Human Touch awarded $9.5 million in suits
By Gary Evans -- Furniture Today, September 21, 2008
LONG BEACH, Calif. — Massage chair specialist Human Touch says it has been awarded almost $9.5 million in lawsuits against two companies for patent and trademark infringement.
The company said a U.S. District Court jury awarded it $4.55 million in damages in a trademark and trade dress infringement and unfair competition suit against American Lighting Industry in an action related to Human Touch's massage products and technology.
Human Touch said the jury also awarded it $2.8 million from co-defendant King Kong USA, a division of American Lighting that sells massage chairs and foot massagers, and $425,000 from King Kong's president, Bernard Koay.
The suit involved Human Touch's HTT-10 model massage chairs.
In a separate federal lawsuit, the company said it was awarded $1.7 million from WFO Imports, which does business as Premier Health Products, for infringement of patent rights. A U.S. District Court jury had ruled that a number of massage chairs sold by Premier had infringed on technology used to massage the user's lower leg and calf.
“Our retail partners, distributors and consumers know that there is a difference in the comforts and technologies of a Human Touch-branded massage chair and thus we will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure that our intellectual property is protected and that retail partners and consumers are never misled by competitors,” said Human Touch President Andrew Cohen.
-
Human Touch awarded $9.5 million in suits
Sep 18, 2008
Merinos Home Furnishings opening display room, Boyles addition
‘Mega vessels' likely to boost capacity, stabilize freight rates
HOM Furniture adds flooring to six Twin Cities stores
Dan Masters joins Furniture Brands as VP, business development
21 companies from Turkey, Taiwan and China to exhibit at Showtime
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
