ABC IP, LLC et al. v. One Horse LLC et al
Case Overview
- Case Name: ABC IP, LLC et al. v. One Horse LLC et al.
- Court: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana (New Albany Division)
- Case Number: 4:26-cv-00162-SEB-KMB
- Filing Date: June 23, 2026
- Plaintiffs: ABC IP, LLC and Rare Breed Triggers, Inc.
- Defendants: One Horse LLC and Jeremy Hammons
- Nature of Action: Civil lawsuit alleging direct, contributory, and induced patent infringement with a demand for a jury trial.
Executive Summary
Plaintiffs ABC IP, LLC (the patent owner) and Rare Breed Triggers, Inc. (the exclusive licensee) have filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Indiana-based firearms manufacturer One Horse LLC and its CEO, Jeremy Hammons. The federal complaint alleges that the Defendants are actively manufacturing, marketing, and selling an unauthorized complete firearm system—specifically the “One Horse Express Rifle” (Model OHX-A101).
According to the complaint, this production rifle features a factory-installed “Atrius Forced Reset Selector” (Atrius FRS) developed in an unlicenced collaboration with Atrius Development Group. Plaintiffs contend that this system directly integrates and infringes upon their protected utility patent portfolio covering forced reset trigger firearm technology. Because the Defendants proceeded with the commercial launch of the complete rifle assembly with full mechanical awareness of these legal protections, the Plaintiffs are charging them with willful infringement, exposing them to treble damages.
The Technology in Dispute
The lawsuit centers on advanced firearm trigger engineering—specifically the mechanical transition from standard semi-automatic mechanisms to patented forced reset trigger (FRT) assemblies:
- Standard Semi-Automatic Trigger: Relies on a traditional disconnector mechanism. When a round is fired, the user must manually release rearward finger pressure on the trigger so the disconnector can hand the hammer back off to the main trigger sear before the firearm can be discharged again.
- Forced Reset Mechanism (The Patented Invention): Eliminates the necessity of traditional disconnector dependency during accelerated sequences. Instead, it utilizes specialized locking bars, cams, or lever systems cycled directly by the firearm’s reciprocating bolt carrier. This mechanically forces the trigger forward into its set reset position during the action cycle, allowing for an accelerated, highly efficient firing sequence without converting the firearm into an automatic weapon.
Breakdown of Infringement Claims
Patent Infringement (Counts I – IV)
The complaint asserts that the One Horse Express Rifle configurations marketed and distributed by the Defendants (sold via theonehorse.com) infringe upon four distinct U.S. Patents owned by ABC IP, LLC:
| Count | Asserted Patent | Technical / Mechanical Focus of Claim | Accused Device Context |
| Count I | U.S. Patent No. 12,038,247 | Overarching dual-mode trigger utilizing a moving cam lobe to physically force the trigger member back into its set position. | One Horse Express Rifle (Atrius FRS) |
| Count II | U.S. Patent No. 12,031,784 | Extended trigger locking device featuring an upwardly extending deflectable lever arm actuated by direct contact with the cycling bolt carrier. | One Horse Express Rifle (Atrius FRS) |
| Count III | U.S. Patent No. 12,578,159 | Novel firearm mechanism for accelerating firing sequences utilizing multi-mode operations and specific internal sear surface geometries. | One Horse Express Rifle (Atrius FRS) |
| Count IV | U.S. Patent No. 12,636,403 | Structural claim focusing on the physical interaction profiles between hammer hooks, trigger members, and safety selectors. | One Horse Express Rifle (Atrius FRS) |
Indirect and Contributory Infringement
- Inducing Infringement: The suit highlights that the Defendants take active step to induce infringement by marketing, advertising, and selling factory-assembled rifles specifically engineered, timed, and tuned from the ground up to utilize the forced-reset functionality of the integrated Atrius selector.
- Contributory Infringement: Asserts that the downstream commercial sale of these specific assemblies introduces components—such as specialized internal cams and customized fire control lever arms—that are explicitly adapted for an infringing setup and hold no substantial, non-infringing application.
Remedy & Relief Sought
The Plaintiffs claim severe financial and operational injury due to these unauthorized manufacturing and retail operations. They are requesting that the federal court grant the following relief:
- Injunctions: Both preliminary and permanent injunctions to immediately block One Horse LLC, Jeremy Hammons, and their corporate associates from manufacturing, assembling, importing, marketing, or selling the One Horse Express Rifle line or any standalone forced-reset components.
- Damages: Full compensatory financial recovery adequate to remedy the infringement, measured as lost retail profits or a calculated reasonable royalty, alongside pre- and post-judgment interest.
- Punitive Multipliers: Requesting that the court treble (triple) the total computed compensatory damages under 35 U.S.C. § 284 because of the willful and continuous nature of the design infringement.
- Legal Fees: A declaration designating this lawsuit as an “exceptional case” under federal statute (35 U.S.C. § 285), shifting the burden to the Defendants to cover all of the Plaintiffs’ reasonable attorneys’ fees and associated case expenses.
