September 19, 2008 – Electronic Discovery Law

Briefing Schedule Set for Outstanding Discovery Motions in Qualcomm v. Broadcom Litigation

Sep 19 2008

Qualcomm Inc. v. Broadcom Corp., No. 05-CV-1958-B (BLM), United States District Court for the Southern District of California

On September 16, 2008, Magistrate Judge Barbara L. Major set a briefing schedule for the five pending discovery motions filed by the parties, requiring any oppositions to be filed on or before October 3, and any replies to be filed on or before October 10, 2008. The discovery motions include Broadcom Corporation’s Motion to Compel Production of Documents by Qualcomm; three separate motions brought by the sanctioned attorneys to compel production of documents by Qualcomm, and Qualcomm’s Motion for a Protective Order. Magistrate Judge Major will conduct a hearing on the motions on October 29, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.

Adverse Inference and Other Sanctions Warranted for Plaintiff’s Failure to Produce Damaging Emails that were Eventually Produced by Third Party

Sep 19 2008

Metrokane, Inc. v. Built NY, Inc., 2008 WL 4185865 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 3, 2008)

In this patent infringement litigation, BNY sought sanctions on the grounds that Metrokane failed to produce a series of emails said to be highly damaging to Metrokane’s case. BNY argued that the recent discovery of the existence of these emails through production by a non-party came too late to permit BNY to pursue otherwise crucial discovery concerning these communications. Metrokane contended that BNY failed to comply with various procedural requirements before filing the motion, and that it had not demonstrated any misconduct by Metrokane or any prejudice. Magistrate Judge Michael H. Dolinger rejected Metrokane’s procedural defense, and concluded that BNY sufficiently demonstrated discovery misconduct by Metrokane and resulting prejudice. Accordingly, the court granted a variety of remedies, including an adverse inference instruction.

Discovery in the case closed in June 2007, but disputes about Metrokane’s performance let to additional motion practice, including the enforcement of a deposition subpoena to the alleged designer of the infringing handbags (Mr. Kilduff). The court granted BNY’s motion to compel the deposition of Mr. Kilduff in October 2007, and his deposition and production of documents occurred in November 2007.

Archive - September 19, 2008