About a decade ago, Barbie began losing market share in the high-value fashion doll industry after a small-time competitor, MGA Entertainment Inc., stole trade secrets and the designer at Mattel Inc.

A Georgia jury held an alleged drunk driver responsible for $15 million in damages to a girl injured in a car accident, but the plaintiff likely will get only a fraction of the award because the driver has few resources and the designer of the seat, which broke during the wreck, was cleared by the jury. Complicating matters was the bankruptcy-mandated dismissal of what was then DaimlerChrysler from the case.