TruePosition Inc. v. Polaris Wireless Inc.

Filing 263

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION re 248 MOTION Certification of the Invalidity Ruling of Claims 113 and 114 filed by TruePosition Inc. Please note that when filing Objections pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 72(b)(2), briefing consists solely of the Objections (no longer than ten (10) pages) and the Response to the Objections (no longer than ten (10) pages). No further briefing shall be permitted with respect to objections without leave of the Court. Objections to R&R due by 3/20/2015. Signed by Judge Mary Pat Thynge on 3/3/15. (cak)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE
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TruePosition, Inc.
Plaintiff,
v.
Polaris Wireless, Inc.
Defendant.

C.A. No.12-646-RGA-MPT

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
I.

Introduction
This patent infringement matter is brought by TruePosition, Inc. (“TruePosition”)

against Polaris Wireless, Inc. (“Polaris”). TruePosition moves under FED. R. CIV. P.
54(b) to allow an interlocatory appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the
Federal Circuit of this court’s finding of invalidity of Claims 113 and 114, or alternatively,
for voluntary dismissal of Claim 98 without prejudice and entry of final judgment as to
Claims 113 and 114 under FED. R. CIV. P. 41(a)(2). For the reasons stated below,
TruePosition’s motions should be denied.
II.

Background
A.

Parties

TruePosition is a Delaware corporation, operating in Pennsylvania, which
provides services and equipment for locating mobile devices for national security and
intelligence purposes.1 Polaris is a Delaware corporation, operating in California, and

1

D.I. 1 at ¶¶ 4-5.

provides similar services and equipment for determining the location of mobile devices.2
TruePosition and Polaris compete for business from cellular network carriers and other
customers that use equipment and software for locating mobile devices.3
TruePosition’s infringement claims focus on Polaris’ purported use of probes for
mobile station or mobile device location without disrupting the carrier’s system.4
TruePosition filed suit on May 23, 2012 alleging infringement by Polaris of U.S. Patent
No. 7,783,299 (the “‘299 Patent”).5 On June 3, 2013, Polaris petitioned for Inter Partes
Review (“IPR”) with the Patent and Trademark Office (“Patent Office”) of Claims 113
and 114.6 On July 12, 2013, Polaris moved to stay this proceeding pending the
outcome of the IPR, which was denied.7 After conducting a Markman hearing on
October 18, 2013, the court found Claims 113 and 114 invalid as indefinite in a Report
and Recommendation issued on February 2, 2014.8 The Patent Office granted Polaris’
IPR petition on November 15, 2013.9 Contrary to this court’s ruling, the Patent Office, in
granting Polaris’ petition, found Claims 113 and 114 as definite.10 Thereafter, while the
IPR was ongoing, TruePosition filed objections to the Report and Recommendation and
moved, unopposed, to stay the proceedings pending the resolution of its objections.11
On July 15, 2014, the Patent Office held an IPR hearing on the validity of Claims
2

Id. at ¶¶ 6-7.
Id. at ¶ 8.
4
D.I. 259 at 3-4.
5
D.I. 1.
6
D.I. 249 at 7.
7
D.I. 259 at 3.
8
Id; D.I. 249 at 7-8.
9
D.I. 249 at 7.
10
Id. at 7-8.
11
Id. at 8.
3

2

113 and 114 based on anticipation and obviousness under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 and 103.12
On August 26, 2014, the Honorable Richard G. Andrews affirmed the finding in the
Report and Recommendation that the “means for detecting” steps of Claims 113 and
114 were indefinite and incapable of construction.13
Subsequent settlement efforts between the parties were unsuccessful.14
TruePosition thereafter informed Polaris that it would not continue to litigate only Claim
98 without Claims 113 and 114.15 Since TruePosition would likely appeal an adverse
determination by the Patent Office on Claims 113 and 114, it suggested, for efficiency
purposes, that the claim construction and invalidity issues from both forums be
addressed together on appeal.16 Polaris rejected TruePosition’s proposal and
demanded dismissal with prejudice.17 On October 16, 2014, TruePosition moved to
stay the proceedings on Claim 98, pending its possible appeal of Claims 113 and 114 to
the Federal Circuit,18 relying on Rule 54(b) or alternatively Rule 41(a)(2).19 TruePosition
also offered Polaris a covenant-not-to-sue for Claim 98, unless TruePosition prevailed
on appeal.20 On October 24, 2014, both parties agreed to stay the proceedings in the
instant matter pending a final decision on the present motions.21 On November 5, 2014,

