The parties and the court

The cases are Roeloffs v. Watts Up Solar, LLC, No. 1:26-cv-08904 (E.D. Cal.), and Roeloffs v. Core Industrial Services, LLC, No. 1:26-cv-08886 (E.D. Cal.), both filed October 28, 2026. The dockets show the Watts Up Solar case assigned to Judge Jennifer L. Thurston and Magistrate Judge Stanley A. Boone, and the Core Industrial Services case assigned to Judge Kirk E. Sherriff and Magistrate Judge Christopher D. Baker. Each complaint says Roeloffs is a natural person and the proprietor of Roeloffs Solutions, with his residence and its principal place of business in Tipton, California. On information and belief, the complaints describe Watts Up Solar, LLC as a California limited liability company based in Merced, California, and Core Industrial Services, LLC as a California limited liability company based in Bakersfield, California. Jurisdiction is pleaded under 28 U.S.C. 1331 and 1338(a) and the patent laws, including 35 U.S.C. 271, 281, and 289, and venue under 28 U.S.C. 1400(b) on the ground that each defendant resides in the district.

The patents

Each complaint says Roeloffs owns all right, title, and interest in U.S. Patent No. 11,616,469 (the '469 patent), issued March 28, 2023, and U.S. Patent No. 11,791,767 (the '767 patent), issued October 17, 2023, each titled Brush-Supported Solar Cell Washing System and Method. Each also says Roeloffs marks carts protected by one or more of the patents with the patent numbers and has done so since each patent issued.

The accused products

Roeloffs describes himself as an innovator, user, and seller of solar panel washing appliances whose lightweight cleaning brush frames are self-supporting on the brush bristles. Each complaint alleges, on information and belief, that the defendant copied the configuration set out in the '469 and '767 patents and used it to take Roeloffs' customers in his business of washing solar panels for third-party owners of solar panel arrays in the Eastern District of California. Each says Roeloffs has identified several third-party array owners who retained the defendant to clean panels with the defendant's cleaning brush frames, which the complaint defines as the Accused Products.

What the patents cover

U.S. Patent 11,616,469 covers a brush-supported solar-cell washing system and method. Exhibit C to each complaint, a claim chart, maps the Accused Products to claims 1, 7, and 12 of the '469 patent. Claim 1 covers a washer head assembly for washing a solar-panel surface with a washer head frame that includes a cross member with a swivel mounted below a center of gravity allowing pitching of the frame, top and bottom frame rails, a plurality of lath brushes that extend generally the length of the frame with bristles sufficient to support the frame against the panel without damage, and a jib winch to draw and pay out a jib pendant affixed to the top frame rail to pitch the frame. Claim 7 covers a method for cleaning an array of solar panels that includes supporting such a washer head frame on lath brushes resting on a panel, conveying water from a reservoir through a pressurized line to a sprayer manifold assembly on the frame, distributing it to port and starboard nozzles that spray the panel, and activating a jib winch to pay out the pendant so the frame pitches onto the brush bristles on the panel surface. Claim 12 covers a washer head frame for washing a solar-panel surface with a swivel mounted below the frame's center of gravity for pitching, top and bottom frame rails, a plurality of lath brushes affixed to those rails that extend generally the length of the frame with each brush's long axis perpendicular to the direction of travel and bristles sufficient to support the frame without damaging the panel, and a jib winch and pendant affixed to the top rail to pitch the frame.

U.S. Patent 11,791,767 covers a brush-supported solar-cell washing system and method. Exhibit D to each complaint maps the Accused Products to claim 15 of the '767 patent. Claim 15 covers a washer head frame for washing a solar-panel surface with a plurality of lath brushes extending generally the length of the frame, each oriented with its long axis perpendicular to the direction of travel and with bristles sufficient to support the frame against the front surface without damage, and, arranged within the frame, a sprayer manifold assembly with a gooseneck for a flexible hose connection, a sprayer manifold receiving high-pressure water from the gooseneck, and at least one spray header supplying that flow to nozzles that spray the panel's front face.

The counts

In each case, Count I alleges that the defendant has directly infringed and continues to directly infringe the '469 patent under 35 U.S.C. 271 by manufacturing, using, offering for sale, and selling the Accused Products, with Exhibit C as a representative claim chart, and Count II alleges the same for the '767 patent, with Exhibit D. Each count alleges injury and irreparable harm and says Roeloffs is entitled to injunctive and compensatory relief, including attorneys' fees and costs and enhanced damages for willful infringement. Each complaint also alleges that the case is exceptional under 35 U.S.C. 285 because of the defendant's unwillingness to acknowledge patent rights.

The relief sought

Each prayer seeks a determination that the defendant has infringed the '469 and '767 patents; a permanent injunction against infringing acts by the defendant and those in active concert with it; damages adequate to compensate for the infringement; an order that the defendant deliver to Roeloffs all remaining inventory of Accused Products in its possession, custody, or control; a written compliance report under oath within thirty days; and other just and proper relief.

What to watch next

The dockets set initial scheduling conferences for January 25, 2027 in the Core Industrial Services case and February 18, 2027 in the Watts Up Solar case. Watch for each defendant's answer or Rule 12 motion, and for any order relating or consolidating the two cases.