Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 1 of 6
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE ACUITY BRANDS, INC. and ACUITY BRANDS LIGHTING, INC., Plaintiffs, v. COOPER INDUSTRIES, INC. and COOPER LIGHTING, INC., Defendants. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
C.A. No. 07-444-***
PLAINTIFFS' MOTION FOR LEAVE TO AMEND THEIR COMPLAINT Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a), plaintiffs Acuity Brands, Inc. and Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc. (collectively, "Acuity") move for leave to amend their Complaint. By its
Amended Complaint, Acuity seeks to: (a) drop Cooper Industries, Inc. as a defendant; (b) add ABL IP Holding LLC as a plaintiff; (c) add one additional design patent; and (d) drop four other design patents. Acuity's counsel has provided a copy of the proposed Amended Complaint to defendants' counsel, but has not received a response as to whether defendants oppose the motion. Pursuant to D. Del. L.R. 15.1, attached as Exhibit 1 is a copy of Acuity's proposed Amended Complaint, and attached as Exhibit 2 is a copy showing how the proposed Amended Complaint differs from the original Complaint. The bases for this motion are as follows: 1. Acuity filed this action on July 17, 2007, alleging that the accordTM series
of fluorescent light fixtures manufactured and sold by defendants Cooper Industries, Inc. and Cooper Lighting, Inc. (collectively, "Cooper") infringe 12 patents owned by Acuity -- U.S. Patent Nos. 7,229,192; D541,468; D544,633; D544,634; D544,992, D544,993; D545,481; D545,482; D545,483; D545,991; D545,992; and D545,993 (D.I. 1).
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 2 of 6 2.
2.
Cooper filed its Answer on September 13, 2007 (D.I. 10), and moved to
transfer the case to the Northern District of Georgia (D.I. 11). In its Opening Brief in support of its Motion to Transfer, Cooper argued that Cooper Industries, Inc. was a mis-joined defendant, and that Cooper Lighting was the party responsible for the infringing activities (D.I. 12 at 4): Cooper Industries, Inc.[] solely exists as a placeholder for the name "Cooper Industries, Inc." in Delaware. . . . It has no assets and no operations, and has not had any since its formation in 1965. . . . It does not "make, use, sell, and/or offer for sale" anything, let alone does it do so with the product accused of infringement. . . . Cooper Lighting is the entity that conducts all of the activities at issue in this proceeding . . . . 3. The parties served initial sets of document requests and interrogatories on
October 18 and 19, 2007 (D.I. 22 and 24). 4. (D.I. 25). 5. Based on Cooper's representation that Cooper Lighting is the party The Court held a Rule 16 Scheduling Conference on October 24, 2007
responsible for the infringing activity, Acuity is willing to drop Cooper Industries, Inc. as a defendant. Acuity reserves the right, however, to seek to join Cooper Industries, Inc. (or any other Cooper entity) at a later date after Acuity has had an opportunity to take discovery concerning Cooper's infringing activities. 6. In connection with a corporate reorganization, Acuity Brands, Inc. has
transferred ownership of the patents in suit to ABL IP Holding LLC, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Acuity Brands, Inc. As a result, Acuity seeks to add ABL IP Holding LLC as a plaintiff here. 7. Acuity seeks to add one additional design patent -- U.S. Patent
No. D541,467 -- for which the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a Certificate of Correction on August 28, 2007.
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 3 of 6 3.
8.
Following further analysis of the light fixtures sold by Cooper, Acuity has
decided to drop its claims (without prejudice) with respect to four of its design patents -- U.S. Patent Nos. D544,634; D545,482; D545,992; and D545,993. 9. Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a) provides that leave to amend "shall be freely given
when justice so requires." In Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178, 181-82 (1962), the Supreme Court stated that "this mandate is to be heeded": If the underlying facts or circumstances relied upon by a [party] may be a proper subject of relief, he ought to be afforded an opportunity to test his claim on the merits. Although the decision to grant or deny leave to amend is committed to the sound discretion of the district court, the Supreme Court has stated that leave to amend should be granted absent "undue delay, bad faith, or dilatory motive on the part of the movant, repeated failure to cure deficiencies by amendments previously allowed, undue prejudice to the opposing party by virtue of allowance of the amendment, [or] futility of amendment." Id. at 182; see also Mattern & Associates, L.L.C. v. Seidel, C.A. No. 06-036-***, 2007 WL 1875647, *1 (D. Del. June 28, 2007) ("[A] strong presumption exists to allow amendments, and courts are encouraged to grant such requests."). 10. None of the grounds for denying leave to amend is present here. Acuity is
not exercising bad faith or a dilatory motive, nor has this motion been unduly delayed. Moreover, the proposed amendment will not result in undue prejudice to defendants, since discovery in this case is just getting started.
