Opinion ID: 209348
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: KCI's Motion for a New Trial

Text: In the alternative to its motion for JMOL, KCI requests a new trial on infringement. In the Fifth Circuit, the district court's denial of a motion for a new trial is reviewed for abuse of discretion. Industrias Magromer Cueros y Pieles S.A. v. La. Bayou Furs Inc., 293 F.3d 912, 924 (5th Cir.2002). KCI alleges that Defendants' practicing the prior art defense, comparisons of the Versatile to the VAC, and blatant class-warfare arguments, including references to KCI's wealth and the need for an inexpensive alternative to the VAC, prejudiced the jury and resulted in an incorrect verdict. Blue Sky responds that any comparisons between the Versatile and the Chariker-Jeter prior art references were relevant to rebut KCI's allegations of copying and willful infringement, to prove lack of intent to induce infringement, and to impeach KCI's expert's unsubstantiated distinctions between the gauze in the prior art and the gauze used with the Versatile. Similarly, Blue Sky asserts that the comparisons between the VAC and the Versatile were relevant in response to KCI's allegations that Blue Sky blatantly copied the VAC. Finally, Blue Sky argues that its references to KCI's wealth were relevant to prove the bias of KCI's witnesses and respond to KCI's arguments that Blue Sky was more interested in profits than patients. We agree with Defendants and the district court that the arguments to which KCI objects had proper uses or were made in response to issues raised by KCI. The district court expressly found that Defendants' arguments did not amount to class warfare. Additionally, the jury was specifically instructed that it should not treat anyone unfairly based on wealth. Accordingly, we find no abuse of discretion in the court's denial of KCI's motion for a new trial.