8-K-OrderonWGpostverdictmotionsJune192013


 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

                                          

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT


PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


Date of Report: (Date of earliest event reported): June 19, 2013


ION Geophysical Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
1-12691
(Commission file number)
22-2286646
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)


2105 CityWest Blvd, Suite 400
Houston, Texas 77042-2839
(Address of principal executive offices, including Zip Code)

(281) 933-3339
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)



Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 



 
 
 




Item 8.01.  Other Events.
 
On June 19, 2013, the presiding judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas signed and entered a Memorandum and Order in the previously-reported lawsuit of WesternGeco L.L.C. v. ION Geophysical Corporation. As previously reported, on August 16, 2012, the jury in the case returned a verdict against ION Geophysical Corporation (the “Company”), finding that the Company had willfully infringed certain patent claims and awarded WesternGeco the sum of $105.9 million in damages, consisting of $12.5 million in reasonable royalty and $93.4 million in lost profits. In the Memorandum and Order, the presiding judge rejected the jury’s finding of willfulness and ruled that the Company’s infringement was not willful, the case was not exceptional and that WesternGeco was not entitled to receive attorneys' fees. The Memorandum and Order denied the Company’s post-verdict motions that challenged the jury’s other infringement findings and the verdict damages amount.

The Court has not yet entered a final judgment in the case.

The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K shall not be deemed to be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, and shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.






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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: June 20, 2013
ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION 

 
By: /s/ DAVID L. ROLAND   
   David L. Roland 
   Senior Vice President, General Counsel and
   Corporate Secretary


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