Zest IP Holdings, LLC et al v. Implant Direct MFG. LLC et al
Filing
248
ORDER Denying 216 Defendants' Motion for Reconsideration. Signed by Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel on 7/17/2013. (srm)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
11
ZEST IP HOLDINGS, LLC and ZEST
ANCHORS, LLC,
12
13
vs.
CASE NO. 10cv0541-GPCWVG
Plaintiffs,
ORDER DENYING
DEFENDANTS’ MOTION
FOR RECONSIDERATION
14
15
16
[Dkt. No. 216]
IMPLANT DIRECT MFG, LLC et al.,
Defendants.
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Defendants Implant Direct MFG LLC, Implant Direct LLC and Implant Direct
Int’l (“Implant Direct”) and Defendants Implant Direct Sybron International and
Implant Direct Sybron Manufacturing, LLC (“IDSI”) (collectively, “Defendants”) filed
a motion for reconsideration of this Court’s Order Granting Plaintiffs Zest IP Holdings,
LLC and Zest Anchors, LLC (“Plaintiffs”) Motion to Amend Infringement
Contentions. (Dkt. No. 216.) For the reasons below, the Court DENIES the motion.
BACKGROUND
On April 1, 2011, Plaintiffs served Defendants Implant Direct with the
Disclosure of Asserted Claims and Preliminary Infringement Contentions. (Dkt. No.
107-2 at Ex. 1.) On July 25, 2012, Plaintiffs filed a motion to amend its preliminary
infringement contentions to add a new GPS product. (Dkt. No. 107.) Subsequently,
-1-
3:10-cv-0541-GPC-WVG
1
Plaintiffs filed a motion to join Defendants IDSI. (Dkt. No. 116.)
2
On April 15, 2013, this Court issued an Order granting Plaintiffs’ motion to
3
join IDSI and motion to amend infringement contentions. (Dkt. No. 202, “Order.”)
4
The Court made three key conclusions in granting Plaintiffs’ motion to amend
5
infringement contentions: (1) Plaintiffs had shown due diligence in seeking to
6
amend the infringement contentions; (2) Defendants would not suffer undue
7
prejudice as a result of the amended contentions; and (3) Plaintiffs proposed
8
amended infringement contentions stated each claim with sufficient particularity to
9
satisfy Patent Local Rule 3.1. (Order at 7-9.)
10
On May 15, 2013, Defendants moved for reconsideration of this Court’s April
11
15 Order granting Plaintiffs’ motion to amend infringement contentions. (Dkt. No.
12
216, “Def. Mtn.”) Defendants contend the Court committed clear error in granting
13
the motion because the amended infringement contentions fail to comply with
14
Patent Local Rule 3.1. (Def. Mtn. at 5.) Defendants further argue the Court’s
15
decision results in manifest injustice because the amended contentions do not
16
provide notice regarding the Plaintiffs’ theory of infringement regarding the GPS
17
internal connection. (Def. Mtn. At 11.)
18
On July 3, 2013, Plaintiffs filed a response in opposition to Defendants’
19
motion for reconsideration. (Dkt. No. 234, “Pl. Response.”) Plaintiffs assert
20
Defendants’ motion for reconsideration must be denied because Defendants fail to
21
show any new facts, circumstances, evidence or law as required by Local Rule 7.1.i.
22
and Defendants have not shown the Court committed clear error or the Court’s
23
Order is manifestly unjust. (Pl. Response at 5-10.)
24
25
LEGAL STANDARD
A district court may reconsider an order under either Federal Rule of Civil
26
Procedure 59 (e) (motion to alter or amend a judgment) or Rule 60(b)(relief from
27
judgment). Under the local rules, a party that files a motion for reconsideration of
28
an order must set forth the material facts and circumstances surrounding the motion,
-2-
3:10-cv-0541-GPC-WVG
1
including any new or different facts and circumstances that are claimed to exist
2
which did not exist, or were not shown, upon such prior application. L. Civ. R. 7.1.i.
