Whirlpool gets favorable decision in court case

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- Whirlpool Corp. said Tuesday that it received a favorable decision in a court case brought by South Korean rival LG that sought to ban the appliance maker from using the word "steam' to describe its steam dryers. The Benton Harbor, Mich., company said the U.S. District Court in Chicago ruled that its dryers use steam and that there was no "expert testimony or credible evidence of even a single Whirlpool customer, retailer, or trade representative who expressed confusion." Whirlpool said the court decided against giving LG any relief in the last remaining claim in the 2008 lawsuit. Last month Whirlpool, whose other brands include Maytag and Kitchenaid, reported that its first-quarter net income rose as it sold more appliances even as it raised prices to help offset rising material costs. Shares of Whirlpool added 42 cents to $83.97 in morning trading. Published: Thu, May 12, 2011