MGA Wins Rights to Pouty Line of Bratz Dolls

In a stunning legal upset, MGA Entertainment Thursday won the rights to the popular Bratz line of dolls over El Segundo-based toy giant Mattel.

MGA has offices in the former Los Angeles Times facility at 20000 Prairie St. in Chatsworth.

The federal jury in Santa Ana -- in a verdict reached Wednesday and read Thursday morning -- found that Van Nuys-based MGA did not steal any secrets, that Mattel does not own the idea for the Bratz doll and that it is owed no damages, according to a City News Service report.

Instead, the jury awarded MGA $88.4 million in damages, and the judge could decide to triple that amount, MGA attorney Jennifer Keller said.

``I am grateful to the American justice system. This smart jury, and I think justice, prevailed,'' said Isaac Larian, MGA's chief executive officer.

``I believe in the American dream,'' the Iranian native said. ``I came here as a 17-year-old with $750 in my pocket and a big American dream. America is the greatest nation in the world. I'm happy justice prevailed in the end.''

Mattel had contended that Bratz creator Carter Bryant, was still a Mattel employee when he came up with the idea for the sexily dressed, pouty, multiethnic dolls.

-- City News Service contributed to this report.