Opinion ID: 728969
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: trial procedures

Text: 14 At trial Lisle argued that the '940 patent was invalid based on lack of novelty, obviousness, and a public use/on-sale bar. The jury held by special verdict that the patent was valid. Lisle does not appeal the judgment of validity. However, Lisle argues that the district court unfairly restricted Lisle's presentation of its invalidity case. This argument appears to relate to Lisle's motion for a conditional new trial of the issue of validity. 15 Lisle states that in addition to the ten witnesses permitted by the court, Lisle asked to present eleven additional witnesses but was limited to proffering their testimony and placing it into evidence at the end of the trial. Lisle states that eight of these additional witnesses would have testified about their tool designs submitted to Lisle, in addition to the two witnesses who actually appeared on this issue. Lisle does not state that any of these omitted witnesses would have presented prior art that was not otherwise in evidence. Lisle states that the testimony of two other restricted witnesses related to damages and one related to infringement, and that Lisle did not have time to fully examine its technical expert. 16 The import of Lisle's strong criticisms of the trial judge's case management is not readily apparent. We take note that the trial judge conducted a four day pre-trial evidentiary hearing on all the issues and evidence and that there were extensive pre-trial submissions, in addition to the week-long trial. It appears that the testimony of the omitted witnesses was either cumulative to testimony that was presented, or irrelevant to the appealed issues. See Fed.R.Evid. 403. 17 Lisle has not shown that the trial judge abused his discretion in managing the trial, or failed his responsibility to assure a fair trial. See Abbott Labs. v. Brennan, 952 F.2d 1346, 1351, 21 USPQ2d 1192, 1196 (Fed.Cir.1991) (It is improper on appeal to disturb a district court's trial management, absent a clear abuse of judicial discretion.), cert. denied, 505 U.S. 1205, 112 S.Ct. 2993, 120 L.Ed.2d 870 (1992). Lisle has not shown that it was prejudiced by the limitation of the number of its witnesses, or that the court did not allot sufficient time for Lisle to present its position. 18 Relying in part on its objections to the management of the trial, Lisle appeals from the district court's denial of its motion for the provisional grant of a new trial of patent validity should the Federal Circuit reverse the judgment of unenforceability, thus requiring retrial of the issue of infringement. Lisle argues that in order to assure that the patent claims are interpreted the same way for validity and for infringement, validity must be retried if infringement is retried. 19 Lisle points out that it objected to the jury instruction that the verdict questions concerning infringement and damages should not be answered if the jury found the patent to be either invalid or unenforceable. We share this concern, for all of these issues were tried and could have been decided, possibly avoiding a retrial. See Stratoflex v. Aeroquip Corp., 713 F.2d 1530, 1540, 218 USPQ 871, 880 (Fed.Cir.1983) (when issues of both patent validity and infringement are raised, both should be decided at trial). However, the soundness of Lisle's objection does not entitle Lisle to retry the issue of validity. 20 The issue of validity was tried, the verdict was sustained on post-trial motions, and is not appealed. Thus the issue was finally decided as between these parties. There is no automatic entitlement to a new trial of validity because infringement must be retried. Cf. W.L. Gore & Assocs., Inc. v. Garlock, Inc., 842 F.2d 1275, 1277, 6 USPQ2d 1277, 1281 (Fed.Cir.1988) (prior appellate decision of validity applies on retrial of infringement). Although there may be circumstances in which, on the particular facts and in the interest of justice, retrial of an unappealed issue would be warranted when other issues are retried, the policy of finality is of great weight when an issue was fully and fairly tried and decided and not appealed. The losing party does not acquire a stronger claim to a new trial of an issue by omitting to appeal its merits. 21 The district court did not abuse its discretion in declining to grant a provisional new trial of the issue of validity. That decision is affirmed.