LAWSUIT
“Use their rules against them.”
2015
Marriage equality — Obergefell
Who
LGBTQ organizers, plaintiffs, state campaigns vs State bans and federal delay
Decades of organizing and state fights culminate in a Supreme Court decision that ends state bans on same-sex marriage.
Outcome Obergefell (2015) — nationwide right to marry
Lesson Generational coalition plus courts can settle what legislatures refused.
Documentary
The Freedom to MarryDocumentary
For the Bible Tells Me So1990s–2010s
Bilott / community vs DuPont (PFOA)
Who
Rob Bilott, West Virginia farmers and communities vs DuPont
Cattle die near a DuPont plant. Corporate lawyer Rob Bilott — still at his firm — sues, forces PFOA documents into the open, and builds cases that outlast DuPont’s delay strategy.
Outcome Settlements, disclosure, and a template for PFAS litigation still unfolding
Lesson Litigation discovery can open a chemical company’s files when regulators won’t.
Documentary
The Devil We Know1993–1996
Hinkley / Erin Brockovich vs PG&E
Who
Erin Brockovich, Masry & Vititoe, Hinkley residents vs Pacific Gas & Electric
Hinkley residents live with chromium-6 in the groundwater. A legal team builds a mass case against PG&E and forces a settlement.
Outcome Landmark settlement for affected residents
Lesson Evidence plus organized plaintiffs can extract money from a utility that bet on silence.
1978–1990s
Robert Kearns vs Ford — intermittent wipers
Who
Robert Kearns vs Ford (and later other automakers)
Kearns invents the intermittent windshield wiper. Detroit puts versions on cars without a deal he accepts. He sues for years while Ford and others try to wait him out.
Outcome Court victories and settlements against automakers
Lesson Patent law is useless unless someone is willing to outlast the opponent’s calendar.
1927–1939
Philo Farnsworth vs RCA — electronic television
Who
Philo T. Farnsworth vs RCA / David Sarnoff
Farnsworth builds working electronic television. RCA claims its engineer got there first and spends the 1930s trying to wipe his patents. He wins priority; RCA pays to license.
Outcome Patent Office awards priority to Farnsworth; RCA licenses his patents (~$1M)
Lesson Airtight patents can make a monopoly pay for what it wanted to own.
Documentary
Philo Farnsworth / invention of television