Raytheon Company v. Cray, Inc.

Filing 273

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER 109 SEALED MOTION TO COMPEL 30(b)(6) DEPOSITION TESTIMONY ON TOPICS 40 AND 41, AND TO COMPEL DOCUMENT PRODUCTION filed by Cray, Inc. Signed by Magistrate Judge Roy S. Payne on 06/19/2017. (nkl, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
MARSHALL DIVISION
RAYTHEON COMPANY,

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Plaintiff,
v.
CRAY, INC.,
Defendant.

CASE NO. 2:15-CV-01554-JRG-RSP

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
Cray’s Motion to Compel 30(b)(6) Testimony [Dkt. # 109] is before the Court. In
the Motion, Cray moves the Court to compel Raytheon to (1) provide corporate testimony
about two topics in Cray’s Rule 30(b)(6) notice to Raytheon; (2) produce documents regarding Silicon Graphics, Inc.’s 2007 offer to purchase the asserted patents; and (3) produce documents identifying the architecture, features, and revenue from a system Raytheon sold to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
After reviewing the parties’ briefing and hearing arguments of counsel, Cray’s Motion [Dkt. # 109] is GRANTED-IN-PART.
I.

BACKGROUND
A.

Rule 30(b)(6) Topics 40–41

In September 2016, Cray served Raytheon with a Rule 30(b)(6) notice including
topics about commercialization and profitability of Raytheon’s systems covered by the

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asserted patents. Mayer Decl. [Dkt. # 109-1] ¶ 2. Topic 40 requested testimony about
“Raytheon’s plans or attempts to commercialize or otherwise monetize the Alleged Inventions claimed in the Patents-In-Suit or Related Patents/Applications.” Id. Topic 41 requested testimony about “Raytheon’s revenues earned and expenses incurred relating to
its development and commercialization of the Patents-in-Suit and any Covered Products
or Competing Products.” Id.
Raytheon produced two designees (Jane Chappell and Mark White) who provided
testimony on these topics, but there were questions they could not answer. Neither, for
example, could provide details about an allegedly covered system Raytheon sold to the
NOAA in 2006. See, e.g., White Dep. 174:20–175:8; Chappell Dep. 196:12–198:15. Both
had difficulty with questions about Raytheon’s attempts to license the asserted patents.
See, e.g., Chappell Dep. 78:19–79:11, 96:4–97:11, 116:3–13; White Dep. 213:14–21 (testifying he didn’t know if there were any licensing fees exchanged under two license agreements). And neither could identify which Raytheon systems, hardware, and software were
covered by the asserted patents. See, e.g., Chappell Dep. 122:13–18; White Dep. 208:23–
209:1.
B.

The Documents at Issue

In addition to the 30(b)(6) issue, Cray contends Raytheon has not produced documents related to the 2006 NOAA sale. Cray’s Mot. [Dkt. # 109] at 2. Raytheon responds
that, prior to the deposition of Chappell, Raytheon produced many documents describing
the patented technology of the NOAA system. Stringfield Decl. [Dkt. # 116-1] ¶ 14.

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Following Chappell’s deposition, Raytheon searched its files again and produced all
remaining documents describing patented technology of the NOAA system. Id. Raytheon also provided updated financial disclosures, including revenue numbers related to
the NOAA system. Id. ¶ 15.
Cray also contends Raytheon has not produced documents describing the contemplated 2007 sale of certain technology to Silicon Graphics, including several documents
summarizing proposed terms of such deal. Id. ¶ 16. Following Chappell’s deposition,
Raytheon again searched its files, but did not find additional documents describing the
contemplated 2007 sale. Id.
For the most part, Raytheon’s most recent responses to these document requests
satisfy Cray, as these issues were not raised during the Court’s hearing on Cray’s motion.
There remain, however, two outstanding issues: (1) a written offer to purchase the asserted patents in 2007 or 2008; and (2) documents related to Raytheon’s licensing efforts.
Hr’g Tr. [Dkt. # 222] 72:8–75:24.
II.

APPLICABLE LAW
A party served with a Rule 30(b)(6) deposition notice must respond in one of two

ways: (1) designate a person to testify at a deposition, or (2) move for a protective order.
Ferko v. National Ass’n for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc., 218 F.R.D. 125, 133 (E.D. Tex.
2003). If the deponent designates a person to testify, the deponent must prepare that person
to answer the questions posed about the subject matter. Brazos River Authority v. GE Ionics,
Inc., 469 F.3d 416, 433 (5th Cir. 2006) (“The deponent must prepare the designee to the

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extent matters are reasonably available, whether from documents, past employees, or other
sources.”); see also Bowoto v. ChevronTexaco Corp., No. C 99–02506 SI, 2006 WL
294799, at *1 (N.D. Cal. Feb. 7, 2006) (“The corporation has a duty to educate its witnesses
so they are prepared to fully answer the questions posed at the deposition.”). If a designee
is unable to adequately respond to relevant questions on listed subjects, the responding
corporation has a duty to timely designate additional, supplemental witnesses as substitute deponents. Marker v. Union Fid. Life Ins. Co., 125 F.R.D. 121, 127 (M.D.N.C.
1989).
Concerning documents, a party may obtain discovery regarding any non-privileged
documents relevant to any party’s claims or defenses and proportional to the needs of the
case. Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ. P. 34.
III.

