Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_02-cv-01786/USCOURTS-cand-3_02-cv-01786-40/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 840
Nature of Suit: Trademark
Cause of Action: 15:1114 Trademark Infringement

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

VISA U.S.A. INC., a Delaware corporation,

Plaintiff and Counterdefendant,

 v.

FIRST DATA CORPORATION, a Delaware

corporation; FIRST DATA RESOURCES,

INC., a Delaware corporation; and FIRST

DATA MERCHANT SERVICES

CORPORATION, a Florida corporation,

Defendants and

Counterclaimants.

 /

No. C 02-01786 JSW

TENTATIVE RULING AND

QUESTIONS RE FIRST DATA’S

MOTION FOR PARTIAL

SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON

SINGLE ENTITY AFFIRMATIVE

DEFENSE AND SUMMARY

JUDGMENT ON REMAINING

CLAIMS

TO ALL PARTIES AND THEIR ATTORNEYS OF RECORD, PLEASE TAKE

NOTICE OF THE FOLLOWING TENTATIVE RULING AND QUESTIONS FOR THE

HEARING SCHEDULED ON DECEMBER 6, 2005 AT 9:00 A.M.:

The Court has reviewed the parties’ papers and, thus, does not wish to hear the parties

reargue matters addressed in those pleadings. If the parties intend to rely on authorities not

cited in their briefs, they are ORDERED to notify the Court and opposing counsel of these

authorities reasonably in advance of the hearing and to make copies available at the hearing. If

the parties submit such additional authorities, they are ORDERED to submit the citations to the

authorities only, without argument or additional briefing. See N.D. Civ. L.R. 7-3(d). The

parties will be given the opportunity at oral argument to explain their reliance on such authority.

Case 3:02-cv-01786-JSW Document 1098 Filed 12/08/05 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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The Court tentatively GRANTS First Data’s motion for partial summary judgment

denying Visa’s single entity defense, tentatively DENIES the motion for summary judgment on

the breach of contract and declaratory relief claims, and RESERVES on the issue of bifurcation.

The parties shall have 25 minutes to address the following questions:

1. Where in the record does Visa proffer evidence raising a material dispute

regarding the factors necessary for the single entity determination: economic

unity, potential and actual member competition, and the decision-making

structure and function of the Visa system? What evidence in the record

contradicts this Court’s previous finding that the member banks lack a common

economic interest and stand in direct competition with one another, in various

aspects, including the pricing of the services for the processing of the banks’

credit and debit cards?

2. The parties agree that a “function-specific” analysis is required for the single

entity determination. Is the function at issue here purchasing network processing

or providing network processing? Does the Court analyze the member banks as

potential buyers of the service or, in their role as Visa members, therefore as

sellers of the service?

3. What injury, beside damage to reputation, does Visa claim it endured as a result

of First Data’s alleged breach of contract? What evidence in the record supports

Visa’s claim for damages? Is the claim for damages sufficient to qualify for the

constitutional right to a jury trial?

4. Is the issue of bifurcation appropriate to determine at the motion for summary

judgment stage? Is it true that an initial trial of First Data’s claims will obviate

the need to hear Visa’s claims at all? Why does First Data move for bifurcation

instead of moving pretrial to modify the order of proof?

5. Do the parties have anything further they wish to address?

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 8, 2005 

JEFFREY S. WHITE

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 3:02-cv-01786-JSW Document 1098 Filed 12/08/05 Page 2 of 2