Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_10-cv-02994/USCOURTS-cand-5_10-cv-02994-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question

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MOUNT 

& STOELKER, P.C. 

RIVERPARK 

TOWER, SUITE 1650 

333

WEST SAN 

CARLOS STREET

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 95110-2740 

TELEPHONE (408) 279-7000 

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Kathryn G. Spelman, Esq. (Cal. Bar No. 154512) 

Daniel H. Fingerman, Esq. (Cal. Bar No. 229683) 

Mount & Stoelker, P.C. 

RiverPark Tower, Suite 1650 

333 West San Carlos Street 

San Jose CA 95110-2740 

Phone: (408) 279-7000 

Fax: (408) 998-1473 

Email: kspelman@mount.com, dfingerman@mount.com 

Counsel for San Francisco Technology Inc. 

U.S. District Court 

Northern District of California 

San Francisco Technology Inc. 

Plaintiff 

vs. 

Aero Products International Inc., BP 

Lubricants USA Inc., BRK Brands Inc., 

Calico Brands Inc., Cooper Lighting LLC, 

Darex LLC, Dexas International Ltd., DynaGro Nutrition Solutions, Fiskars Brands Inc., 

Global Concepts Inc., Homax Products Inc., 

Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Kraco 

Enterprises LLC, Lixit Corporation, Mead 

Westvaco Corporation, Nutrition 21 Inc., 

Oatey Co., Optimum Technologies Inc., 

Newell Rubbermaid Inc., Schick 

Manufacturing Inc., The Scotts Company 

LLC, Sterling International Inc., Vitamin 

Power Incorporated, Woodstream 

Corporation, 4-D Design Inc. 

Defendants 

Case No. 5:10-cv-02994-HRL 

Stipulation to Stay Case With Respect to 

Sterling International Inc. and [Proposed] Order 

*E-FILED 08-17-2010* ======== [Re: Docket No. 104]

Case 5:10-cv-02994-JF Document 108 Filed 08/17/10 Page 1 of 4
Case No. 5:10-cv-02994-HRL Page 1 

Stipulation to Stay Case With Respect to Sterling International Inc. and [Proposed] Order 

MOUNT 

& STOELKER, P.C. 

RIVERPARK 

TOWER, SUITE 1650 

333

WEST SAN 

CARLOS STREET

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 95110-2740 

TELEPHONE (408) 279-7000 

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Plaintiff San Francisco Technology Inc. ("SF Tech") and defendant Sterling International Inc. 

("Defendant") enter into this stipulation and seek the relief set forth below. 

1. SF Tech filed its Complaint on July 8, 2010, alleging that Defendant has falsely 

marked articles in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 292. SF Tech asserts that it is a qui tam relator in this 

case. 

2. SF Tech had earlier filed similar Complaints in this court, asserting similar false 

marking claims against other defendants, also asserting that it is a qui tam relator. Those cases are 

styled: 

a. San Francisco Technology Inc. v. Adobe Systems Incorporated, et al., Case 

No. 5:09-cv-06083-RS ("Adobe"), filed on December 30, 2009. 

b. San Francisco Technology Inc. v. The Glad Products Company, et al., Case 

No. 5:10-cv-00966-JF ("Glad"), filed on March 5, 2010. 

3. Defendant anticipates that it will challenge SF Tech's standing in this case. Defendant 

also anticipates that it might raise challenges to personal jurisdiction and/or venue in this case. 

4. In similar cases involving qui tam relators under 35 U.S.C. § 292, District Courts have 

split on the question of whether a qui tam relator has standing in such cases. See e.g., Juniper 

Networks v. Shipley, 2010 U.S. Dist. Lexis 24889, 16–17 (N.D. Cal. 2010) ("Juniper Networks 2") 

(finding standing); Pequignot v. Solo Cup Co., 640 F. Supp. 2d 714 (E.D. Va. 2009) ("Pequignot 2") 

(finding standing); Stauffer v. Brooks Brothers Inc., 615 F. Supp. 2d 248 (S.D.N.Y. 2009) 

("Stauffer") (finding a lack of standing). 

