets that restaurant customers across the nation use to order and pay for their meals after a California state jury ruled in its favor. Tuesday's verdict handed a win to Citizen Systems Japan Co. and Citizen Systems America Corp., which denied the claims made by Tabletop Media LLC, a manufacturer of a touch screen tablet device called the Ziosk. The tablets — which can be found in thousands of restaurants including Chili's, Red Robin and Olive Garden — used Citizen's printers to print customer receipts, according to court documents. Tabletop sued in Texas federal court in May 2016, claiming Citizen's printers routinely malfunctioned and caused many restaurants to return their tablets to Tabletop. The suit included claims of common law fraud and breach of contract, among others. Tim Hsu of Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP, counsel for Citizen, said Tabletop sought more than $197 million for its allegations. He said the Texas federal case was moved to California, and that both parties essentially agreed to dismiss the case, with all claims to be resolved in the state court action. A press release from Allen Matkins said that after less than three hours of deliberation, the jury returned a nearly unanimous full defense verdict for both Citizen entities. Citizen is represented by Scott Leipzig, Marissa Dennis, and Tim Hsu of Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP. Read More