Sioux Falls-based Sioux Steel Co. has won a $12 million verdict against an Illinois competitor after a jury found that the company willfully infringed on Sioux Steel’s intellectual property.

Prairie Land Millwright Services used that intellectual property to develop a knock-off of a commercial grain bin sweep that had been patented by Sioux Steel. A jury found that Prairie Land and its owner, Duane Chaon, knew that they were infringing on Sioux Steel’s intellectual property and depriving Sioux Steel of sales and profits.

The verdict, which remained sealed Friday, was reached by a jury on Dec. 21 in the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The judge in the case is expected to enter judgement.

The jury took only a few hours after six days of testimony before reaching its verdict.

Robert Theuerkauf, a lawyer who represented Sioux Steel, said the jury reached the appropriate verdict. Theuerkauf is a partner with the Louisville, Kentucky law firm Gray Ice Higdon.

NEWS: New Census data show South Dakota had fifth highest rate of growth in population