Opinion ID: 518087
Heading Depth: 1
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Text: 2 The standard for granting summary judgment in a trademark infringement case is as follows: 3 Summary judgment is proper only if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. Astra [Pharmaceutical Products, Inc. v. Beckman Instruments, Inc.], 718 F.2d [1201] at 1204 (1st Cir.1983); Pignons [S.A. de Mecanique de Precision v. Polaroid Corp.], 657 F.2d at 486 (1st Cir.1981); Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). A factual dispute is material if it affects the outcome of the litigation, and genuine if manifested by substantial evidence going beyond the allegations of the complaint. Astra, 718 F.2d at 1204 and Pignons, 657 F.2d at 486; quoting Hahn v. Sargent, 523 F.2d 461, 464 (1st Cir.1975), cert. denied, 425 U.S. 904, 96 S.Ct. 1495, 47 L.Ed.2d 754 (1976). 4 Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft v. Wheeler, 814 F.2d 812, 815 (1st Cir.1987); see also Astra Pharmaceutical Products, Inc. v. Beckman Instruments, Inc., 718 F.2d 1201, 1204 (1st Cir.1983); Pignons S.A. de Mecanique de Precision v. Polaroid Corp., 657 F.2d 482, 486 (1st Cir.1981). While infringement and unfair competition cases often present factual issues that render summary judgment inappropriate, this is not invariably so. Kazmaier v. Wooten, 761 F.2d 46, 48-49 (1st Cir.1985) (citations omitted). In passing on a summary judgment motion, the court must view the record and draw inferences in the light most favorable to the opposing party. Id. (citations omitted). Because we believe summary judgment should have been entered for plaintiffs, we review the facts in the light most favorable to defendants. 5 Before we turn to the facts, however, we must deal with a preliminary matter. As discussed infra at 26, prior to the parties submitting cross-motions for summary judgment, the district court conducted an aborted trial at which the plaintiffs presented the majority of their case. The use of the trial record was urged by the parties in their cross-motions: the plaintiffs referred to the exhibits, while the defendants referred to both the testimony and the exhibits. Although the district judge did not explicitly address the point in his memorandum of decision, he did state that he had [r]eview[ed] the entire file in reaching his decision on the cross-motions for summary judgment. We assume that this review included the testimony and exhibits received in the aborted trial. Reference to prior trial testimony and exhibits is proper in summary judgment cases. Advance Financial Corp. v. Isla Rica Sales, Inc., 747 F.2d 21, 27 (1st Cir.1984). We have treated the trial record as part of the record before us.