Press Release
Jury Finds Major Reseller of Electrical Products Guilty of Selling Counterfeit
Square D® Circuit Breakers
Palatine, Ill. (USA), July 7, 2009 — Schneider Electric announced today that on June 25, 2009, a jury in the U.S.
District Court in Indianapolis found Breakers Unlimited, Inc., of Noblesville, Ind., guilty of purchasing and selling
counterfeit Square D® QO® circuit breakers. The counterfeit circuit breakers, all bearing trademarks registered to
Square D, were discovered by Schneider Electric during the prosecution of its lawsuit against Breakers Unlimited
and were sold by Breakers Unlimited in 2005 and 2006. The amount of damages to be awarded and the scope of
an injunction restricting Breakers Unlimited's continued involvement in the market where counterfeit circuit breakers
are bought and sold have yet to be decided by the court.
“This lawsuit is one example of Schneider Electric’s ongoing commitment to preventing counterfeiting and
protecting its customers, trademarks and designs,” said Bill Snyder, vice president, channel development,
Schneider Electric. “We continue to lead the industry in pursuing counterfeiters up and down the distribution chain
because we are dedicated to preserving the integrity of our products and protecting people from the serious health
and safety hazards associated with counterfeit products. Through our efforts in this lawsuit and others like it, we
have kept more than 250,000 potentially hazardous counterfeit goods out of the marketplace.”
Schneider Electric filed suit against Breakers Unlimited in June 2007, alleging that Breakers Unlimited was guilty of
selling counterfeit circuit breakers and infringing on Square D's trademarks in violation of federal law. During the
course of the lawsuit, Schneider Electric discovered that Breakers Unlimited purchased counterfeit QO® products
from Pioneer Breaker & Control Supply of Austin, Texas, and North American Breaker Co., Inc., of Burbank, Calif.
Neither Pioneer Breaker nor North American Breaker are authorized Square D Company distributors. After three
days of testimony, the jury concluded that Breakers Unlimited had offered for sale and sold substantial quantities of
counterfeit Square D QO circuit breakers it acquired from these two suppliers.
-MORE-
Press Contact:
Martin Hanna
Schneider Electric
Press Contact:
Audra Jacobs
Bader Rutter & Associates
Phone: (847) 925-3482
martin.hanna@us.schneiderelectric.com
Phone: (262) 938-5462
ajacobs@bader-rutter.com
tél. +33 (0)1 41 29 70 76
RESELLER OF ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS FOUND GUILTY OF SELLING COUNTERFEIT CIRCUIT
BREAKERS
Page 2 of 2
“Distributors, electrical contractors and users need to be aware that there are hidden and potentially deadly hazards
associated with counterfeit circuit breakers,” said Jim Pauley, vice president of industry and government relations,
Schneider Electric. “Counterfeit breakers can fail to trip in the event of an overload or a short circuit, creating a risk
of fire. By identifying counterfeit products and reporting counterfeiters, everyone in the industry can help prevent
serious injuries and save lives.”
To prevent the potential purchase of counterfeit products, customers should continue to buy their Square D
products from authorized Square D distributors. Authorized distributors have the skill, expertise and know-how to
provide customers with authentic Square D products and services that meet their needs and specifications.
Square D is a market-leading global brand of Schneider Electric for National Electrical Manufacturing Association
(NEMA) type electrical distribution and industrial control products, systems and services. Square D products are
found in all types of residential, commercial and industrial construction, in a wide range of manufacturing and
processing facilities, and in or on the products of other manufacturers.
Inquires related to or requests for a copy of the lawsuit can be directed to Stephen Litchfield, assistant general
counsel, Schneider Electric, at (847) 925-3516.
About Schneider Electric
As a global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers integrated
solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership positions in energy and infrastructure, industrial processes,
building automation, and data centers/networks, as well as a broad presence in residential applications. Focused on making
energy safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green, the company’s 114,000 employees achieved sales of more than $23 billion
in 2008.
www.schneider-electric.us
###
This release is submitted for consideration in both print and Web publications.