NERA Director Jackie Chorn testified on behalf of Whirlpool Corp during a trademark and trade dress infringement case. Whirlpool claimed certain stand mixers put out by Shenzhen Sanlida Electrical Co. Ltd infringed the trade dress of Whirlpool’s iconic KitchenAid stand mixer, causing consumers to be confused. Dr. Chorn provided survey evidence and testimony demonstrating consumers encountering Shenzhen’s infringing stand mixers would confuse or associate the infringing product with Whirlpool or its KitchenAid brand. 

The case came for trial by jury before Judge Rodney Gilstrap of the US District Court of the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Whirlpool, awarding $25 million in damages and $2.05 million in unjust enrichment.