CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (October 1, 2025) — Lathrop GPM recently secured a trial victory for its client, Munchkin, Inc., in its patent infringement lawsuit against TOMY International Inc. On September 12, 2025, after a five-day trial, a federal jury in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago delivered a verdict in favor of Munchkin on all its claims, finding that TOMY infringed Munchkin’s design patent protecting its popular Miracle® 360° Sippy Cup. The jury verdict follows a prior ruling by the court that TOMY also infringed a Munchkin utility patent protecting the same cup. The jury also determined that TOMY’s infringement of both patents was willful, and found that Munchkin suffered damages for TOMY’s infringement of both patents, awarding Munchkin monetary damages in excess of $3.9 million.
The case is Munchkin, Inc. v. TOMY International, Inc. (Case No. 1:18-cv-06337). Lathrop GPM’s trial team included Luke Meriwether, Eric Sidler and Tim Hadachek from the firm’s intellectual property litigation group.
“We are thrilled with the jury’s verdict and congratulate Munchkin on this well-deserved victory,” said Luke Meriwether, Lathrop GPM partner and lead counsel at trial. “The foundation of our longstanding partnership with Munchkin is built on a shared commitment to innovation and the protection of its valuable intellectual property. This result underscores the talent and dedication of our lawyers to securing results for clients like Munchkin in high-stakes disputes such as this. In a highly competitive industry, we are proud to stand side-by-side with Munchkin in protecting their unique and innovative products.”
About Lathrop GPM LLP
Lathrop GPM is a full-service, Am Law 200 law firm with more than 360 attorneys and other legal professionals in 14 offices. Meeting the legal needs of businesses, organizations and high-net worth individuals, our attorneys provide a full spectrum of corporate legal services: corporate, tax and business transactions, labor, employment and franchise law, litigation, intellectual property, private client services, real estate, and trusts and estates. We help clients grow and succeed, anticipate trends, plan for challenges and bring their visions to life. Clients recognize Lathrop GPM for our commitment to client service, legal project management and innovative pricing capabilities. A Multilaw and Employment Law Alliance affiliate, we have the resources of more than 90 independent law firms in 100 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.lathropgpm.com.