CallWave Communication LLC v. AT&T Mobility LLC et al.

Filing 342

MEMORANDUM ORDER Granting (228 in 12-cv-1701-RGA, 166 in 12-cv-1788-RGA, 207 in 12-cv-1704-RGA, 193 in 12-cv-1703-RGA, 223 in 12-cv-1702-RGA) Renewed Motion to Stay Proceedings on the '970 Patent Pending Inter Partes Review. Signed by Judge Richard G. Andrews on 3/18/2015. Associated Cases: 1:12-cv-01701-RGA, 1:12-cv-01702-RGA, 1:12-cv-01703-RGA, 1:12-cv-01704-RGA, 1:12-cv-01788-RGA(nms)

I

I
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELA WARE

!

CALL WA VE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC,
Plaintiff,

v.

Civil Action No. 12-1701-RGA

AT&T MOBILITY, LLC, et al.,
Defendants.
CALL WA VE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC,
Plaintiff,
v.

Civil Action No. 12-1702-RGA

SPRINT NEXTEL CORP., et al.,

I

Defendants.
CALL WA VE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC,
Plaintiff,
v.

Civil Action No. 12-1703-RGA

T-MOBILE USA INC., et al.,
Defendants.
CALL WA VE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC,
Plaintiff,

v.

Civil Action No. 12-1704-RGA

VERIZON SERVICES CORP., et al.,
Defendants.

1

CALLWA VE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC,
Plaintiff,

v.

Civil Action No. 12-1788-RGA

AT&T MOBILITY, LLC, et al.,
Defendants.

MEMORANDUM ORDER

On December 12, 2012, Plaintiff CallWave Communications, LLC filed the instant
actions for patent infringement against Defendants AT&T, Google, BlackBerry, Sprint, TMobile, and Verizon. The cases were divided into three tracks. (D.I. 55).

1

Defendants moved

to stay the track with respect to U.S. Patent No. 6,771,970 ("the '970 patent"). (D.I. 228).
On May 18, 2014, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board ("PTAB") instituted an Inter Partes
Review ("IPR") of Claim 18 of the '970 patent. (D.I. 105, Ex. 1). Defendants moved to stay the
'970 track pending the resolution of the IPR. (D.I. 104). The Court denied the motion on
September 16, 2014. (D.I. 158). On December 2, 2014, the PTAB instituted an IPR of all
remaining claims of the '970 patent. (D.I. 229 at p. 1). Defendants then renewed their motion to
stay. (D.I. 228).
In determining whether to grant a stay, the court considers: (1) whether granting the stay
will simplify the issues for trial; (2) whether discovery is complete and a trial date is set; and (3)
whether granting a stay would cause the non-moving party to suffer undue prejudice from any

1

All references to docket items refer to C.A. 12-1701.

2

I
I
I

delay, or a clear tactical disadvantage. See, e.g., Vehicle IP LLC v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 2010
WL 4823393, *l (D. Del. 2010).
The Court finds that the first factor favors a stay. The two pending IPRs have the
potential to simplify issues for trial. Plaintiff argues that the second IPR was procedurally
improper, as Defendants were in privity with the third party who requested the IPR. (D.I. 250 at
8). Therefore, Plaintiff argues that if the second IPR is dismissed, the situation is the same as
when the Court denied the first motion to stay. The Court finds that even if the second IPR is
dismissed, the first IPR is likely to alter the landscape in such a way as to simplify matters for
trial. In addition, it is uncertain whether the second IPR will be dismissed. If it is not, the
proceedings will be further simplified. Defendants have stipulated that they will not assert as
prior art any prior art combinations that are relied upon by the PTAB. (D.I. 229 at p. 7).
With respect to the second factor, no trial date has been set. Discovery is more advanced
than would be ideal, but the Court notes that few depositions have been taken and expert
discovery has not yet begun. The Court therefore finds that this factor favors a stay.
The Court does not find that granting a stay will cause Plaintiff to suffer undue prejudice.
Call Wave is not a competitor of Defendants. Any purported harm that Call Wave suffers from a
stay can be fully compensated by monetary damages. This factor therefore has little impact.
Considering all the circumstances, the Court finds that a stay is warranted. IT IS

HEREBY ORDERED that Defendants' motion to stay (D.I. 228) is GRANTED.

Entered this

3

J$:~of

March, 2015.