Opinion ID: 4219733
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Post-Remand Submissions by the Parties

Text: The parties submitted statements on how we should proceed post-remand. See Case No. 13-1011 ECF No. 108 (Life’s Statement), ECF No. 112 (Promega’s Statement). Life argues that we should affirm the district court’s posttrial decisions, contending that “[t]he trial judge with her ‘first-hand knowledge of witnesses, testimony, and issues’ simply held Promega to its own considered strategic litigation decisions, and appropriately denied Promega’s retrial request.” Life’s Statement at 3 (quoting Unitherm Food Sys., Inc. v. Swift-Eckrich, Inc., 546 U.S. 394, 401 n.3 (2006) (internal quotes and citations omitted)). Promega counters that we should reaffirm our prior holdings, reinstating the judgment of infringement under § 271(a) and ordering a new trial on damages, because “[t]he Seventh Amendment, the Patent Act, and precedent all require a new trial on damages under § 271(a)—not a windfall judgment of noninfringement,” given Life’s admissions that it committed infringing acts in the United States. Promega’s Statement at 2, 9. STANDARDS OF REVIEW We review a district court’s rulings on post-trial motions for JMOL and a new trial under regional circuit law. Finjan, Inc. v. Secure Computing Corp., 626 F.3d 1197, 1202 (Fed. Cir. 2010). In the Seventh Circuit, a JMOL grant is reviewed “without deference, while viewing all 14 PROMEGA CORP. v. LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORP. the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party.” Trading Techs. Int’l, Inc. v. eSpeed, Inc., 595 F.3d 1340, 1357 (Fed. Cir. 2010) (citing Harper v. Albert, 400 F.3d 1052, 1061 (7th Cir. 2005)). JMOL is proper when a party has been fully heard on an issue and there is no legally sufficient evidentiary basis for a reasonable jury to find for that party on that issue. Fed. R. Civ. P. 50(a). “The ruling on a motion for a new trial is a matter committed to the district court’s discretion,” which the Seventh Circuit reviews “for abuse of discretion.” Galvan v. Norberg, 678 F.3d 581, 588 (7th Cir. 2012). In the Seventh Circuit, appellate review of a decision denying a new trial is “extremely deferential.” Id.