ABC IP, LLC and Rare Breed Triggers, Inc. v. AR-TT, LLC et al
Case Overview
- Case Name: ABC IP, LLC and Rare Breed Triggers, Inc. v. AR-TT, LLC et al.
- Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
- Case Number: 4:26-cv-00693-ALM
- Filing Date: January 13, 2026
- Plaintiffs: ABC IP, LLC and Rare Breed Triggers, Inc.
- Defendants: AR-TT, LLC (d/b/a Takedown Tools); Clausen Inc.; Jonathan Clausen; and Jodi Clausen
- Nature of Action: Civil lawsuit alleging willful 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 Washington-based retail enterprise AR-TT, LLC (d/b/a Takedown Tools), its parent corporation Clausen Inc., and individual principals Jonathan and Jodi Clausen. The federal complaint alleges that the Defendants are actively marketing, advertising, and selling unauthorized trigger assemblies via their storefront, artakedowntool.com. The specific product named in the suit is the “Partisan Forced-Reset Drop-In Cassette Trigger FRT” (also referred to as the Partisan Disruptor).
Plaintiffs contend that this system directly incorporates and infringes upon their utility patent portfolio designed to safeguard “forced reset trigger” firearm engineering. Because the Defendants reportedly share an integrated sales structure with the manufacturer (Partisan Triggers) which hosts an online legal library containing copies of several of the asserted protections, the Plaintiffs are charging the Defendants with willful infringement, opening the door for enhanced punitive 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 drop-in cassette trigger units distributed by Takedown Tools directly infringe upon four distinct U.S. Patents owned by ABC IP, LLC:
| Count | Asserted Patent | Technical / Mechanical Focus of Claim |
| Count I | U.S. Patent No. 10,514,223 | Drop-in trigger housing framework containing a hammer-actuated reset and an internal spring-biased locking bar system. |
| Count II | U.S. Patent No. 11,724,003 | Multi-mode selection assembly enabling user switching between standard disconnector operations and locked forced-reset functions. |
| Count III | U.S. Patent No. 12,036,336 | Specialized multi-position safety selector mechanics that physically reposition internal disconnector components out of engagement paths. |
| Count IV | U.S. Patent No. 12,274,807 | Internal receiver box configuration optimizing safety selector cam faces to toggle between standard and forced-reset capabilities. |
Indirect, Contributory, and Willful Conduct
- Direct Infringement: The complaint states that because the Defendants market the system both as a standalone cassette package containing all the internal components required to execute the fire mechanism, and pre-installed within complete lower receivers, their retail operations constitute direct infringement under 35 U.S.C. § 271(a).
- Willful Exposure: Plaintiffs allege the infringement is explicitly willful because the joint sales staff operating Takedown Tools had documented notice of the patents via the linked library configurations hosted on partisantriggers.com.
Remedy & Relief Sought
The Plaintiffs claim ongoing severe commercial and reputational injuries, requesting that the federal court provide the following relief:
- Injunctions: Execution of both preliminary and permanent injunctions to immediately stop Takedown Tools, Clausen Inc., their managers, and all digital operations under their custody from manufacturing, importing, selling, or promoting the Partisan Disruptor cassette assemblies.
- Damages: Full compensatory award covering lost retail profits, reasonable licensing royalties, and total pre- and post-judgment interest structures.
- Punitive Multipliers: Asking the court to treble (triple) the total assessed compensatory damages under 35 U.S.C. § 284 due to the deliberate and willful nature of the design violations.
- Legal Fees: A declaration finding this case to be an “exceptional case” under federal patent statute (35 U.S.C. § 285), awarding the Plaintiffs full recovery of their attorneys’ fees, case costs, and litigation disbursements.
