Smith International won a partial court victory.

In a move that could potentially save Smith International about $100 million in damages stemming from a patent infringement suit, a Los Angeles federal court judge apparently rejected Hughes Tool Co.’s claim for lost profits. “I cannot determine from the evidence what the damages from lost sales are,” U.S. District Judge Harry Hupp said. The profits that Hughes would have earned if Smith did not infringe on one of its patents is part of the $1.2 billion in damages that Hughes is seeking from the Newport Beach oil-services firm.