12

Id. at 8-9.
Id. at 9; D.I. 237.
14
D.I. 249 at 9.
15
Id.
16
Id. at 9-10; D.I. 249, Ex. C.
17
D.I. 249 at 10; Ex. D.
18
D.I. 246.
19
D.I. 248.
20
D.I. 247 at 1; D.I. 249, Ex. G.
21
D.I. 253.
13

3

the Patent Office found Claims 113 and 114 invalid as anticipated and obvious.22
III.

FED. R. CIV. P. 54(b)
A.

Standard of Review

FED. R. CIV. P. 54(b) provides:
When an action presents more than one claim for relief whether as a claim, counterclaim, crossclaim, or third-party
claim . . . the court may direct entry of a final judgment as to
one or more, but fewer than all, claims . . . only if the court
expressly determines that there is no just reason for delay.
Otherwise, any order or other decision, however designated,
that adjudicates fewer than all the claims . . . does not end
the action as to any of the claims . . . and may be revised at
any time before the entry of a judgment adjudicating all the
claims and all the parties’ rights and liabilities.23
Therefore, “certification under Rule 54(b) involves a two step analysis: (1) a
determination of whether a claim to be appealed is final; and (2) a determination that
there is no justification for delay.”24
The rule “was designed in an attempt ‘to strike a balance between the
undesirability of piecemeal appeals and the need for making review available at a time
that best serves the needs of the parties.’”25 Certification of a judgment as final under
Rule 54(b), however, is the exception and not the rule to the usual course of
proceedings in a district court.26 Accordingly, “not all final judgments on individual
22

D.I. 258; D.I. 259 at 4.
FED. R. CIV. P. 54(b).
24
Cordance Corp. v. Amazon.com, Inc., 696 F. Supp. 2d 445, 450 (D. Del. 2010).
25
Berckeley Inv. Group, Ltd. v. Colkitt, 455 F.3d 195, 202 (3d Cir. 2006) (quoting
Allis-Chalmers Corp. v. Philadelphia Elec. Co., 521 F.2d 360, 363 (3d Cir. 1975)).
26
Elliott v. Archdiocese of New York, F.3d 213, 220 (3d Cir. 2012); see
Panichella v. Pa R.R. Co., 252 F.2d 452, 455 (3d Cir. 1958) (“[Rule] 54(b) orders should
not be entered routinely or as a courtesy or accommodation to counsel. The power
which this Rule confers upon the trial judge should be used only in the infrequent case
23

4

claims should be immediately appealable, even if they are in some sense separable
from the remaining unresolved claims.”27
B.

Discussion
1.

Finality

For a judgment to be final, it “must be a ‘judgment’ in the sense that it is a
decision upon a cognizable claim for relief, and it must be ‘final’ in the sense that it is ‘an
ultimate disposition of an individual claim entered in the course of a multiple claims
action.’”28 The decision must be “issued by the trial court which ‘ends the litigation on
the merits and leaves nothing for the court to do but execute the judgment . . . .’”29
“‘[T]he District Court cannot, in the exercise of its discretion, treat as final that which is
not final within the meaning of [28 U.S.C.] § 1291.’”30
TruePosition argues this court’s finding of invalidity of Claims 113 and 114, based
on indefiniteness, was a final disposition of these claims.31 TruePosition maintains since
as an instrument for the improved administration of justice . . . .”).
27
Curtiss-Wright Corp. v. Gen. Elec. Comp., 446 U.S. 1, 8 (1980).
28
Id. at 7 (quoting Sears, Roebuck & Co. v. Mackey, 351 U.S. 427, 436 (1956)).
29
Coopers & Lybrand v. Livesay, 437 U.S. 463, 467 (1978) (quoting Catlin v.
United States, 324 U.S. 229, 233 (1945)).
30
Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Elizabethtown, Inc. v. Coca-Cola Co., 654 F. Supp.
1419, 1446 (D. Del. 1987) (quoting Sears, 351 U.S. at 437). 28 U.S.C. § 1291 states:
The courts of appeals (other than the United States Court of
Appeals for the Federal Circuit) shall have jurisdiction of
appeals from all final decisions of the district courts of the
United States . . . except where a direct review may be had
in the Supreme Court. The jurisdiction of the United States
Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit shall be limited to
the jurisdiction described in sections 1292(c) and (d) and
1295 of this title. 28 U.S.C. § 1291.
31

