Polyzen, Inc. v. Radiadyne, LLC

Filing 141

ORDER denying without prejudice the 107 Motion for Summary Judgment. Counsel is reminded to read the order in its entirety for further information. Signed by Chief Judge James C. Dever III on 12/12/2014. (Edwards, S.)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
WESTERN DMSION
No. 5:11-CV-662-D

POLYZEN, INC.,
Plaintiff,
v.
RADIADYNE, LLC,
Defendant.

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ORDER

On May 23, 2014, Polyzen, Inc. ("Polyzen"), filed a motion for partial summary judgment

of"no invalidity" of United States Patent No. 7,976,497 (''the '497 patent") [D.E. 107]. On June
13,2014, RadiaDyne, LLC ("RadiaDyne"), filed a notice of non-opposition [D.E. 127] to Polyzen's
motion. As explained below, the court denies Polyzen' s motion for summary judgment.
For an issue to be fit for judicial decision, the action in controversy must be final and not
dependent on future uncertainties. See Doev. Va. Dep'tofState Police, 713 F.3d 745,758 (4th Cir.
2013); Miller v. Bro:Ml, 462 F.3d 312, 319 (4th Cir. 2006). "Where an injury is contingent upon a
decision to be made by a third party that has not yet acted, it is not ripe as the subject of decision in
a federal court." Doe, 713 F.3d at 758. Furthermore, "[i]n determining ripeness, [the court]
balance[s] the fitness of the issues for judicial decision with the hardship to the parties of
withholding court consideration." Id. (quotation omitted).
The issue of the '497 patent's validity is not ripe. Both parties agree that RadiaDyne has not
raised invalidity as a defense. See Pl.'s Mot. Partial Summ. J. [D.E. 107] 4; Def.'s Notice NonOpp'n [D.E. 127] 1. RadiaDyne does not assert that the patent is invalid. Def. 's Notice Non-Opp'n

2. Any injury to Polyzen concerning the subject of this motion is contingent on a third party
claiming that the patent is invalid, which has not happened. The issue of validity has not been fully
briefed and there is no apparent hardship to Polyzen resulting from the court's decision to deny
without prejudice its motion.
Accordingly, the court DENIES without prejudice Polyzen's motion for partial summary
judgment of no invalidity concerning the '497 patent [D.E. 107].
SO ORDERED. This L2. day of December 2014.

Chief United States District Judge

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