Leggett & Platt sues mattress manufacturer

Carthage-based Leggett & Platt Inc. has filed a lawsuit with the U.S. District Court alleging that Simmons, an Atlanta-based mattress manufacturer, has infringed on one of Leggett’s patents.

The suit, filed March 30 with the Western District of Missouri's Southwestern Division, claims that Simmons is infringing on U.S. patent No. 5,868,383 for a Multiple Rate Coil Spring Assembly, which L&P was issued on Feb. 9, 1999. Leggett claims that a new coil introduced by Simmons at the Las Vegas Market earlier this year is a replication of one of its own designs. Simmons plans to use the coil in two new Beautyrest products.

According to the lawsuit, officials with Leggett claim Simmons’ infringement has injured the Carthage company, and therefore Leggett is entitled to recover damages as compensation, in an amount no less than a reasonable royalty.

L&P is also asking for a preliminary and permanent injunction prohibiting Simmons from further infringement of the patent.

“This has to do with intellectual property, and Leggett has a substantial amount of intellectual property,” L&P CEO David Haffner said. “We believe in protecting our property, and we believe in respecting the intellectual property of others.”

Haffner declined to give further comment until the lawsuit has been ruled upon.[[In-content Ad]]