D.I. 249 at 11.
5

Claims 113 and 114 relate to a mobile-tracking location system that monitors one link,
and Claim 98 pertains to a different link, the claims are independent of each other in
subject-matter and requested relief.32 For example, to prove infringement, TruePosition
argues Claim 98 covers a system that is “configured to monitor an A link and a GSMMAP link,”33 while Claims 113 and 114 require proving a “means for monitoring” an Abis
link.34 TruePosition notes the court’s indefiniteness ruling of Claims 113 and 114 was
based on the means-plus-function analysis, and such issues do not apply to Claim 98
because it does not contain a means-plus-function claim.35 TruePosition further asserts
any prior art defenses will involve different proofs because the claim terms differ
between Claim 98 and Claims 113 and 114.36
Polaris argues no final disposition resulted from the finding of invalidity of Claims
113 and 114.37 Polaris asserts the complaint only sets forth a sole count, infringement
of the ‘299 Patent.38 Accordingly, because TruePosition has only raised a single cause
of action, Polaris maintains this matter does not involve multiple claims, and Rule 54(b)
is inapplicable.39 Polaris relies on Liberty Mut. Ins. Co. v. Wetzel,40 where the Supreme
Court announced “[R]ule 54(b)(2) ‘does not apply to a single claim action . . . . It is
limited expressly to multiple claim actions in which one or more but less than all of the

32

Id.
Id. at 12.
34
Id.
35
Id.
36
Id.
37
D.I. 259 at 8.
38
Id.
39
Id.
40
424 U.S. 737 (1976).
33

6

multiple claims have been finally decided and are found otherwise to be ready for
appeal.’”41 Polaris notes a final disposition of a single cause of action does not occur
until all asserted claims have been adjudicated, and since Claim 98 remains,
TruePosition’s sole claim of patent infringement is not final, regardless of the finding of
invalidity of Claims 113 and 114.42
TruePosition contends Polaris’ argument is too formalistic, and that infringement
of Claim 98 is the “same claim” with the “same legal theory” as Claims 113 and 114.43 It
points to 35 U.S.C. § 282(a),44 for the proposition that each claim is considered
independently of the other as a separate legal claim concerning invalidity.45
Within the meaning of Rule 54(b), the definition of a “claim” is not clear.46 The
Third Circuit recognizes that “[t]here is not a definitive test to determine whether more
than one claim is before the court,”47 and applies the Supreme Court’s guidance, noting
“[w]e need not here attempt any definitive resolution of the meaning of what constitutes
a claim for relief within the meaning of the rules. It is sufficient to recognize that a
complaint asserting only one legal right, even if seeking multiple remedies for the

41

Id. at 742-43 (quoting Sears, 351 U.S. at 435); see D.I. 259 at 8-9.
D.I. 259 at 9.
43
D.I. 261 at 2-3.
44
“Each claim of a patent (whether in independent, dependent, or multiple
dependent form) shall be presumed valid independently of the validity of other claims.”
35 U.S.C. § 282(a).
45
D.I. 261 at 3.
46
Sussex Drug Prods. v. Kanasco, Ltd., 920 F.2d 1150, 1154 (3d Cir. 1990).
“‘The line between deciding one of several claims and deciding only part of a single
claim is sometimes very obscure.’” Id. (quoting C. Wright, A. Miller & M. Kane, FEDERAL
PRACTICE & PROCEDURE § 2657, at 60-61 (2d ed. 1983)).
47
Allegheny County Sanitary Auth. v. EPA, 732 F.2d 1167, 1172 (3d Cir. 1984).
42

