Furniture Maker Embroiled in Lawsuit by Chair's Design Firm
August 20, 2004 | Levent OZLER
The Grand Rapids-based design company that put the spring in many popular mesh office seats claims Knoll Inc. left it hanging after it created the fabric seat and back for a new Knoll chair.
Dahti Inc. is suing Knoll in federal court for breach of contract over designs for Knoll's Monte chair, a product that has not been released.
Dahti claims it created the fabric seat and back system to be used for the chair, and Knoll backed out of the deal.
Knoll told Dahti it backed away from Dahti's design for good reason, according to the lawsuit.
Knoll, which has a plant in Kentwood, is worried the fabric design infringes on a patent recently issued to Herman Miller Inc. for its mesh chairs. The company reworked the fabric configuration and wants Dahti to pay $1.4 million to reimburse them for the trouble, the lawsuit states.
Dahti says the Herman Miller patent includes its technology, which renders the Herman Miller patent "invalid and unenforceable." Dahti has not sued Herman Miller and has no plans to do so, said company President Dan Clark.
Knoll spokesman David Bright said its company does not comment on pending litigation.
Clark said they want the court to sort out the contract disputes.
"We're an awfully small company," he said. "But we feel that Knoll decided to change their plans because of someth
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