NanoChem Sol’ns, Inc. v. Global Green Prods., LLC., No. 10 C 5686, Slip Op. (N.D. Ill. Sep. 10, 2013) (Hart, Sen. J.).

Judge Hart denied defendants’ motion in limine to exclude plaintiff NanoChem’s late-disclosed lost profit damages analysis.  The Court also granted defendants’ motion for summary judgment as to NanoChem’s Lanham Act and Illinois state law unfair competition claims.

During discovery, NanoChem stated that it would seek a reasonable royalty for its patent claims without providing a calculation.  In response to defendant’s motion, NanoChem provided a lost profit calculation.  While the calculation was late, defendants were not prejudiced because the final pre-trial order had not been filed yet and NanoChem did not rely upon an expert.  But NanoChem was limited to the offered calculation and no other damages theories.

The Court granted defendants summary judgment as to NanoChem’s Lanham Act and Illinois unfair completion claims.  Each claim required that NanoChem prove that its A-5D mark had acquired secondary meaning.  Because NanoChem did not offer evidence supporting secondary meaning, the Court granted defendants summary judgment.