Court Roundup

Connecticut: Pratt & Whitney sues Rolls Royce over patent
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — In a continuing battle over engine part designs, jet engine maker Pratt & Whitney says it has filed a federal lawsuit accusing Rolls Royce of misleading the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to obtain a patent.

Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp., said Monday that Rolls-Royce’s patent is invalid and unenforceable. It accused Rolls Royce of unlawfully using its patent and taking other actions to harm Pratt & Whitney.

A spokeswoman for Rolls Royce did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Rolls Royce filed a patent infringement lawsuit in August against United Technologies over the design of engine parts. It alleged that fan blades in a United Technologies geared turbofan engine infringe on a Rolls-Royce patent.

Pratt & Whitney denies the accusation.

Florida: GOP donors appeal ruling on Crist refunds
MIAMI (AP) — Republican contributors to Gov. Charlie Crist’s independent campaign for the U.S. Senate aren’t giving up their quest for refunds.

The attorney for two GOP donors said Monday he will appeal a Naples judge’s denial last week of class-action status in the case. The ruling means each contributor to the Crist campaign would have to seek a refund through individual court action.

Some Republicans contend Crist should return at least $7.5 million given to his Senate bid before he left the GOP and became an independent last spring. Crist’s attorneys say donors have many reasons besides party affiliation to contribute money.

An appeals court in Tallahassee is being asked to prevent the Crist campaign from spending the money in question.

Oregon: 12 counts of contempt in Portland courtroom
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A man who repeatedly interrupted a Portland judge had a dozen counts of contempt of court add four months to his prison sentence.

The 25-year-old William Kinney told Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Leslie Roberts Friday that he answers only to God and not to the laws of Oregon.

The judge sentenced him to more than five years in prison for driving with a revoked license and possessing cocaine.

The Oregonian reports Kinney continued to drive after having his license revoked for a 2002 crash that killed a man.

Montana: Man sentenced for swindling investors
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A former mortgage broker who conned investors out of $740,000 has been sentenced to nearly two years in prison and ordered to pay $850,000 in restitution.

Eric J. Schultz of Livingston was sentenced last Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull of Billings for investment fraud and money laundering.

Prosecutors say the 39-year-old Schultz sought investments in a scheme that promised a rate of return of up to 16 times the original investment, diverted $500,000 to his own use, invested the rest and lost the money.

Defense attorney Larry Jent says Schultz cooperated with a wider investigation, which led to the seizure of nearly $800,000 that can be used to repay investors.