Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-alnd-4_03-cv-01480/USCOURTS-alnd-4_03-cv-01480-3/pdf.json

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

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

MIDDLE DIVISION

VAE NORTRAK NORTH AMERICA,

INC., et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

PROGRESS RAIL SERVICES

CORPORATION,

Defendant.

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CIVIL ACTION NO.

03-AR-1480-M

MEMORANDUM OPINION & ORDER

Before the court are the motion for status update of

plaintiffs, VAE Nortrak North America, Inc. (“Nortrak”) and VAE

GmbH (“GmbH”), and the motion of Nortrak to eliminate Meridian

Track Products Corp. (“Meridian Track”) and Meridian Rail

Information Systems Corp. (“Meridian Rail”) as plaintiffs. These

motions were heard at this court’s regular motion docket on April

21, 2006. 

Nortrak’s motion to eliminate Meridian Track and Meridian Rail

as plaintiffs is well taken and will be granted by separate order.

However, both Meridian Track and Meridian Rail continue as

counterclaim defendants. Nortrak and GmbH remain in this matter as

both plaintiffs and counterclaim defendants. 

At the April 21 motion docket, the court expressed its

concern about conflicts of interest arising from the joint

representation of multiple plaintiffs and counterclaim defendants

in this matter and advised the respective plaintiffs and

FILED

 2006 May-03 AM 09:34

U.S. DISTRICT COURT

N.D. OF ALABAMA

Case 4:03-cv-01480-WMA Document 127 Filed 05/03/06 Page 1 of 2
counterclaim defendants to seek separate counsel. The court

reiterates this advice now and emphasizes its desire to avoid

confusion and conflicts in representation as the trial date draws

near. In the meantime, attorneys John R. Crossan, John E. Getty

and Will Hill Tankersley, Jr. are hereby ORDERED to inform Meridian

Track and Meridian Rail that they are still counterclaim

defendants. 

With respect to the motion for status update, the court will

postpone the question of severance and will keep the motion for

status update and the underlying motion to sever under advisement.

The court reminds the parties that the deadline for submission of

dispositive motions, including motions for summary judgment, is

July 28, 2006. In the meantime, discovery is to proceed jointly on

both the patent and antitrust claims. 

DONE this 3 day of May, 2006. rd

_____________________________

WILLIAM M. ACKER, JR.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 4:03-cv-01480-WMA Document 127 Filed 05/03/06 Page 2 of 2