US firm McDermott, Will & Emery has been sued for allegedly bungling a client's patent for a miracle bra.

Lingerie company Zephrys invented a kidney-shaped push-up bra which pleasingly conforms and raises the embonpoint to create an impressive shelf of boob or, as company founder Debra MacKinnon put it, "increasing volume and cleavage while providing a natural shape".

And possibly also distracting lawyers, as she claims that McDermott, Will & Emery partner Bernard Codd got the ratio of the pad's thickness-to-length ratio the wrong way round in the patent application, even though/because she provided him with explanatory diagrams and illustrations.   

  Working from Codd's figures proved disastrous

The suit claims that as a result of the error the patent was ineffective, paving the way for retail giants Amazon and Victoria's Secret to produce knock-off versions of the revolutionary chicken fillets. MacKinnon said that at first glance she was “impressed with McDermott’s substantial accolades and vast experience in patent prosecution” but, upon uncovering the actual advice, found that it “fell below the degree of care, skill, and diligence commonly possessed and exercised by a member of the legal community".

A spokesman for McDermott, Will & Emergy said, “It is unfortunate that Zephyrs has filed this lawsuit, but we are confident that the firm will prevail”.
 
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