7

alleged violation of that right, states a single claim for relief.”48 Regarding patent
litigation, if not all the aspects of a claim of infringement have been decided, then the
claim may not be certified pursuant to Rule 54(b).49
Although the invalidity judgments on Claims 113 and 114 are final, they are not
immediately appealable, even though they appear to be separable from the unresolved
Claim 98. Both the Third Circuit and the Federal Circuit have firmly established that if
aspects of a single claim of patent infringement remain and are not resolved, then that
claim cannot be certified as final under Rule 54(b). TruePosition’s reliance on 35 U.S.C.
§ 282(a), and its assertion that Claims 98, 113, and 114 should be considered
independently of each other as separate claims, is misplaced because § 282 only
addresses that each claim of a patent is presumed to be valid. Section 282 establishes
that a finding of invalidity for one claim of the patent does not invalidate the remaining
claims or the patent itself.50 A reading of § 282(a) does not support TruePosition’s
argument that each claim is considered separate and distinguishable from one another
in regards to finality. Here, the three asserted claims must be viewed as part of a single
action for relief based on infringement. Claims 113 and 114 have been resolved; Claim
98 has not. As a result, the single right of action for relief based on infringement of the
‘299 Patent is not final within the meaning of Rule 54(b).
2.

Judicial Economy

48

Sussex Drug Prods., 920 F.2d at 1154 (quoting Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 424 U.S.
at 743 n.4) (emphasis added).
49
Aspex Eyewear, Inc. v. Concepts in Optics, Inc., 153 Fed. Appx. 730, 731
(Fed. Cir. 2005).
50
See Microsoft Corp. v. i4i Ltd. P’ship, 131 S. Ct. 2238, 2243 (2011).
8

In deciding whether there is any just reason for delay, “it is left to the sound
discretion of the district court to determine . . . when each final decision in a multiple
claims action is ready for appeal.”51 “This discretion is to be exercised ‘in the interest of
sound judicial administration.’”52 In determining whether there is a just reason for delay,
the Third Circuit established five factors for consideration, including:
(1) the relationship between the adjudicated and
unadjudicated claims;
(2) the possibility that the need for review might or might not
be mooted by future developments in the district court;
(3) the possibility that the reviewing court might be obliged to
consider the same issue a second time;
(4) the presence or absence of a claim or counterclaim
which could result in set-off against the judgment sought to
be made final;
(5) miscellaneous factors such as delay, economic and
solvency considerations, shortening the time of trial, frivolity
of competing claims, expense, and the like.53
Since TruePosition’s infringement claim is not final within the meaning of Rule
54(b), the court need not analyze the element of judicial economy. TruePosition’s
motion under Rule 54(b) therefore should be denied.

IV.

Dismissal Without Prejudice Under FED. R. CIV. P. 41(a)(2)
A.

Standard of Review

51

Curtiss-Wright Corp., 446 U.S. at 8.
Id. (quoting Sears, 351 U.S. at 437).
53
Berckeley Inv. Group, Ltd., 455 F.3d at 203 (quoting Allis-Chalmers Corp., 521
F.2d at 364).
52

9

FED. R. CIV. P. 41(a)(2) states:
[A]n action may be dismissed at the plaintiff’s request only
by court order, on terms that the court considers proper. If a
defendant has pleaded a counterclaim before being served
with the plaintiff’s motion to dismiss, the action may be
dismissed over the defendant’s objection only if the
counterclaim can remain pending for independent
adjudication. Unless the order states otherwise, a dismissal
under this paragraph . . . is without prejudice.
A Rule 41(a)(2) motion should “be determined after attempting to secure
substantial justice to both parties.”54 While considering the interests of both parties, the
court remains cognizant that the motion “should be granted absent substantial prejudice
to the defendant.”55 The possibility that a defendant will be subject to a subsequent
lawsuit is not prejudicial.56 In determining whether a dismissal will prejudice the
defendant, the court should consider “[1] any excessive and duplicative expense of a
second litigation; [2] the effort and expense incurred by a defendant in preparing for
trial; [3] the extent to which the pending litigation has progressed; and [4] the claimant’s
diligence in moving to dismiss.”57

B.

