`
`IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE
`
`Civil Action No. 11-797-RGA
`
`))
`
`))
`
`)
`)
`
`))
`
`)
`
`FASTVDO LLC,
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`v.
`
`APPLE INC. et al,
`
`Defendants.
`
`ORDER GOVERNING PATENT MEDIATION
`CONFERENCES AND MEDIATION STATEMENTS
`
`THIS ORDER CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION WHICH
`SHOULD BE READ BY COUNSEL PRIOR TO PREPARATION OF A
`MEDIATION STATEMENT.
`
`At Wilmington this 6 day of November, 2012.
`th
`
`IT IS ORDERED that:
`
`MEDIATION CONFERENCE
`
`1.
`
` Mediation conferences are scheduled for Tuesday, December 11, 2012 beginning
`
`at 9:00 am with defendant DXG Technology USA Inc. only and Friday, January 11, 2013
`
`beginning at 9:00 a.m. with defendant Toshiba American Information Systems Inc. only. All
`
`required participants (see ¶ 2) are to report at this time to a location to later be determined by the
`
`Court and to remain available until excused by the Court. Dress for the mediation is business
`
`casual.
`
`REQUIRED PARTICIPANTS
`
`2.
`
`Each party must be represented at the mediation conference by the following required
`
`participants: (a) trial counsel; (b) counsel who is/are familiar with the case; and (c) the party/parties
`
`
`
`Case 1:11-cv-00797-RGA Document 196 Filed 11/06/12 Page 2 of 6 PageID #: 1126
`
`and/or decision maker(s) of the parties, who must have full authority to act on behalf of the parties,
`
`including the authority to negotiate a resolution of the matter and to respond to developments during
`
`the mediation process. Full authority means that those participants on behalf of a party should be
`
`able to make independent decisions and have a knowledge or understanding of the dispute and/or
`
`the business objectives/operations of their company to generate and consider solutions and/or to be
`
`able to address the negotiation dynamics in mediation. It is not just settlement authority, that is, to
`
`make an offer or to accept an amount.
`
`In-person attendance at the mediation conference by the participants described above
`
`is required unless otherwise authorized by the Court. Any request to modify this requirement shall
`
`be made in writing to the Magistrate Judge, with a copy to all counsel or pro se parties, no later than
`
`fourteen (14) days before the mediation conference.
`
`CONTACT INFORMATION FOR REQUIRED PARTICIPANTS
`
`3.
`
`(a)
`
`No later than the date on which mediation statements are due (see ¶ 4
`
`below), counsel shall provide to the court in a writing separate from the mediation statement, for
`
`each attorney who will be attending the mediation conference: (i) a direct dial telephone work
`
`number, (ii) a cell or home telephone number, and (iii) an electronic mail address where the attorney
`
`can be regularly reached. Unrepresented parties shall provide at least one of these three forms of
`
`contact information.
`
`EXCHANGE OF LIST OF PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING MEDIATION
`
`(b)
`
`No later than the date on which the mediation statements are due (see ¶
`
`4 below), counsel shall submit a list of all participants, including attorney and non-attorney
`
`representatives, who will be attending the mediation on behalf of their party, to the opposing party
`
`2
`
`
`
`Case 1:11-cv-00797-RGA Document 196 Filed 11/06/12 Page 3 of 6 PageID #: 1127
`
`or parties.
`
`CONFIDENTIAL MEDIATION STATEMENTS
`
`4.
`
`On or before Friday, November 30, 2012, plaintiff and defendant DXG Technology
`
`USA Inc. shall submit AN ORIGINAL and ONE COPY of a confidential mediation statement
`
`containing all of the information required by ¶ 6 shall be submitted ONLY to the Magistrate Judge.
`
` On or before Friday, December 28, 2012, plaintiff and defendant Toshiba American Information
`
`Systems Inc. shall submit AN ORIGINAL and ONE COPY of a confidential mediation statement
`
`containing all of the information required by ¶ 6 shall be submitted ONLY to the Magistrate Judge.
`
`The mediation statements shall not be filed with the Clerk's Office, nor emailed to Chambers
`
`without permission, but shall be delivered to the Clerk’s Office in an envelope addressed to U.
`
`S. Magistrate Judge Sherry R. Fallon and marked “CONFIDENTIAL MEDIATION
`
`STATEMENT.” The statements shall not be exchanged among the parties or counsel (unless the
`
`parties so desire), shall not be provided to the trial judge, and shall not become part of the record in
`
`this matter. Mediation statements shall NOT be electronically filed since they are not part of
`
`the Court record.
