Opinion ID: 715056
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Exclusion of Trade Secret Witnesses

Text: 83 Stanley also contends that the trial court committed reversible error when it refused to permit Stanley to call three witnesses not listed on its initial witness list who would have directly impeached Baer's testimony regarding Roton's maintenance of the confidentiality of its manufacturing processes. Stanley contends that these witnesses were proper either as direct or rebuttal witnesses. 84 We review evidentiary rulings under an abuse of discretion standard. Munoz v. Strahm Farms, Inc., 69 F.3d 501, 503, 36 USPQ2d 1499, 1501 (Fed.Cir.1995) (citing Kearns v. Chrysler Corp., 32 F.3d 1541, 1547, 31 USPQ2d 1746, 1750 (Fed.Cir.1994), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 115 S.Ct. 1392, 131 L.Ed.2d 244 (1995)). In order for Stanley to obtain a new trial, it must show that the trial court abused its discretion in refusing to hear the testimony, and that this ruling challenged its substantial rights and were thus not harmless error. Id. See DeBiasio v. Illinois Cent. R.R., 52 F.3d 678, 685 (7th Cir.1995), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 116 S.Ct. 1040, 134 L.Ed.2d 188 (1996). 85 As to the impeachment of Baer, from the affidavits of record, it is certainly not clear that these witnesses in fact would have impeached Baer. In fact, the testimony of Upjohn would have corroborated Baer because his affidavit indicates that he was not given access to the room in which [Roton] made the extrusion dies employed to make the extrusions for the Roton hinges. Accordingly, we conclude that the trial court did not err in refusing to admit the testimony of the three third parties. 86 Even assuming that the district court erred in not allowing Stanley's witnesses to testify, such error would have been harmless. The proffered testimony established only that certain third parties toured certain parts of the Roton plant. There is no indication that any specific or trade secret material was revealed on these tours. In fact, the extent of these tours is not provided and in one instance it is stated that the third party was prevented from having access to certain areas of the plant. This certainly indicates that Roton sought to protect any trade secret information. Accordingly, because the exclusion of the third party testimony did not prejudice Stanley's substantial rights or constitute harmful error requiring a new trial, we find no abuse of discretion in the trial court's decision to exclude these witnesses. 87 J. Conclusion as to Trade Secret Misappropriation 88 We affirm the trial court's holding of trade secret misappropriation and the award of actual damages. However, because the trial court erred in finding willful and malicious misappropriation, we vacate the awards of exemplary damages and attorney fees. Additionally, we remand on the issue of injunctive relief for the trial court to tailor such relief to the specific facts of this case. Finally, we do not disturb the trial court's exclusion of Stanley's trade secret witnesses.