SoftView LLC v. Apple Inc. et al

Filing 170

MEMORANDUM ORDER DENYING re 114 MOTION for Reconsideration re 106 Memorandum and Order, [Defendants' Motion For Reconsideration Regarding Plaintiff Softview's "Motion For Leave To Amend Its Complaint To Assert Claims Against Add itional infringers"] MOTION for Reconsideration re 106 Memorandum and Order, [Defendants' Motion For Reconsideration Regarding Plaintiff Softview's "Motion For Leave To Amend Its Complaint To Assert Claims Against Additional infringers"] filed by AT&T Mobility LLC, Apple Inc. Signed by Judge Leonard P. Stark on 12/7/2011. (rpg)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE

SOFTVIEW LLC.,
Plaintiff,
C.A. No. 10-389-LPS

v.
APPLE INC. and AT&T MOBILITY LLC,
Defendants.

MEMORANDUM ORDER
Pending before the Court is Defendants Apple Inc.'s and AT&T Mobility LLC's Motion
for Reconsideration Regarding Plaintiff Softview' s "Motion for Leave to Amend its Complaint
to Assert Claims against Additional Infringers." (D.I. 114) ("Motion") By its Motion, Apple and
AT&T ("Defendants") ask that the Court reconsider its September 30, 2011 Order permitting
Plaintiff SoftView LLC ("Plaintiff') to amend its complaint to add parties and accused devices
utilizing Android software. (D.I. 106) For the reasons stated below, Defendants' Motion is
DENIED.
I.

LEGAL STANDARDS
Pursuant to Local Rule 7.1.5, a motion for reconsideration should be granted only

"sparingly." The decision to grant such a motion lies squarely within the discretion of the district
court. See Dentsply Int'l, Inc. v. Kerr Mfg. Co., 42 F. Supp. 2d 385,419 (D. Del. 1999);
Brambles USA, Inc. v. Blocker, 735 F. Supp. 1239, 1241 (D. Del. 1990). These types ofmotions

are granted only if the court has patently misunderstood a party, made a decision outside the
adversarial issues presented by the parties, or made an error not of reasoning but of apprehension.

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See Shering Corp. v. Amgen, Inc., 25 F. Supp. 2d 293,295 (D. Del. 1998); Brambles, 735 F.

Supp. at 1241. "A motion for reconsideration is not properly grounded on a request that a court
rethink a decision already made." Smith v. Meyers, 2009 WL 51195928, at *1 (D. Del. Dec.30,
2009); see also Glendon Energy Co. v. Borough ofGlendon, 836 F. Supp. 1109, 1122 (E.D. Pa.
1993). It is not an opportunity to "accomplish repetition of arguments that were or should have
been presented to the court previously." Karr v. Castle, 768 F. Supp. 1087, 1093 (D. Del. 1991).
A motion for reconsideration may be granted only if the movant can show at least one of
the following: (i) there has been an intervening change in controlling law; (ii) the availability of
new evidence not available when the court made its decision; or (iii) there is a need to correct a
clear error of law or fact to prevent manifest injustice. See Max's Seafood Cafe by LouAnn, Inc.
v. Quinteros, 176 F.3d 669, 677 (3d Cir. 1999). However, in no instance should reconsideration

be granted if it would not result in amendment of an order. See Schering Corp., 25 F. Supp. 2d at
295.

II.

DISCUSSION
Defendants present two grounds for reconsideration. Neither is persuasive.
First, Defendants contend that "new authorities regarding the requirements for permissive

joinder under Fed. R. Civ. P. 20(a)(2)(A) ... abrogate[] the very cases on which SoftView's"
motion to amend relied. (D.I. 114 at 1) Specifically, Defendants rely on a provision of the
America Invents Act ("AlA"), which became law on September 16, 2011. See LEAHY-SMITH
AMERICA INVENTS ACT, H.R. 1249, 112th Cong. (2011). Section 299 provides that
"accused infringers may not be joined in one action as defendants or counterclaim defendants, or
have their actions consolidated for trial, based solely on allegations that they each have infringed
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the patent or patents in suit." However, as Defendants concede, "this new section 299 applies to
civil actions 'commenced on or after the date of the enactment of this Act."' (D .I. 114 at 4)
(quoting AlA§ 299). Accordingly, even crediting Defendants' argument that the new statutory
provision "clarifies" the application of Rule 20( a)(2)(A) in circumstances such as those presented
here, the new provision is not "an intervening change in controlling law." Likewise, Defendants'
reference to district court decisions that were issued subsequent to briefing on SoftView's motion
to amend (although prior to the Court's issuance of its September 30, 2011 Order) do not
constitute "an intervening change in controlling law."
Second, Defendants contend there is a "need to correct a clear error of law regarding
joinder" in the Court's September 30, 2011 Order. (D.I. 114 at 2) However, the Court agrees
with Plaintiff that "instead of showing clear error by the Court, Apple and AT&T proceed to reargue their position." (D.I. 126 at 3) Such is not a proper basis for reconsideration.
Accordingly, Defendants' motion is DENIED.

UNIT

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