SANTA ANA, Calif. — A federal judge ordered toy giant Mattel Inc. to pay rival MGA Entertainment more than $309 million on Thursday, marking another tumultuous chapter in the years-long legal fight between the two companies over ownership of the lucrative Bratz fashion doll line.
The judge’s order marks the latest stunning reversal of fortune for the upstart MGA, which has been involved in a legal battle with Mattel since 2004 over who owns the Bratz doll. The dolls with pouty lips, hip hop-style clothing and oversized feet were aimed at “tweens,” or girls ages 9 to 11, and flew off the shelves when they debuted in 2001.
U.S. District Court Judge David O. Carter reduced a previous jury award from more than $88 million to $85 million but then awarded Los Angeles-based MGA an additional $85 million in punitive damages for trade secrets misappropriation. He also awarded MGA and its Chief Executive Officer Isaac Larian $137 million in legal fees related to copyright and trade secrets issues and more than $2 million in legal fees and related costs on the trade secrets claims.
The total was more than $309.8 million, according to court papers and MGA lead counsel Jennifer Keller.
Mattel said in a statement that it was disappointed with the ruling and would “review the court’s ruling and evaluate next steps.” The El Segundo-based toy maker can appeal.
Michael Zeller and John Quinn, who handled the case for Mattel, did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
Mattel first filed a lawsuit in 2004 alleging that Bratz designer Carter Bryant was employed at Mattel when he created the Bratz dolls.
In 2008, a federal jury in Riverside sided with Mattel and awarded it $100 million — but the verdict was overturned on appeal and the case sent back for a retrial in which a jury rejected Mattel’s claims.
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