Discussion

54

Mobil Oil Corp. v. Advanced Envtl. Recycling Techs., Inc., 203 F.R.D. 156, 157
(D. Del. 2001).
55
Id. at 157-58.
56
Reach & Assocs., P.C. v. Dencer, C.A. No. 02-1355-JJF, 2004 WL 253487, at
*1 (D. Del. Feb. 9, 2004) (citing DuToit v. Strategic Minerals Corp., 136 F.R.D. 82, 85
(D. Del. 1991)); see Hayden v. Westfield Ins. Co., 586 F. App’x. 835, 842 (3d Cir. 2014)
(“Rule 41 motions should be allowed unless [the] defendant will suffer some prejudice
other than the mere prospect of a second lawsuit.”) (quoting In re Paoli R.R. Yard
P.C.B. Litig., 916 F.2d 829, 863 (3d Cir. 1990)).
57
Reach & Assocs., 2004 WL 253487, at *1 (quoting Spring City Corp. v. Am.
Bldgs. Co., C.A. No. 97-8127, 1999 WL 1212201, at *1 (E.D. Pa. Dec. 17, 1999)).
10

TruePosition argues that granting its Rule 41(a)(2) motion will not cause
substantial prejudice, but instead, will benefit Polaris.58 Since its proposal offers a
covenant-not-to-sue on Claim 98 if unsuccessful on appeal of Claims 113 and 114, it
contends Polaris completely avoids litigating Claim 98. If TruePosition succeeds on
appeal, however, Polaris again benefits by avoiding having to engage “in two sets of
experts, dispositive motions, pretrial, trial, and post-trial proceedings” in this court.59
TruePosition reasons since Claim 98 is far from resolution, substantial work remains for
both parties.60 TruePosition further notes this court will benefit, since only Claim 98
need be addressed if it prevails on appeal of Claims 113 and 114.61
In regards to the four factors analysis under Rule 41(a)(2), TruePosition initially
maintains granting the motion will not cause excessive or duplicative expense of a
second litigation.62 Since it requests dismissal without prejudice of Claim 98, subject to
a covenant-not-to-sue, TruePosition argues there is no possibility Claim 98 will be
asserted against the same Polaris product in a different action.63 It contends concerns
that Claim 98 will be asserted against a different Polaris product in the future are
irrelevant.64 Regarding the second and third factors, TruePosition notes no pretrial or
trial is scheduled, expert discovery has not occurred, and any fact discovery and claim
construction pertained only to Claims 113 and 114.65 In support of the fourth factor,
58

D.I. 249 at 18.
Id.
60
Id.
61
Id. at 19.
62
Id.
63
D.I. 261 at 9.
64
Id.
65
D.I. 249 at 20; D.I. 261 at 9-10.
59

11

TruePosition advances it has been diligent in moving to dismiss without any
unnecessary delay.66
Polaris, on the other hand, maintains it will be substantially prejudiced and no
benefit occurs by granting TruePosition’s Rule 41(a)(2) motion.67 It asserts that by
granting the motion, TruePosition could bring a new action against it in the future, which
would require re-conducting the entire discovery process.68 Polaris further argues that
the four factors weigh against TruePosition’s motion, noting: “there will be excessive
and duplicative expense of a second litigation; there has been great effort and expense
incurred by Polaris in preparing for trial in this case; the pending litigation has completed
fact discovery and was almost done with expert reports; and [TruePosition] was not
diligent in moving to dismiss.”69
TruePosition’s assertion that fact discovery and claim construction only involved
Claims 113 and 114 is misplaced. Pursuant to a joint stipulation, filed on October 17,
2013, both parties agreed to the construction of certain claim terms.70 The term,
“location measuring unit (LMU)”, is one of these agreed to terms and only appears in
Claim 98 and not Claims 113 or 114.71 The construction of another agreed upon term is
“network transaction” which is found in Claims 98, 113, and 114.72 The parties,
however, disagreed with the construction of the term “in response” in Claims 98, 113,