DISCUSSION
A.

The Sufficiency of Raytheon’s 30(b)(6) Testimony on Topics 40–41

The Court reviewed the transcripts of both depositions. Based on that review, the
Court agrees Cray is entitled to an additional, limited 30(b)(6) deposition on certain subject
matter, not to exceed three hours in length.
1.

The Covered Systems

The Court finds Raytheon’s designee on Topics 40–41 cannot be fully prepared to
testify without first understanding what hardware and software Raytheon contends is covered by the asserted patents. The transcripts, however, show neither designee had an understanding of Raytheon’s position on that question. White, for example, did not have

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knowledge concerning what hardware and software was sold to the NOAA or how much
money was paid for the system. See White Dep. 174:20–176:5, 177:24–178:6. Nor could he
tie particular hardware or software to specific patents. See, e.g., id. 173:25–174:2. White
also relied extensively on his conversations with another Raytheon employee, Gary Early,
as to what systems the asserted patents cover, but the transcript is unclear as to whether that
is Raytheon’s position or merely White’s personal belief based on his conversation with
Early. See, e.g., White Dep. 174:20–176:5.
To address this deficiency in Raytheon’s testimony, Cray may re-examine Raytheon
about what Raytheon systems, hardware, and software are covered by the asserted patents.1
This knowledge is fundamental to Topics 40–41 because without it Cray cannot tie revenue,
expenses, and commercialization efforts to specific patents. Of course, Raytheon may not
know what systems, hardware, or software are covered by the asserted patents, but if that is
Raytheon’s position, it should be made clear during the deposition.
Cray may also re-examine Raytheon concerning (1) Raytheon’s position about adequate compensation for the eMesh assets, and to what extent the eMesh assets include the
asserted patents, see White Dep. 197:23–198:21, and (2) what composed the system sold to
the NOAA and how much the NOAA paid for the system, see id. 174:20–175:8.
Prior to any such deposition permitted by this Memorandum and Order, Raytheon’s
designee should, at a minimum, review and understand Raytheon’s interrogatory responses

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Raytheon’s designee, however, need not address the reasoning behind why each system is
covered by the asserted patents. That is a different topic not at issue in Cray’s motion.

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concerning which Raytheon systems embody claims of the asserted patents and any disclosures made by Raytheon under P.R. 3-1(f). But Raytheon’s designee need not understand
the basis for Raytheon’s position that certain systems are covered, as that is not required for
testimony regarding Topics 40–41.
2.

Licensing

The only persuasive argument about the sufficiency of Raytheon’s testimony concerning licensing related to its withholding of information under the work product doctrine.
Hr’g Tr. [Dkt. # 222] 73:5–13; see, e.g., White Dep. 276:16–277:4. The parties have not
briefed the Court on the propriety of Raytheon’s assertion of the work product doctrine. The
Court agrees, however, that Cray is entitled to an additional deposition about any documents
produced by Raytheon under Part II.B.2 of this Memorandum and Order.
B.

The Documents.
1.

The 2007 or 2008 Purchase Agreement

Within 7 days of this Memorandum and Order, Raytheon must either (1) produce
this purchase agreement, or (2) certify to Cray that it has searched for this specific document and that it does not exist or cannot be located.
2.

IPLC Documents

Within 7 days of this Memorandum and Order, Raytheon will produce (to the extent
not already produced) all documents relating to Raytheon’s engagement of IPLC in connection with the asserted patents and IPLC’s performance of its duties pursuant to that
engagement. Raytheon must log any withheld documents or communications so the Court,

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if necessary, may resolve any disputes. If Cray then wishes to challenge Raytheon’s assertions of privilege or the work product doctrine, it must file a motion on that issue at least
ten days before the pretrial conference.
IV.

CONCLUSION
Cray’s Motion [Dkt. # 109] is GRANTED to the extent indicated herein, but other-

wise DENIED.
SO ORDERED.

SIGNED this 3rd day of January, 2012.

SIGNED this 19th day of June, 2017.

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ROY S. PAYNE
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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