Cochlear Ltd., an Australian manufacturer of hearing implants, lost an infringement trial over patents related to Cochlear implant technology recently in Los Angeles, according to Bloomberg. The jury awarded $131.2 million in damages to the Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Scientific Research, a nonprofit medical research foundation.

The jury found a group of Cochlear's implants, sound processors and software infringed two of the Alfred E. Mann Foundation's patents. The jury also found the infringement was willful and did not accept Cochlear's argument that the patents were invalid.

The Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Scientific Research filed the lawsuit in 2007. The patents in question were licensed exclusively to Advanced Bionics LLC.

Cochlear released a statement in which it asserted its belief that the facts don't support the findings of the jury. The company plans to ask the judge to overturn the verdict and to file an appeal if necessary.

"No judgment has been entered based on the verdict as important issues still remain to be decided by the judge," the company's statement read in part. "These decisions may negate some of the findings of the jury and could alter the damages awarded by the jury."