Free Motion to Continue - District Court of California - California

Case 3:07-cv-02277-BTM-RBB

Document 23

Filed 02/22/2008

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DLA P IPER US LLP
EAST PALO ALTO

ALAN A. LIMBACH (Bar No. 173059) [email protected] M. ELIZABETH DAY (Bar No. 177125) [email protected] GREGORY J. LUNDELL (Bar No. 234941) [email protected] DLA PIPER US LLP 2000 University Avenue East Palo Alto, CA 94303-2214 Tel: 650.833.2000 Fax: 650.833.2001 Attorneys for Defendant and Counterclaimant ESSEPLAST USA (NC) INC. UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA JENS ERIK SORENSEN, as Trustee of SORENSEN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TRUST, Plaintiff and Counter Defendant, v. ESSEPLAST USA (NC) INC., a Delaware corporation, and DOES 1-10, Defendants and Counterclaimant. Date: TBD Time: TBD Magistrate Judge: Ruben B. Brooks Room 1185 NO ORAL ARGUMENT UNLESS REQUESTED BY THE COURT Case No. 07-cv-2277 BTM (RBB) DEFENDANT ESSEPLAST'S EX PARTE APPLICATION TO CONTINUE EARLY NEUTRAL EVALUATION CONFERENCE PENDING COURT'S DETERMINATION ON ESSEPLAST'S MOTION TO STAY

Defendant Esseplast USA (NC) Inc. ("Esseplast") hereby makes this ex parte request to continue the Early Neutral Evaluation ("ENE") conference, currently scheduled for March 7, 2008, pending the Court's decision on Esseplast's motion to stay the litigation in light of the reexamination proceedings concerning United States Patent No. 4,935,184 ("the '184 patent"). The '184 patent is the only patent asserted in this case. Not only did this patent expire on February 5, 2008, but it also is currently under reexamination by the United States Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO"). (Declaration of M. Elizabeth Day ("Day Decl."), ¶ 3.) If some or all of the '184 patent's claims are cancelled or amended during reexamination, Plaintiff's /// -1PA\10538900.2

DEFENDANT ESSEPLAST'S EX PARTE APPLICATION TO CONTINUE EARLY NEUTRAL EVALUATION CONFERENCE, CASE NO. 07-CV-2277 BTM (RBB)

Case 3:07-cv-02277-BTM-RBB

Document 23

Filed 02/22/2008

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DLA P IPER US LLP
EAST PALO ALTO

allegations of infringement against Esseplast will be significantly changed, if not eliminated altogether. Esseplast filed a motion to stay this action on January 28, 2008. (Day Decl., ¶ 3.) Plaintiff filed its opposition on February 21, 2008, and Esseplast's reply in support of its motion is due on March 7, 2008. (Day Decl., ¶ 4.) In the interests of efficiency and resource conservation, Esseplast respectfully requests that the ENE be taken off calendar until an order regarding Esseplast's motion to stay is issued. In light of the pending reexamination, Esseplast submits that it would be difficult for the parties to discuss the relevant claims and defenses in this case given that the existence and potential scope of any patent claims remains to be determined by the USPTO. Prior to requesting this continuance, Esseplast contacted Plaintiff on February 19, 2008. Plaintiff has declined to stipulate to a continuance. (Day Decl., ¶ 5.) For the reasons set forth above, Esseplast respectfully submits that the ENE conference currently scheduled for March 7, 2008 is premature, and the Court should revisit whether to hold an ENE conference after a ruling on Esseplast's motion to stay. Dated: February 22, 2008 DLA PIPER US LLP By /s/ M. Elizabeth Day ALAN LIMBACH M. ELIZABETH DAY GREGORY LUNDELL Attorneys for Defendant ESSEPLAST USA (NC) INC.

-2PA\10538900.2

DEFENDANT ESSEPLAST'S EX PARTE APPLICATION TO CONTINUE EARLY NEUTRAL EVALUATION CONFERENCE, CASE NO. 07-CV-2277 BTM (RBB)