Nifty Home Products, Inc., a kitchen accessory designer and retailer, sued Big Lots Stores, Inc. on Dec. 12 over allegations of patent infringement.
Nifty alleges that the retail chain is selling a coffee pod carousel and a coffee pod drawer that infringe on two of the company's patents registered with the U.S. Patent Office. Big Lots is selling the products under the Great Gatherings trademark. The packaging indicates that the products are imported by the chain from China.
The plaintiff asks that the defendant pays damages, in addition to profits gained under the alleged willful infringement of Nifty's patents and legal fees. Nifty is also seeking an immediate injunction against Big Lots to prevent it from selling the products.
Nifty Home Products, Inc. is represented by Peter Niklai of Nikolai & Mersereau, P.A.
U.S. District Court of Minnesota case number 0:14-cv-04985-PJS-JJK.