TriMas
:
Jan 28, 2014

TriMas' Cequent Performance Products Wins Dismissal of Patent Infringement and Trade Secret Misappropriation Suit

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- TriMas Corporation (NASDAQ: TRS) - a diversified global manufacturer of engineered and applied products - today announced that the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas granted summary judgment for Cequent Performance Products in a patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation lawsuit filed by MCB Sales & Installation Services, Inc.

"Our intellectual property is critical to fostering innovation, and is important to us as a company and to our customers," said Tom Benson, president of TriMas' Cequent Performance Products. "We take our IP protection seriously and do everything we can to defend it."

The suit alleged that Cequent infringed a U.S. patent owned by MCB and trade secret misappropriation. Further, MCB sought a declaratory judgment finding that two of Cequent's design patents, D560,324 and D561,424 for Cequent's Bulldog® Drive Kit, are invalid. The suit also sought money damages and injunctive relief.

At the pleading stage, the Court dismissed all of MCB's claims except for the patent infringement and misappropriation of trade secret claims. After discovery, Cequent moved for summary judgement on those remaining claims.

The Court granted summary judgment of no patent infringement and no trade secret misappropriation in favor of Cequent, ordered MCB to pay Cequent's costs, and entered final judgment dismissing the case in its entirety.

About Cequent™ Performance Products, Inc.

Cequent Performance Products, Inc. is the industry's largest manufacturer of towing and trailer aftermarket products. Each product is engineered and tested to meet and often exceed the industry's highest standards. Product focuses include vehicle specific trailer hitches, electric trailer brake controls, fifth wheel hitches, gooseneck hitches, weight distribution systems, cargo management, custom designed and standard electrical harnesses, trailer jacks, couplers and more. Brand names include: Bargman®, Bulldog®, Draw-Tite®, Fulton®, Hidden Hitch®, Pro Series™, Reese®, ROLA®, Tekonsha®, Tow Ready® and Wesbar®. Cequent is a subsidiary of TriMas Corporation.

About TriMas

Headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, TriMas Corporation (NASDAQ: TRS) provides engineered and applied products for growing markets worldwide. TriMas is organized into six reportable segments: Packaging, Energy, Aerospace & Defense, Engineered Components, Cequent APEA and Cequent Americas. TriMas has approximately 6,000 employees at more than 60 facilities in 17 countries. For more information, visit www.trimascorp.com.

TriMas Corporation
Christine Parker
Communications Specialist
(248) 631-5438
christineparker@trimascorp.com

Source: TriMas Corporation

News Provided by Acquire Media