Federal Circuit OKs $3.5 Million Award in Plumbing Patent Suit

Plumbing parts maker IPS Corp. must pay WCM Industries Inc. $3.5 million for infringing its bathtub waste and overflow drain assembly patents, the Federal Circuit affirmed.

The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee properly supported its decision to enhance the $1.4 million jury award by a 2.5 multiplier because the infringement was willful, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said.

WCM sued IPS Corp. for infringing its U.S. Patent Nos. 8,302,220; 8,321,970; and 8,584,272. The jury’s award was based on a royalty rate of $1 for each of the 1.4 million ...