Whirlpool hails court decision in LG lawsuit

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- Whirlpool Corp. last Thursday praised a federal court decision in its favor in a case brought unsuccessfully by South Korean rival LG Electronics. The ruling a day earlier by U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve in Chicago granted Whirlpool's motion for a permanent injunction and attorneys' fees against LG, which had sought to ban the appliance maker from using the word "steam" to describe its steam dryers. Marc Bitzer, president of Whirlpool's North American business, said the company was pleased with the court's decision. The court had earlier ruled that Whirlpool's dryers use steam and said LG did not make its case. Whirlpool shares rose $3.73, or 6.5 percent, in last Thursday's trading. Published: Mon, Aug 15, 2011