UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN 

SOUTHERN DIVISION 

FORD MOTOR COMPANY, 

Plaintiff/Counter-Defendant, 

v. 

VERSATA SOFTWARE, INC., f/k/a 

TRILOGY SOFTWARE, INC., 

TRILOGY DEVELOPMENT GROUP, 

INC. AND TRILOGY, INC., 

Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs.

Case No. 15-10628-MFL-EAS 

(consolidated with Case No. 15-cv-11624) 

Hon. Matthew F. Leitman 

JURY TRIAL DEMANDED 

ORDER APPOINTING SPECIAL MASTER 

FOR RESOLVING DISCOVERY DISPUTES 

This action concerns a complex intellectual property dispute regarding 

computer software, including claims of patent infringement, copyright infringement, 

and misappropriation of trade secrets. 

Given upcoming expert discovery deadlines, the parties anticipate needing a 

forum to present and resolve discovery issues in an expedited manner. Following 

consultation with all parties, the Court has concluded that it would benefit from the 

appointment of a Special Master to efficiently address these discovery disputes. The 

parties recognize the assistance that a Special Master can provide, and they have 

jointly requested that the Court appoint Mr. Larry Graham, 701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 

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4800, Seattle, Washington, 98104, as the Special Master for resolving discovery 

issues in this case. 

Through this Order, the Court confirms the parties’ selection of Mr. Graham 

and appoints him Special Master pursuant to Rule 53. The Court makes this 

appointment pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 53 (“Rule 53”), and the 

appointment is limited to the following protocol, which must proceed with all 

reasonable diligence: 

1. A party raising a discovery dispute will serve the other party and Mr. 

Graham with a single-spaced letter of no more than 3 pages (excluding 

attachments) explaining the discovery dispute and the relief sought 

(“Opening Letter”). The Opening Letter will not be filed with the Court. 

2. Within 4 business days of receiving the Opening Letter, or a different time 

upon agreement of the parties, the other party will serve the party raising 

the dispute and Mr. Graham with a single-spaced letter of no more than 3 

pages (excluding attachments) responding to the Opening Letter 

(“Response Letter”). The Response Letter will not be filed with the Court. 

3. Promptly after receiving the Response Letter, Mr. Graham shall schedule 

a teleconference for the parties and Mr. Graham to discuss the discovery 

dispute. 

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4. Promptly after the teleconference, Mr. Graham will issue a preliminary 

ruling on the discovery dispute (“Preliminary Ruling”). This Preliminary 

Ruling will not be filed with the Court and may be communicated to the 

parties by e-mail. 

5. Within two business days of receiving the Preliminary Ruling, either party 

may inform Mr. Graham that it intends to object to the Preliminary Ruling, 

together with a summary of the party’s objection (“Preliminary 

Objection”). 

6. Upon receiving a Preliminary Objection, Mr. Graham will prepare and file 

with the Court a Rule 53 Report and Recommendation concerning the 

discovery dispute. The Report and Recommendation will attach as 

exhibits the Opening Letter and the Response Letter. Alternatively, or in 

addition, Mr. Graham may hold another teleconference in an attempt to 

resolve the discovery dispute. 

7. If a Report and Recommendation is filed by the Special Master, the 

attached opening letter shall be deemed a motion under the Federal Rules 

of Civil Procedure and the attached response shall be deemed a response 

under those Rules. The Report and Recommendation shall be styled as a 

recommendation to grant or deny, in whole or in part, the Motion. 

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8. For purposes of clarity, the Special Master shall hear all pending discovery 

motions, including Doc. Nos. 210 and 213. 

The meet-and-confer requirement of Local Rule 7.1 applies to all discovery 

disputes presented to Mr. Graham, and certification of compliance with Rule 7.1 

must be made in the Opening Letter. 

Mr. Graham shall proceed with all reasonable diligence and shall have the 

rights, powers, and duties provided in Rule 53, as limited by this Order. 

Mr. Graham shall not communicate ex parte with the individual parties. Any 

documents exchanged between Mr. Graham and the Court shall also be timely 

served on the parties. Mr. Graham may communicate with the Court ex parte on 

procedural matters. 

The Court’s review of the report and recommendation Mr. Graham prepares 

shall be governed by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 53(f) as follows: the parties 

may file objections to Mr. Graham’s report and recommendation no later than seven 

(7) days after a copy is served. The objections may not exceed 10 pages. The parties 

may file a response to the other party’s objections no later than seven (7) days, which 

shall not exceed 7 pages. 

Mr. Graham may use a law clerk or paralegal at his discretion, and Mr. 

Graham shall keep detailed records of his time and expenses. Mr. Graham shall 

render detailed monthly bills for all fees and expenses at the rate of $485.00 per hour, 

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which is his normal hourly rate for his services, and such bills shall be paid promptly 

as follows: fifty percent (50%) by Plaintiff and fifty percent (50%) by Defendants. 

These monthly bills shall be submitted directly to counsel for the parties who shall 

take responsibility for prompt payment by their respective clients. 

The Court may modify this Order, if necessary, after providing notice to the 

parties and an opportunity to be heard. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

 s/Matthew F. Leitman 

 MATTHEW F. LEITMAN 

 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

Dated: January 25, 2017 

 I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was served upon the 

parties and/or counsel of record on January 25, 2017, by electronic means and/or 

ordinary mail. 

 s/Holly A. Monda 

 Case Manager 

 (313) 234-5113 

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