Source: https://delawareintellectualproperty.foxrothschild.com/articles/district-of-delaware-1/
Timestamp: 2017-12-12 02:24:54
Document Index: 408949836

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1441', '§ 1441', '§ 1400', '§ 1400', '§ 1391', '§ 1400']

District of Delaware | Delaware Intellectual Property Litigation
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By Memorandum Order entered by The Honorable Leonard P. Stark in Margaret Kay Young, et al. v. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and Pfizer Inc. and 32 similar actions, Civil Action Nos. 17-609-LPS through 17-641-LPS, (D.Del. June 27, 2017), the Court denied Plaintiffs’ motion to remand 33 removed Eliquis® actions to state court. Plaintiffs contended that Defendants’ removal of the actions to federal court was improper under 28 U.S.C. § 1441(b) because Defendants are citizens of Delaware. Id. at*2. Specifically, Plaintiffs contended that the “forum defendant rule” barred Defendants from removing the actions to federal court. Id. Defendants countered contending that, because they removed the cases to federal court before they were served with process, there was no forum defendant who was “properly joined and served” so § 1441(b) did not bar removal. Id.
The Court agreed with Defendants and denied Plaintiffs’ motion to remand. Id. at*3. In doing so, the Court noted that it saw no reason to depart from its prior decisions in Munchel, 2012 WL 4050072, and Hutchins, 2009 WL 192468. Id.
Today, through a unanimous decision of the Court delivered by Justice Thomas (with the exception of Justice Gorsuch who took no part in the consideration or decision of the case), the U.S. Supreme Court in TC Heartland LLC v. Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC, 581 U.S. _____ (2017) reversed the Federal Circuit in ruling that 28 U.S.C. § 1400(b) remains the only applicable patent venue statute, the term “residence” in 28 U.S.C. § 1400(b) refers only to the State of incorporation of a domestic corporation, and that 28 U.S.C. § 1391 did not supplement or modify § 1400(b) or the Supreme Court’s prior decision in Fourco Glass Co. v. Transmirra Products Corp., 353 U.S. 222 226 (1957). Thus, given today’s ruling, patent infringement lawsuits will only be able to be filed in judicial districts in states where the infringing defendant is incorporated or in judicial districts where defendant has committed acts of infringement and has a regular and established place of business.
A copy of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Opinion is attached.
The general take away is that, if a patent infringement action is filed against a defendant in a state where defendant is not incorporated or in a state where defendant does not have a regular and established place of business and/or has not committed acts of infringement, the allegedly infringing defendant should move to dismiss or transfer the action for lack of venue.
By Gregory B. Williams on April 14, 2017
On April 13, 2017, the United States Court for the District of Delaware announced that The Honorable Gregory M. Sleet will take senior status as of May 1, 2017. Judge Sleet has served as a District Judge for the District of Delaware since 1998. He served as Chief Judge for the District of Delaware from 2007 to 2014.
The Court’s announcement notes that Judge Sleet has handled one of the busiest, most complex dockets in the nation during his nearly 19 years on the bench and has served with great distinction. The Court’s announcement also notes that Judge Sleet intends to render substantial judicial service as a Senior Judge.
Given the announcement earlier this year that Senior Judge Sue Robinson will retire in August, the District of Delaware will have two District Judge vacancies as of May 1, 2017. The Court hopes to fill the vacancies in a timely manner.
By Memorandum Order entered by The Honorable Leonard P. Stark in Beijing Sinotau Medical Research Co., Ltd. v. Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., et al., Civil Action No. 17-110-LPS-MPT (D.Del. March 1, 2017), the Court granted defendants’ joint motion to stay the action filed by plaintiff in the District of Delaware pursuant to the “first-filed” rule. In granting the motion, the Court explained that (1) defendant Navidea had filed an action against plaintiff Beijing Sinotau in the Southern District of Ohio the day before plaintiff Beijing Sinotau filed the instant action in the District of Delaware; and (2) both actions relate to the same Asset Purchase Agreement between Navidea and Cardinal and the same Exclusive Licensing and Distribution Agreement relating to Beijing Sinotau and Navidea. Id. at *2.
By Gregory B. Williams on December 23, 2016
By Memorandum Order entered by The Honorable Leonard P. Stark in Greatbatch Ltd. v. AVX Corp., et al., Civil Action No. 13-723-LPS (D.Del., December 10, 2015), the Court denied the motion to stay of Defendants AVX Corporation and AVX Filters Corporation pending (1) appeal of a final written decision by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“PTAB”) in an inter partes review (“IPR”) proceeding related to U.S. Patent No. 5,905,627 (“the ‘627 patent”) and (2) resolution of proceedings related to an application for reissue of the ‘627 patent. After evaluating and weighing the three factors the Court typically considers when deciding a motion to stay, the Court found that those factors did not favor granting the motion to stay.
Chief Judge Stark Issues Markman Opinion in Infringement Action Construing Ten Disputed Terms in Patents-in-Suit
By Gregory B. Williams on December 5, 2015
By Memorandum Opinion entered by The Honorable Leonard P. Stark in Masimo Corp. v. Philips Electronics North America Corp., et al., Civil Action No. 09-80-LPS (D.Del., December 1, 2015) (consolidated), the Court rendered its Markman Opinion construing ten (10) disputed terms in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,157,850 (“the ‘850 patent”), 7,509,154 (“the ‘154 patent”), 8,019,400 (“the ‘400 patent”), and 5,337,745 (“the ‘745 patent”). The patents disclose methods and devices for measuring the concentration of oxygen in blood. The Memorandum Opinion adopts in part the recommendations contained in Chief Magistrate Judge Thynge’s Report and Recommendation.