Inequitable conduct claims survive but false marking claims are ruled untimely

Venetec International, Inc., v. Nexus Medical, LLC, C.A. No. 07-57-MPT, March 28, 2008.

Thynge, M.J.  Court denies plaintiff’s motion for partial judgment on the pleadings and grants defendant’s motion in part to amend its answer and counterclaim to expand on its unenforceability defense.


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Motion to amend and to supplement an inequitable conduct counterclaim is granted over futility argument

Patentee wins forum shopping contest

Abbott Laboratories, et al. v. Johnson & Johnson, Inc. and Cordis Corporation, C.A. Nos. 06-613-SLR and 07-259-SLR, November 28, 2007.

Robinson, J.  Plaintiffs' motion to supplement their complaints are denied.  Plaintiffs' motion to enjoin Defendants from prosecuting a New Jersey action is denied.  Defendants' motion to dismiss one action based on a covenant not to sue is granted and the court dismisses the second Delaware action sua sponte in favor of a first-filed New Jersey action.

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Stay pending reexamination is granted

Abbott Diabetes Care, Inc., v. Dexcom, Inc., C.A. No. 06-514-GMS, September 30, 2007.

Sleet, C.J.  Defendant’s motion to strike the complaint is denied.  Dexcom’s motion to consolidate this proceeding and to stay this proceeding pending reexamination of the seven patents-in-suit is granted.


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Declaratory judgment action dismissed as unripe

Angiodynamics v. Diomed Holdings, Inc., No. 06-02 –GMS Sept. 7, 2006.

Sleet, J.  Declaratory judgment action was dismissed due to no justiciable controversy.  A motion to amend the complaint was also denied as futile.


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Untimely amendment allowed to assert prosecution laches defense, but not inequitable conduct

Inline Connection Corp. v. AOL Time Warner Inc., et al., Nos. 02-272-MPT and 02-477-MPT (consolidated), Aug. 23, 2006.

Thynge, M.J.  The court granted defendants’ motion to amend their pleadings to assert prosecution laches defenses and counterclaims, and denied the motion with respect to three additional inequitable conduct allegations.

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DJ count dismissed as unripe where accused product lacked FDA approval; stay granted pending reexamination

Abbott Diabetes Care, Inc. v. Dexcom, Inc., No. 05-590 GMS, Aug. 16, 2006.

Sleet, J.  Motion to dismiss complaint is granted as to declaratory judgment count, and denied as to infringement count; motion to strike amended complaint is granted; and motion to stay pending reexamination is granted.

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Trade secret count survives motion to dismiss

New Lanham Act claims added on eve of expert discovery claims permitted

Affinion Net Patents, Inc. v. Maritz, Inc., No. 04-360-JJF, June 8, 2006.

Farnan, J.  Plaintiff’s motion to amend complaint to assert Lanham claims and to dismiss counterclaims based on testimony that accused product was never implemented was granted.

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Court declined to dismiss, bifurcate or stay antitrust counts and permitted 4 patent claims to be added

Synopsys, Inc. v. Magma Design Automation, No. 05-701-GMS, May 25, 2006.

Sleet, J.  The Court denied plaintiff’s motion to dismiss 6 counts of defendant’s amended answer relating to the Sherman Act, Lanham Act and state law claims.  It further denied plaintiff’s motion to bifurcate or stay the antitrust claims from the patent claims.  Defendant’s motion to amend to add four counterclaims of patent infringement was granted.

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Temporary lack of jurisdiction cured when affiliate was substituted for plaintiff

Affinion Loyalty Group, Inc. v. Maritz, Inc., C.A. 04-360-JJF, May 22, 2006.

Farnan, J.  Defendant moved to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction due to a corporate acquisition which assigned rights to patents-in-suit to Affinion Patents, leaving Affinion Loyalty without standing.  The court substituted Affinion Patents for Affinion Loyalty.

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