Hypertherm, Inc. v. The Individuals, Partnerships, No. 24 CV 11340, (N.D. Ill. Sept. 2, 2025) (Coleman, J.).

Judge Coleman granted in part and denied in part plaintiff Hypertherm’s motion for default judgment in this Schedule A patent infringement case involving plasma arc cutter replacement parts. While finding defendants liable for patent infringement and awarding $46,146.60 in lost profits, the Court significantly limited the scope of the requested asset freeze.

Most notably, the Court ordered the release of $3,940.83 in frozen funds belonging to thirteen defendants who sold no identified infringing products. The Court found that plaintiff’s chart clearly showed these defendants had zero sales revenue from alleged infringing products and offered no justification for continuing to restrain their accounts.

Additionally, the Court rejected plaintiff’s request to freeze all assets regardless of connection to the infringement. For defendants who did sell infringing products, the Court ordered that funds be frozen only up to the calculated damages for each specific defendant. Any excess frozen funds were ordered to be released, recognizing that defendants may sell non-infringing products.

The Court entered default judgment finding defendants liable for infringement of three patents, granted a permanent injunction, and awarded lost profits of $46,146.60, but limited asset restraints to amounts directly tied to each defendant’s infringing sales.