Malpractice Suit Against Kirkland & Ellis Claims Errors in Patent Case

A technology company says in a lawsuit that it would not have needed to settle an infringement case for $18.75 million if its law firm, Kirkland & Ellis, had discovered prior art and misconduct that called a patent into question.

Magnetek Inc. sued the law firm last week in county court in Chicago, the National Law Journal (sub. req.) reports.

The company settled the case after it lost a 2005 arbitration and was ordered to pay $23.35 million to Ole K. Nilssen, the lawsuit says. Magnetek says it independently discovered the prior art and misconduct after the proceeding.