Rambus Inc., v. Hynix Semiconductor Inc. et al

Filing 2139

ORDER by Judge Ronald M. Whyte denying (2119) Motion to Dismiss; granting (2121) Motion to Shorten Time in case 5:05-cv-00334-RMW; denying (1068) Motion to Dismiss; granting (1070) Motion to Shorten Time in case 5:05-cv-02298-RMW. (rmwlc1, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 9/5/2008)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 v. HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR INC., HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR AMERICA INC., HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING AMERICA INC., SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS AMERICA, INC., SAMSUNG SEMICONDUCTOR, INC., SAMSUNG AUSTIN SEMICONDUCTOR, L.P., NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION U.S.A., Defendants. RAMBUS INC., Plaintiff, v. SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS AMERICA, INC., SAMSUNG SEMICONDUCTOR, INC., SAMSUNG AUSTIN SEMICONDUCTOR, L.P., Defendants. No. C-05-02298 RMW [Re Docket No. 1068, 1070] RAMBUS INC., Plaintiff, No. C-05-00334 RMW ORDER GRANTING SAMSUNG'S MOTION TO SHORTEN TIME AND DENYING SAMSUNG'S MOTION TO DISMISS [Re Docket No. 2119, 2121] E-filed: IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA SAN JOSE DIVISION 9/5/2008

United States District Court

11
For the Northern District of California

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

ORDER GRANTING SAMSUNG'S MOTION TO SHORTEN TIME REGARDING SAMSUNG'S MOTION TO DISMISSAND DENYING SAMSUNG'S MOTION TO DISMISS -- C-05-00334 RMW; C-05-02298 RMW TSF

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

On September 2, 2008, Samsung moved pursuant to Civil Local Rule 6-3 to shorten time on its motion to voluntarily dismiss certain claims and defenses scheduled to be tried on September 22. Prior to the court ruling on the motion to shorten time, Rambus filed its opposition to the underlying motion to dismiss. The court therefore grants Samsung's motion to shorten time. The court has reviewed the moving and opposing papers with regard to the motion to dismiss. The court deems the matter appropriate for submission on the papers. See Civ. L.R. 7-1(b). Samsung moves to voluntarily dismiss some of its claims and defenses pursuant to Rule 41(a)(2). "As its title, 'Dismissal of Actions,' suggests, Rule 41, or at least Rule 41(a), governs dismissals of entire actions, not of individual claims." Hells Canyon Preservation Council v. U.S. Forest Service, 403 F.3d 683, 687 (9th Cir. 2005) (emphasis in original). "[T]he Rule does not allow for piecemeal dismissals." Id. Where a plaintiff wishes to withdraw individual claims, it must do so pursuant to Rule 15. Id. In determining whether to permit a plaintiff leave to amend under Rule 15, "[p]rejudice to the opposing party is the most important factor." Jackson v. Bank of Hawaii, 902 F.2d 1385, 1387 (9th Cir. 1990). Such prejudice exists here. Samsung's motion comes with less than a month until trial. It is enormously prejudicial to Rambus to allow Samsung to dismiss its claims now and permit it to move this trial to state court and without the existing record already developed in the almost eight weeks of trial that occurred before this court in January. This will impose both an undue delay and substantial additional costs on Rambus. Accord AmerisourceBergen Corp. v. Dialysist West, Inc., 465 F.3d 946, 951 (9th Cir. 2006). Because the ample prejudice to Rambus justifies denying Samsung's motion to amend its complaint, the court does not reach the close questions of whether Samsung's motion is made in bad faith or with dilatory motive, which would provide separate grounds for denying a motion to amend a complaint. See, e.g., Moore v. Kayport Package Exp., Inc., 885 F.2d 531, 538 (9th Cir. 1989). DATED: 9/5/2008 RONALD M. WHYTE United States District Judge

United States District Court

11
For the Northern District of California

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

ORDER GRANTING SAMSUNG'S MOTION TO SHORTEN TIME REGARDING SAMSUNG'S MOTION TO DISMISSAND DENYING SAMSUNG'S MOTION TO DISMISS -- C-05-00334 RMW; C-05-02298 RMW TSF 2

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Notice of this document has been electronically sent to counsel in: C-05-00334 and C-05-02298:
Counsel for Rambus Inc., all actions Burton Alexander Gross Carolyn Hoecker Luedtke Catherine Rajwani Craig N. Tolliver David C. Yang Douglas A. Cawley Erin C. Dougherty Gregory P. Stone Jennifer Lynn Polse Keith Rhoderic Dhu Hamilton, II Kelly Max Klaus Miriam Kim Peter A. Detre Pierre J. Hubert Rosemarie Theresa Ring Scott L Cole Scott W. Hejny Sean Eskovitz Steven McCall Perry Thomas N Tarnay William Hans Baumgartner, Jr [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] Counsel for Hynix entities, C-00-20905 and C-05-00334 Allen Ruby Belinda Martinez Vega Daniel J. Furniss Geoffrey Hurndall Yost Jordan Trent Jones Joseph A. Greco Kenneth Lee Nissly Kenneth Ryan O'Rourke Patrick Lynch Susan Gregory VanKeulen Theodore G. Brown, III Tomomi Katherine Harkey [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail]

United States District Court

11
For the Northern District of California

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Counsel for Micron entities, C-06-00244 Aaron Bennett Craig David J. Ruderman Harold Avrum Barza Jared Bobrow John D Beynon Leeron Kalay Linda Jane Brewer Rachael Lynn Ballard McCracken Robert Jason Becher Yonaton M Rosenzweig [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] rachaelmccracken@quinnemanuel.c om [e-mail] [e-mail] m

ORDER GRANTING SAMSUNG'S MOTION TO SHORTEN TIME REGARDING SAMSUNG'S MOTION TO DISMISSAND DENYING SAMSUNG'S MOTION TO DISMISS -- C-05-00334 RMW; C-05-02298 RMW TSF 3

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Counsel for Nanya entities, C-05-00334 Chester Wren-Ming Day Craig R. Kaufman Glenn Michael Levy Jan Ellen Ellard Jason Sheffield Angell Kaiwen Tseng Mark Shean Robert E. Freitas Vickie L. Feeman [e-mail] [e-mail] m [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail]

Counsel for Samsung entities, C-05-00334 and C-0502298 Ana Elena Kadala Claire Elise Goldstein David J. Healey Edward Robert Reines Matthew D. Powers [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail]

United States District Court

11
For the Northern District of California

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Counsel for intervenor, Texas Instruments, Inc., C-05-00334 Kelli A. Crouch [e-mail]

Counsel for intervenor, United States Department of Justice, C-00-20905 Eugene S. Litvinoff May Lee Heye Nathanael M. Cousins Niall Edmund Lynch [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail]

Counsel for intervenor, Elpida Memory, Inc., C-00-20905 and C-05-00334 Eric R. Lamison John J. Feldhaus [e-mail] [e-mail]

Counsel are responsible for distributing copies of this document to co-counsel that have not registered for e-filing under the court's CM/ECF program in each action. Dated: 9/5/2008 TSF Chambers of Judge Whyte

ORDER GRANTING SAMSUNG'S MOTION TO SHORTEN TIME REGARDING SAMSUNG'S MOTION TO DISMISSAND DENYING SAMSUNG'S MOTION TO DISMISS -- C-05-00334 RMW; C-05-02298 RMW TSF 4