Louis Vuitton Malletier, S.A. v. Akanoc Solutions, Inc. et al

Filing 133

Reply to Opposition re 111 MOTION in Limine Defendants' Motion in Limine No. 8 to Redact All Exhibit References to IPCybercrime.com filed byAkanoc Solutions, Inc., Managed Solutions Group, Inc., Steven Chen. (Lowe, James) (Filed on 3/16/2009)

Louis Vuitton Malletier, S.A. v. Akanoc Solutions, Inc. et al

Doc. 133

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GAUNTLETT & ASSOCIATES David A. Gauntlett (SBN 96399) James A. Lowe (SBN 214383) Brian S. Edwards (SBN 166258) Christopher Lai (SBN 249425) 18400 Von Karman, Suite 300 Irvine, California 92612 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] Attorneys for Defendants Akanoc Solutions, Inc., Managed Solutions Group, Inc. and Steven Chen

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA, SAN JOSE DIVISION

LOUIS VUITTON MALLETIER, S.A., Plaintiff, vs. AKANOC SOLUTIONS, INC., et al., Defendants.

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Case No.: C 07-3952 JW (HRL) DEFENDANTS' REPLY IN SUPPORT OF MOTION IN LIMINE #8 TO REDACT ALL EXHIBIT REFERENCES TO IPCYBERCRIME.COM

164438.1-10562-002-3/16/2009

DEFENDANTS' REPLY TO VUITTON'S OPPOSITION TO MOTION IN LIMINE #8 ­ C 07-3952 JW

Dockets.Justia.com

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I.

REFERENCES TO IPCYBERCRIME SHOULD BE EXCLUDED PURSUANT TO FED. R. CIV. P. 403 A. Vuitton Admits That "Ipcybercrime.com" Has No Probative Value and Implicates Criminal Conduct on Defendants' Part

In its opposition, Vuitton readily admits that references to "ipcybercrime" and "ipcybercrime.com" are not probative of any element of any of Vuitton's claims and are highly prejudicial. Vuitton goes so far as to admit that "the name [ipcybercrime.com] implicates criminal conduct on the part of those website hosts [Akanoc and MSG]." (Opp. p. 3:10-11)1 Exclusion pursuant to Rule 403 is appropriate because references to "ipcybercrime" at trial would not be probative of any issue in the case. The complete lack of probative value would be substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice (the implication that Akanoc and MSG are involved in criminal conduct). The prejudice is "unfair" not only because they are not involved in criminal conduct, but also because prohibiting Vuitton from referencing to "ipcybercrime" at trial would have no impact on Vuitton's ability to authenticate its exhibits or otherwise prove its case. Vuitton's opposition does not dispute (or even address) this important point. B. Exclusion is Proper Under Federal Rules of Evidence, Rule 403

Exclusion is proper under Federal Rules of Evidence, Rule 403 where, as here, the probative value clearly outweighs the danger of unfair prejudice. See Walker v. NationsBank of Florida N.A. 53 F3d 1548, 1553 (11th Cir. 1995) (In a Title VII action, an EEOC determination letter was excluded as unduly prejudicial.) See also Douglass v. Hustler Magazine, Inc. 769 F2d 1128, 1135­ 1136 (7th Cir. 1985) (Vile, offensive or gory photographs excluded where the prejudicial effect would clearly outweigh its probative value); Grimes v. Employers Mutual Liab. Ins. Co. 73 FRD 607, 610 (D AK 1977) (Films showing plaintiff with daughter and quadriplegic brother served little purpose other than to create sympathy for plaintiff and thus were excludible as unduly prejudicial). Vuitton cites U.S. v. Hankey, 203 F.3d 1160, 1172 (9th Cir. 2000), but that case simply holds
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Vuitton suggests that "Ipcybercrime" is not an inaccurate moniker (and therefore not prejudicial) "insofar as trafficking in counterfeit and piratical goods does constitute a criminal offense." (Opp. p. 3:11-13) But this assumes without any basis that Defendants are guilty of `trafficking in counterfeit and piratical goods" in this case. It is obviously unfairly prejudicial to proffer evidence that implicates your opponent is involved in criminal conduct without any basis.
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DEFENDANTS' REPLY TO VUITTON'S OPPOSITION TO MOTION IN LIMINE #8 ­ C 07-3952 JW

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that Rule 403 excludes "matter[s] of scant or cumulative probative force, dragged in by the heels for the sake of its prejudicial effect." That standard is easily met here, where the probative value is nonexistent, and the danger of unfair prejudice is extremely high. II. CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, and those set forth in Defendants' original brief, the Defendants move the Court to redact any reference to ipcybercrime and ipcybercrime.com on all of Vuitton's exhibits and in all testimony because the name is unduly prejudicial to Defendants and redaction of this name will not harm Vuitton in any way.

Dated: March 16, 2009

GAUNTLETT & ASSOCIATES

By:

/s/James A. Lowe David A. Gauntlett James A. Lowe Brian S. Edwards Christopher Lai

Attorneys for Defendants Akanoc Solutions, Inc., Managed Solutions Group, Inc., and Steve Chen

164438.1-10562-002-3/16/2009

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DEFENDANTS' REPLY TO VUITTON'S OPPOSITION TO MOTION IN LIMINE #8 ­ C 07-3952 JW