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 4 of 6 4.
11. Complaint be granted.
Acuity respectfully requests that its motion for leave to amend its
MORRIS, NICHOLS, ARSHT & TUNNELL LLP /s/ Rodger D. Smith II Jack B. Blumenfeld (#1014) Rodger D. Smith II (#3778) 1201 N. Market Street P.O. Box 1347 Wilmington, DE 19899 (302) 658-9200 [email protected] Attorneys for Plaintiffs October 26, 2007
1295832
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 5 of 6
RULE 7.1.1 CERTIFICATE I hereby certify that counsel for plaintiffs has discussed the subject of the foregoing motion with counsel for defendants, and the parties have not been able to reach agreement on the issues raised in the motion.
/s/ Rodger D. Smith II ____________________________________ Rodger D. Smith II
October 26, 2007
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 6 of 6
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I, Rodger D. Smith II, hereby certify that on October 26, 2007, I caused the foregoing document to be electronically filed with the Clerk of the Court using CM/ECF, which will send notification of such filing(s) to the following: Philip A. Rovner, Esquire POTTER ANDERSON & CORROON LLP I also certify that copies were caused to be served on October 26, 2007, upon the following in the manner indicated: BY EMAIL AND HAND DELIVERY Philip A. Rovner, Esquire POTTER ANDERSON & CORROON LLP 1313 N. Market Street P.O. Box 951 Wilmington, DE 19899 [email protected] BY EMAIL David S. Foster, Esquire Latham & Watkins LLP Sears Tower, Suite 5800 233 South Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 [email protected]
/s/ Rodger D. Smith II (#3778) Rodger D. Smith II (#3778) MORRIS, NICHOLS, ARSHT & TUNNELL LLP 1201 N. Market Street P.O. Box 1347 Wilmington, DE 19899 (302) 658-9200 [email protected] Attorneys for Plaintiffs
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 1 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 2 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 3 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 4 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 5 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 6 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 7 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 8 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 9 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 10 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 11 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 12 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 13 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 14 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 15 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 16 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 17 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 18 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 19 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 20 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 21 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 22 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 23 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 24 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 25 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 26 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 27 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 28 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 29 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 30 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 31 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 32 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 33 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 34 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 35 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 36 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 37 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 38 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 39 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 40 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 41 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 42 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 43 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 44 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 45 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 46 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 47 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 48 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 49 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 50 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 51 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 52 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 53 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 54 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 55 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 56 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 57 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 58 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 59 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 60 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 61 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 62 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 63 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 64 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 65 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 66 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 67 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 68 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 69 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 70 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 71 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 72 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 73 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-2
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 74 of 74
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 1 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 2 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 3 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 4 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 5 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 6 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 7 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 8 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 9 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 10 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 11 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 12 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 13 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 14 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 15 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 16 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 17 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 18 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 19 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 20 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 21 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 22 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 23 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 24 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 25 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 26 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 27 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 28 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 29 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 30 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 31 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 32 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 33 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 34 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 35 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 36 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 37 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 38 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 39 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 40 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 41 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-3
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 42 of 42
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-4
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 1 of 19
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-4
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 2 of 19
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-4
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 3 of 19
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-4
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 4 of 19
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-4
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 5 of 19
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-4
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 6 of 19
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-4
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 7 of 19
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-4
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 8 of 19
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-4
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 9 of 19
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-4
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 10 of 19
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-4
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 11 of 19
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-4
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 12 of 19
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-4
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 13 of 19
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-4
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 14 of 19
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-4
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 15 of 19
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-4
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 16 of 19
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-4
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 17 of 19
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-4
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 18 of 19
Case 1:07-cv-00444-GMS
Document 27-4
Filed 10/26/2007
Page 19 of 19
Free Motion to Amend/Correct - District Court of Delaware - Delaware
| File Size: | 4,107.0 kB |
| Pages: | 141 |
| Date: | September 7, 2008 |
| File Format: | |
| State: | Delaware |
| Category: | District Court of Delaware |
| Author: | unknown |
| Word Count: | 3,033 Words, 16,727 Characters |
| Page Size: | Letter (8 1/2" x 11") |
| URL |
https://www.findforms.com/pdf_files/ded/38618/27.pdf |
| Download Motion to Amend/Correct - District Court of Delaware ( 4,107.0 kB) |
Preview Motion to Amend/Correct - District Court of Delaware
Popular Searches
United States Free Forms
Canada Free Forms
United Kingdom Free Forms
Australia Free Forms