$24 million patent suit award over lawn mowers is one of largest ever in Nebraska

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/money/million-patent-suit-award-over-lawn-mowers-is-one-of/article_bc1731dd-948b-599b-8b30-d892c4ab9d49.html

POSTED: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 12:30 AM | UPDATED: 11:32 AM, TUE SEP 22, 2015.
By Russell Hubbard / World-Herald staff writer

An Omaha federal jury has awarded the Beatrice, Nebraska, unit of lawn mower manufacturer Toro $24.2 million in a patent infringement lawsuit. It’s one of the largest such awards in state history, according to attorneys familiar with such cases.

Exmark Manufacturing Co., a division of Minnesota-based power equipment giant Toro, was awarded the sum last week after a trial in U.S. District Court in Omaha. The 2010 suit said rival manufacturer Briggs & Stratton illegally copied a design that allows a mower to easily convert from a side-discharge model to one that mulches yard cuttings.

The jury decided that Wisconsin-based Briggs & Stratton’s mower design constituted willful infringement on Exmark’s patent. Redesigned versions don’t infringe, the jury ruled. The trial started Sept. 8 and concluded last week.

As far as jury awards go, it is a big one by Nebraska standards, though it trails the $30 million awarded this year by a federal jury to Omaha’s Prism Technologies in another patent infringement case.

FULL story at link.

[Mnpaul]

1. I didn't know B&S made lawnmowers

lawnmower engines yes but I haven't seen a B&S lawnmower.