$160,000,000 Judgment Tossed In A Trade Secrets Misappropriation Case.

A jury awarded $80,000,000 on a counterclaim in a trade secrets misappropriation case involving two toy manufacturers, and the trial judge added another $80,000,000 in punitive damages. The Ninth Circuit reversed because the counterclaim was not compulsory and should not have been permitted. Even though the counterclaimant lost its damages judgment, it got to keep its attorney fees awarded by the trial judge under the Copyright Act [17 U.S.C. § 505], as it successfully defended itself.  Mattel, Inc. v. MGA Entertainment, Inc.  (Ninth Cir.; January 24, 2013) (Case No. 11-56357).