On February 17, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a 37-page precedential decision affirming in full the trial verdict and judgment in Willis Electric Co., Ltd. v. Polygroup Ltd., et al.
In January 2024, a Robins Kaplan trial team secured a $42.4 million jury verdict in favor of client Willis Electric, finding that Polygroup willfully infringed Willis Electric’s patent covering its “One Plug Tree” technology for pre-lit artificial Christmas trees. The patented technology allows users to assemble and illuminate the tree through an integrated connection system. The district court later increased the judgment to more than $71.4 million with interest. The Federal Circuit’s decision leaves the verdict and judgment intact.
“Willis Electric persevered through years of hard-fought litigation and trial, and we’re pleased to see the Federal Circuit affirm the verdict in full,” said Patrick Arenz, partner at Robins Kaplan.
“The Federal Circuit’s opinion reinforces the strength of the jury’s findings and the evidentiary record developed at trial,” added Emily Niles, partner at Robins Kaplan. “We’re proud that the Court upheld the verdict and damages award in every respect.”
Willis Electric filed suit against Polygroup in federal court in the District of Minnesota in August 2015. Willis Electric was represented on appeal by WilmerHale and Robins Kaplan. Robins Kaplan served as trial counsel.
The Robins Kaplan trial team included Patrick M. Arenz, Emily Niles, Jessica Gutierrez, Brenda Joly, and Prateek Viswanathan.
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