66

D.I. 249 at 20.
D.I. 259 at 15.
68
Id.
69
Id. at 15-16.
70
See D.I. 177.
71
Id. at 2; D.I. 1 at 70-71.
72
D.I. 177 at 2; D.I. 1 at 70-71.
67

12

and 114.73 Therefore, in order for TruePosition and Polaris to agree and disagree on
the construction of these terms appearing in Claim 98, fact discovery must have been
conducted on Claim 98.
Furthermore, pursuant to a stipulated amendment to the scheduling order filed on
November 26, 2013, the parties agreed to extend the deadline for completion of fact
discovery from December 1, 2013 to December 20, 2013.74 A subsequent stipulation
and order to amend the scheduling order filed on January 20, 2014 extended the
deadline for the completion of expert discovery from January 27, 2014 to February 6,
2014, but did not extend the deadline for the completion of fact discovery.75 Both
stipulations occurred before the issuance of the Report and Recommendation on
February 2, 2014 on claim construction,76 signaling additional time to complete fact
discovery, including such discovery on Claim 98, was unnecessary and that sufficient
factual information was obtained. The January 20, 2014 stipulation provided that the
initial expert reports were due on February 6, 2014. In light of when the Report and
Recommendation was issued, substantial completion of initial expert reports likely
occurred.
Since fact discovery was conducted on Claim 98 to TruePosition’s apparent
satisfaction, dismissal of Claim 98 without prejudice is not warranted. Polaris will be
substantially prejudiced if TruePosition reasserts Claim 98 after the considerable

73

D.I. 177 at 2.
D.I. 207 at 1.
75
D.I. 219.
76
D.I. 221. Judge Andrews adopted the Report and Recommendation on August
26, 2014. D.I. 237.
74

13

discovery in this matter, by causing additional effort and expense in a subsequent
proceeding.77 Moreover, Polaris raised affirmative defenses of invalidity against the
claims of the ‘299 patent on which fact discovery is completed. Under TruePosition’s
requested scenario, addressing these defenses in relation to Claim 98 will be further
substantially delayed. TruePosition’s motion under Rule 41(a) should be denied.
VI.

Order and Recommendation Disposition
Consistent with the findings contained herein,
IT IS RECOMMENDED that TruePosition’s motions to allow an interlocutory

appeal under FED. R. CIV. P. 54(b), or alternatively, for the voluntary dismissal of Claim
98 without prejudice and entry of final judgment as to Claims 113 and 114 under FED. R.
CIV. P. 41(a)(2) (D.I. 248), be denied.
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A) and (B), FED. R. CIV. P. 72(a), and
D. DEL. LR 72.1, any objections to the Report and Recommendation shall be filed within
fourteen (14) days limited to ten (10) pages after being served with the same. Any
response shall be limited to ten (10) pages.
The parties are directed to the Court’s Standing Order in Non-Pro Se Matters for
Objections Filed under FED. R. CIV. P. 72 dated October 9, 2013, a copy of which is
found on the Court’s website (www.ded.uscourts.gov.)
77

See Hayden, 586 F. App’x. at 843 (district court’s denial of dismissal was
upheld because seventeen months of litigation had passed and discovery closed six
months prior to request of motion); see Sightsound Techs., LLC v. Apple Inc., 2013 U.S.
Dist. LEXIS 19818 (W.D. Pa. Feb. 14, 2013) (court denied dismissal after discovery was
conducted and defendant’s counterclaims were pending); see Ferguson v. Eakle, 492
F.2d 26, 29 (3d Cir. 1974) (reversed district court’s grant of dismissal after plaintiffs
brought suit against defendants in another court and after discovery and substantial
litigation had been completed in the previous action).
14

Date: March 3, 2015

/s/ Mary Pat Thynge
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

15