3
Motions for reconsideration offer an “extraordinary remedy, to be used sparingly in
4
the interests of finality and conservation of judicial resources.” Carroll v. Nakatani,
5
342 F.3d 934, 945 (9th Cir.2003). Reconsideration is appropriate if the district
6
court (1) is presented with newly discovered evidence, (2) committed clear error or
7
the initial decision was manifestly unjust, or (3) if there is an intervening change in
8
controlling law. Sch. Dist. No. 1J, Multnomah Cnty., Or. v. ACandS, Inc., 5 F.3d
9
1255, 1263 (9th Cir. 1993).
DISCUSSION
10
11
As explained below, the Court finds Defendants’ motion for reconsideration
12
does not show the Court committed clear error or the initial decision was manifestly
13
unjust. Moreover, Defendants rely on previous arguments already considered by
14
this Court and fail to offer any newly discovered evidence or change in
15
circumstances.
16
Defendants contend the Court committed clear error because Plaintiffs have
17
failed to comply with Local Patent Rule 3.1(c). (Def. Mtn. at 5.) Defendants assert
18
the Plaintiffs have not been specific enough in their allegations regarding the new
19
GPS internal connection and failed to explain precisely where each element is
20
located. (Def. Mtn. at 6.) Plaintiffs respond the Court has previously considered
21
this same argument by Defendants’, and correctly found Plaintiffs met the
22
specificity requirement of the Patent Local Rule. (Pl. Mtn at 7-8.) Additionally,
23
Plaintiffs assert they have provided Defendants charts and diagrams with
24
information detailing the location and specifications for the GPS internal abutment.
25
(Id. at 9.)
26
As a preliminary matter, the Court refuses to reconsider the same arguments
27
Defendants previously submitted in opposing Plaintiffs’ motion to amend. The
28
Court has already considered and rejected the argument that Plaintiffs’ proposed
-3-
3:10-cv-0541-GPC-WVG
1
amended contentions lacked specificity pursuant to the Patent Rules. (Order at 9.)
2
Defendants slightly modify their old arguments and focus instead on the GPS
3
internal connection as a separate issue requiring specificity in the amended
4
infringement claims. Upon review of the infringement claims, however, the
5
Defendant’s focus on the internal connection does not change the Court’s previous
6
analysis or findings. Nor do the Defendants offer any new evidence, change in
7
circumstances, or legal authority to warrant a change in this Court’s decision. The
8
cases cited by Defendants merely point to precedent relied upon by this Court in its
9
Order. For these reasons, the Court concludes Defendants have failed to show the
10
11
Court committed clear error.
Moreover, Defendants have not shown the decision is manifestly unjust.
12
Defendants claim they “have no way to know why Plaintiffs contend the GPS
13
internal connection infringes their patents.” (Def. Mtn. 12.) The Court finds this
14
assertion is contradicted by the record. During the hearing before this Court on
15
Plaintiffs’ motion to amend infringement contentions, Plaintiffs provided a
16
thorough explanation replete with charts and samples of their claim regarding the
17
GPS internal connection. (See Dkt. No. 184, “Transcript of Motion Hearing.”)
18
Furthermore, Plaintiffs have produced in their supplemental responses to
19
interrogatories additional information regarding the internal connection. (Pl. Mtn,
20
Exhibits 1-2.) In addition to the infringement contentions, the record clearly shows
21
Defendants are on sufficient notice regarding the internal connection. Accordingly,
22
Defendants have failed to show the decision is manifestly unjust.
23
Nor have Defendants met the requirement of the local rules. Under these
24
rules, Defendants must offer the court new or different facts and circumstances that
25
are claimed to exist which did not exist, or were not shown, upon such prior
26
application. L. Civ. R. 7.1.i. Defendants have not complied with this requirement.
27
28
Accordingly, Defendants have not met their burden to warrant reversal of this
Court’s previous decision.
-4-
3:10-cv-0541-GPC-WVG
CONCLUSION
1
2
3
4
The Court hereby DENIES Defendants’ motion for reconsideration. (Dkt.
No. 216.)
IT IS SO ORDERED.
5
6
DATED: July 17, 2013
7
8
HON. GONZALO P. CURIEL
United States District Judge
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
-5-
3:10-cv-0541-GPC-WVG
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?