In a ruling that has some local patent lawyers chattering, an East Texas federal judge has dealt crippling sanctions to Toshiba America Inc. and its attorneys at Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear.

Judge T. John Ward slammed Toshiba for “willfully and intentionally” violating the court’s order to produce evidence during discovery in a patent infringement case involving Juniper Networks Inc., according to a June 14 order made public last week.