United Pet Group, Inc., v. MiracleCorp Products
Filing
56
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendants motion to compel Plaintiff to fully respond to Requests for Production No. 22 and No. 23 is GRANTED. In light of the upcoming mediation, Plaintiff shall comply with this Order on or before Nov ember 12, 2012. (Doc. No. 49.) re: 49 MOTION to Compel Production of Documents and Memorandum in Support filed by Defendant MiracleCorp Products ( Response to Court due by 11/12/2012.). Signed by District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on 11/5/12. (JWJ)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
EASTERN DIVISION
UNITED PET GROUP, INC., a/k/a
FURMINATOR,
Plaintiff,
vs.
MIRACLECORP PRODUCTS,
Defendant.
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) No. 4:12CV00440 AGF
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MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This patent infringement case matter is before the Court on the motion to compel
(Doc. No. 49) of Defendant MiracleCorp Products. Defendant seeks to compel Plaintiff
United Pet Group, Inc., to produce documents related to license and settlement
agreements Plaintiff entered into in the past concerning the two patents in suit, in
response to Requests for Production No. 22 and No. 23. Defendant argues that the
documents are relevant to the amount of potential damages and are needed by Defendant
to prepare for the upcoming November 14, 2012, mediation in the case.
Plaintiff opposes the motion on the ground that the documents sought are not
relevant to the issue of claim construction, and that the Case Management Order (Doc.
No. 35) limited discovery to that issue until the Court rules on it. Plaintiff also asserts
that the discovery in question is beyond the scope of discovery that the parties agreed
upon at this stage of the litigation. Plaintiff argues that the license/settlement agreements
sought will be of little use to Defendant during mediation, as the focus of mediation is not
likely to focus on damages, which potentially amount to only approximately $6,000, and
more likely to focus on potential injunctive relief. Furthermore, argues Plaintiff, the
relevance of the documents in question to Defendant’s litigation strategy is weak due to
the fact that the individuals who negotiated the past licenses/settlement are not the same
individuals who now control Plaintiff.
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(b)(1) provides that “parties may obtain
discovery regarding any non-privileged matter that is relevant to any party’s claim or
defense.” Under this Rule, “[r]elevant information need not be admissible at the trial if
the discovery appears reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible
evidence.” Fed. R. Civ P. 26(b)(1). Defendant, as the moving party, bears the burden of
showing that the requested documents are discoverable. Central States, SE & SW Areas
Pension Fund v. King Dodge, Inc., No. 4:11MC00233 AGF, 2011 WL 2784118, at *2
(E.D. Mo. July 15, 2011).
In general, the Federal Rules promote a “broad and liberal policy of discovery for
the parties to obtain the fullest possible knowledge of the issues and facts before trial.”
In re MSTG, Inc., 675 F.3d 1337, 1346 (Fed. Cir. 2012). Here the Court finds Plaintiff’s
reasons for opposing the discovery sought unpersuasive. The requested documents are
relevant, see id., and may assist in mediating this case in its entirety, which is the purpose
of the mediation. To the extent that Plaintiff has confidentiality concerns with regard to
documents to be produced, these concerns can be addressed by an appropriate protective
order.
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Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendant’s motion to compel Plaintiff to fully
respond to Requests for Production No. 22 and No. 23 is GRANTED. In light of the
upcoming mediation, Plaintiff shall comply with this Order on or before November 12,
2012. (Doc. No. 49.)
________________________________
AUDREY G. FLEISSIG
UNITED STATED DISTRICT JUDGE
Dated this 5th day of November, 2012
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