Bloomberg reports that Whirlpool asked a jury to award it $16.2 million in damages from South Korea’s LG Electronics for infringing a patent for refrigerator icemakers.
LG, based in Seoul, sued Benton Harbor, Michigan-based Whirlpool in 2008 in federal court in Delaware. Whirlpool countersued, and a jury in March 2010 determined LG infringed Whirlpool’s technology. Patent fights and squabbles are all teh rage at the moment it would appear with ongoing litigation seemingly between every mobile phone or technology company and it seems to be creeping into the appliance industry as well.
Lawyer Scott F. Partridge, representing Whirlpool, told jurors in his opening statement today that contrary to LG’s assertions, the patent is valid because “we provided a specific description” of the invention.
“They think we should just write a check and go home,” although the patent is faulty, LG lawyer J. Michael Jakes said as the trial started.
In the earlier trial, a jury awarded Whirlpool $1.78 million from LG for infringement. Chief U.S. District Judge Gregory M. Sleet questioned the jury’s calculations and ordered a new trial on validity and damages.
