Opinion ID: 692072
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: American's Declaratory Judgment Action

Text: 3 This case began when Lockwood filed a complaint against American alleging that American's computerized reservation system infringed Lockwood's two patents relating to self-service terminals and automatic ticket dispensing systems. Lockwood sought both damages and injunctive relief, and his jury demand was timely made. American raised a number of defenses, including the alleged invalidity of the two patents at issue; in addition, American counterclaimed for a declaration that its activities were noninfringing and, alternatively, that Lockwood's patents are invalid or unenforceable. 4 After the close of discovery, American moved for summary judgment that its computerized reservation system did not infringe the claims at issue in either of Lockwood's patents. The district court granted American's motion for summary judgment of non-infringement, after which it dismissed the infringement complaint 1 and denied Lockwood's motion to certify its summary judgment decision for immediate appeal pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 54(b). The district court held that, rather than permitting an interlocutory appeal of its judgment as to infringement, it would proceed to consideration of American's prayer for a declaration of patent invalidity, 2 citing the Supreme Court's recent decision in Cardinal Chem. Co. v. Morton Int'l, Inc., --- U.S. ----, 113 S.Ct. 1967, 124 L.Ed.2d 1 (1993) (infringement and declaratory judgment actions joined). 5 Finally, on American's motion, the district court struck Lockwood's demand that the issue of validity be tried to a jury. The court concluded that the remaining claims are equitable in nature [and] the plaintiff [Lockwood] is not entitled to a trial by jury as a matter of right.