5. The District Court's decision in Stauffer (finding a lack of standing) is currently on 

appeal in the Federal Circuit (Case No. 2009-1428). That appeal has been fully briefed, and the 

Federal Circuit panel heard oral arguments on August 3, 2010. 

6. It is widely expected that the Federal Circuit will issue a ruling in Stauffer concerning 

the standing of qui tam relators under 35 U.S.C. § 292. The parties to this stipulation anticipate that 

the Federal Circuit's ruling will have a significant effect on the standing question in this case. 

7. In light of the pending appeal in Stauffer, and in order to streamline the issues in 

Adobe and Glad, Judge Seeborg of this court entered an order staying Adobe on April 13, 2010, and 

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Case 5:10-cv-02994-JF Document 108 Filed 08/17/10 Page 2 of 4
Case No. 5:10-cv-02994-HRL Page 2 

Stipulation to Stay Case With Respect to Sterling International Inc. and [Proposed] Order 

MOUNT 

& STOELKER, P.C. 

RIVERPARK 

TOWER, SUITE 1650 

333

WEST SAN 

CARLOS STREET

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 95110-2740 

TELEPHONE (408) 279-7000 

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Judge Fogel of this court entered an order staying Glad on July 19, 2010. Those cases have been 

stayed until the Federal Circuit issues a decision in Stauffer. 

8. In order to streamline this case and to narrow the issues that this court will be required 

to decide, the parties to this stipulation have reached an agreement. They hereby stipulate to stay this 

case until the Federal Circuit issues a decision in Stauffer. In exchange, Defendant agrees that it will 

not challenge personal jurisdiction or venue in this court. This stipulation is not intended to affect 

any other rights, claims, defenses, or arguments of any party. Accordingly, after the stay is lifted, this 

case will be litigated in this court, and Defendant may raise any defenses to SF Tech's claim other 

than venue or personal jurisdiction. 

9. SF Tech previously entered into a stipulation with another defendant similar to this 

one, and the court granted the relief sought. See Docket No. 77. 

10. The parties seek the following relief: 

a. All proceedings in this case will be stayed with respect to Defendant until the 

Federal Circuit issues a decision in Stauffer. 

b. SF Tech will notify this court when the Federal Circuit issues a decision in 

Stauffer. Defendant's deadline to file a response to the Complaint will be 30 days from the 

filing of this notice. 

c. The stipulating parties have agreed that personal jurisdiction and venue are 

appropriate in the Northern District of California in this case. However, no other rights, 

claims, defenses, or arguments of any party are affected by this stipulation. 

In accordance with General Order No. 45.X.B., Dan Fingerman, counsel for SF Tech, attests 

that each other signatory listed below has concurred in the filing of this document. 

Date: August 13, 2010 Mount & Stoelker, P.C. 

 /s/ Dan Fingerman 

Counsel for San Francisco Technology Inc. 

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Case 5:10-cv-02994-JF Document 108 Filed 08/17/10 Page 3 of 4
Case No. 5:10-cv-02994-HRL Page 3 

Stipulation to Stay Case With Respect to Sterling International Inc. and [Proposed] Order 

MOUNT 

& STOELKER, P.C. 

RIVERPARK 

TOWER, SUITE 1650 

333

WEST SAN 

CARLOS STREET

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 95110-2740 

TELEPHONE (408) 279-7000 

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Date: August 13, 2010 Abbey, Weitzenberg, Warren & Emery 

 /s/ Stephanie Walker 

Counsel for Sterling International Inc. 

Pursuant to stipulation, it is so ordered 

Date: ___________________________ _________________________________________ 

Magistrate Judge Howard R. Lloyd 

August 17, 2010

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Case 5:10-cv-02994-JF Document 108 Filed 08/17/10 Page 4 of 4