Nuance Communications, Inc. v. Ecopy, Inc.

Filing 154

ORDER. Signed by Judge Chief Magistrate Judge Maria-Elena James on 04/13/2010. (mejlc2, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 4/13/2010)

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For the Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT Northern District of California
NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC., v. ECOPY, INC., Defendant(s). _____________________________________/ Plaintiff(s), No. C 08-4227 JSW (MEJ) Consolidated with C 08-4942 JSW (MEJ) ORDER RE: APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL MASTER (DKT. #153)

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On April 7, 2010, the undersigned Ordered the parties to submit a joint stipulation and proposed order in an attempt to comply with Judge White's directive to "slim this case down." (Order Re: Joint Discovery Dispute Letter 2:11-14, Dkt. #145; RT 18:3-5, Dkt. #132.) This Court was unable to ascertain from the file any attempts by the parties to slim down the case. In the Joint Letter submitted by the parties to the undersigned on March 11, 2010, (Dkt. #144), I.R.I.S. made a proposal, which appeared in line with Judge White's directive, and the undersigned Ordered the parties to attempt to reach a stipulation. The undersigned has reviewed the parties' stipulation and proposed order, in which Nuance stated that it was not willing to proceed on the 24 claim charts produced by I.R.I.S., apparently insisting on production of the 55 additional claim charts in order to address the "pig in the poke" problem. (Joint Stipulation 3:4-7, Dkt. #150; Joint Letter at 1, Dkt. #144.) To be consistent with Judge White's April 12, 2010 Order Re Intent to Appoint A Special Master, (Dkt. #153), where Judge White indicated his intent to appoint a Special Master to prepare a Report and Recommendation "regarding the order of the patents, claims and terms to be adjudicated in this, and all related, matters[,]" the undersigned will defer ruling on I.R.I.S.'s production of further claim charts until after the Special Master prepares a Report and Recommendation and Judge

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For the Northern District of California

White has made a further ruling. Within ten days following a further ruling by Judge White, the undersigned ORDERS the parties to submit to this Court a further joint letter regarding their positions on this issue. IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 13, 2010 _______________________________ Maria-Elena James Chief United States Magistrate Judge

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