Today (July 22, 2013), the Federal Circuit Advisory Council issued a Model Order that it hopes will assist trial courts in crafting orders that reduce litigation costs and streamline patent cases. The Model Order may be found here. Recognizing that litigants often wait until the eve of trial to reduce the number of asserted patent claims and prior art references, the Model Order offers deadlines intended to enforce a more efficient case structure.
While mindful that discovery and the litigation must progress before parties may effectively evaluate their positions, the Model Order sets deadlines for an exchange of identification of asserted claims and prior art references. One exchange is to occur after the production of "core" technical documents, and the other after the court issues a claim construction order. The first exchange requires the plaintiff to identify preliminarily no more than 10 claims per asserted patent, but no more than 32 asserted claims. In response, the defendant must identify preliminarily no more than 12 prior art references for each asserted patent, with a limit of 40 overall references. The second exchange requires the plaintiff finally to elect no more than 5 claims per asserted patent, but no more than 16 asserted claims. In response, the defendant must finally elect no more than 6 prior art references for each asserted patent, with a limit of 20 overall references.
Recognizing that its parameters may not fit all circumstances, the Model Order provides a mechanism for a party to seek modification. This might include a request to modify the default limits based on the complexity of the relevant technology or commonality among the asserted patents. However, the Model Order requires a showing of "due diligence" by the party seeking modification and recognition of "due consideration for prejudice," in an effort to serve the goal of effective case management.
If you have any questions about the Model Order and how it may impact your business, please feel free to contact one of our litigation attorneys.
About the Author
Kori Anne Bagrowski assisted the Advisory Council's Model
Order Committee. Ms. Bagrowski is counsel at the Chicago office of
Brinks and served as a judicial clerk to Chief Judge Randall R.
Rader at the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. She also
served as a judicial clerk to Judge Leonard E. Davis, the current
Chief Judge at the United States District Court, Eastern District
of Texas. Ms. Bagrowski's practice focuses on patent litigation
before the federal appellate and district courts and before the
United States International Trade Commission.
This article is intended to provide information of general interest to the public and is not intended to offer legal advice about specific situations or problems. Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione does not intend to create an attorney-client relationship by offering this information and review of the information shall not be deemed to create such a relationship. You should consult a lawyer if you have a legal matter requiring attention. For further information, please contact a Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione lawyer.
