Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_10-cv-02655/USCOURTS-casd-3_10-cv-02655-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 830
Nature of Suit: Patent
Cause of Action: 35:271 Patent Infringement

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1 10-cv-2655 DMS NLS

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CHART SEQUAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Plaintiff,

v.

MICHAEL STERN and DIGIFLO, INC.

Defendants. 

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Civil No. 10-2655 DMS (NLS)

ORDER DENYING EX PARTE

APPLICATION TO SCHEDULE EARLY

NEUTRAL EVALUATION

[Docket No. 12.]

On February 24, 2011, Plaintiff filed an ex parte application for an Early Neutral Evaluation

("ENE") in this patent case. [Docket No. 12.] On February 28, 2011, Defendants timely filed an

Opposition to the Ex Parte Application [Docket No. 13.] and Plaintiff filed a Reply in support of the Ex

Parte Application. [Docket No. 14.] Plaintiff believes that an ENE at this time would be an efficient

use of the resources of the court and the parties. Defendants object to the burden of having to travel

from Washington to appear at an ENE in San Diego before resolution of their pending Motion to

Dismiss. Defendants argue in the Motion to Dismiss: 1) this court lacks personal jurisdiction; 2) this

case should be transferred to the Western District of Washington; and 3) this case should be dismissed

for failure to state a claim. [Docket No. 11.] In Reply, Plaintiff argues that travel to the Southern

District of California is not unduly burdensome, and in fact could be cheaper than filing a Reply brief

and appearing in this District for the hearing on the Motion to Dismiss. 

The Local Rules provide that an ENE shall be held within 45 days of the filing of an Answer . 

The Local Rules also provide for an ENE prior to the filing of an Answer:

Case 3:10-cv-02655-GPC-NLS Document 15 Filed 03/01/11 Page 1 of 2
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2 10-cv-2655 DMS NLS

At any time after the filing of a complaint and before an answer has been filed, counsel

for any party may make a request in writing to the judicial officer assigned to supervise

discovery in the case to hold an early neutral evaluation conference, discovery

conference or status/case management conference. Copies of the request must be sent to

counsel for the parties and the parties whose addresses are known to the requesting

counsel. Upon receiving such request, the judicial officer will examine the circumstances

of the case and the reasons for the request and determine whether any such conference

would assist in the reduction of expense and delay the case. The judicial officer will hold

such conferences as he or she deems appropriate.

Civ. L.R. 16.1(c)(1).

In light of Defendants' objections to personal jurisdiction, and to travel at this time, the

circumstances of this case do not warrant the scheduling of an ENE at this time. 

Accordingly, It Is Hereby Ordered that: 

1. The Ex Parte Application to Schedule an Early Neutral Evaluation is Denied

without prejudice; and 

2. If the case proceeds in this district and an Answer is filed, an ENE will be

scheduled in accordance with the Local Rules of the Southern District of

California.

DATED: March 1, 2011

Hon. Nita L. Stormes

U.S. Magistrate Judge

United States District Court

Case 3:10-cv-02655-GPC-NLS Document 15 Filed 03/01/11 Page 2 of 2