`
`5.
`
`The mediation statements may be in memorandum or letter form. They must be
`
`double-spaced, in no less than a 12-point font, and be no longer than twenty (20) pages.
`
`6.
`
`The mediation statements must contain each of the following headings and must
`
`contain a discussion of each of the topics described below:
`
`a)
`
`“The Parties”: provide a description of who the parties are, their relationship,
`
`if any, to each other, and by whom each party is represented, including the identity of all individuals
`
`who will be participating on behalf of a party during the mediation conference.
`
`3
`
`
`
`Case 1:11-cv-00797-RGA Document 196 Filed 11/06/12 Page 4 of 6 PageID #: 1128
`
`b)
`
`“Factual Background”: provide a brief factual background, clearly indicating
`
`which material facts are not in dispute and which material facts remain in dispute.
`
`c)
`
`“Summary of Applicable Law”:
`
`provide a brief summary of the law,
`
`including applicable statutes, cases and standards. Copies of any unreported decisions (including
`
`decisions from this jurisdiction) that counsel believes are particularly relevant should be included
`
`as exhibits (see ¶ 7).
`
`d)
`
`“Honest Discussion of Strengths and Weaknesses”: provide an honest
`
`discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the party's claims and/or defenses.
`
`e)
`
`“Settlement Efforts”: provide a brief description of prior settlement
`
`negotiations and discussions, including the most recent offers or demands exchanged between the
`
`parties and the reasons for rejection, and the party's assessment as to why settlement has not been
`
`reached.
`
`f)
`
`“Settlement Proposal”: describe the party's proposed term(s) for a resolution.
`
`Further, identify any interests or issues not directly involved in this matter that may frustrate or
`
`further settlement. If the party has any suggestions as to how the Court may be helpful in reaching
`
`a resolution, such suggestions should also be described.
`
`g)
`
`“Fees and Costs”: list separately each of the following: (i) attorneys’ fees and
`
`costs incurred to date; (ii) other fees and costs incurred to date; (iii) good faith estimate of additional
`
`attorneys’ fees and costs to be incurred if this matter is not settled; and (iv) good faith estimate of
`
`additional other fees and costs to be incurred if this matter is not settled.
`
`In addition to the required topics described above, and provided that the mediation
`
`statement complies with the page limit stated above, counsel are encouraged to address any other
`
`4
`
`
`
`Case 1:11-cv-00797-RGA Document 196 Filed 11/06/12 Page 5 of 6 PageID #: 1129
`
`matter they believe may be of assistance to the Court.
`
`7.
`
`Crucial or pertinent documents may be submitted as exhibits to the mediation
`
`statement. Counsel are cautioned to limit such exhibits.
`
`CONFIDENTIALITY
`
`8.
`
`The contents of the mediation statements and the mediation conference
`
`discussions, including any resolution or settlement, shall remain confidential, shall not be used
`
`in the present litigation nor any other litigation (whether presently pending or filed in the
`
`future), and shall not be construed as nor constitute an admission. Breach of this provision
`
`shall subject the violator to sanctions.
`
`EX PARTE CONTACTS
`
`9.
`
`Before, during, and after the scheduled mediation conference, the Court may find it
`
`necessary and useful to communicate with one or more parties outside the presence of the other party
`
`or parties.
`
`REQUEST TO BRING ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
`
`10.
`
`Any possession by an attorney of an electronic device shall be permitted in
`
`accordance with this Court's Standing Order regarding possession by attorneys of cell phones, other
`
`PDA devices, and laptop computers, dated November 17, 2011. Any request that representatives
`
`of a party be permitted to bring electronic equipment to the mediation conference shall be made in
`
`writing by counsel and shall be submitted in a separate letter no later than the date on which
`
`mediation statements are due (see ¶ 4 above). Any such request shall include the name(s) of the
`
`individuals, a list of the equipment requested to be authorized, and a representation that counsel
`
`believes the presence of the requested equipment will be of assistance in the mediation process and
`
`5
`
`
`
`Case 1:11-cv-00797-RGA Document 196 Filed 11/06/12 Page 6 of 6 PageID #: 1130
`
`that the request is not being made just for convenience.
`
`OBLIGATION OF GOOD FAITH PARTICIPATION
`
`11.
`
`The required participants shall be available and accessible throughout the mediation
`
`process. The Court expects the parties' full and good faith cooperation with the mediation process.
`
`In particular, the Court expects both the lawyers and the party representatives to be fully prepared
`
`to participate. The Court encourages all participants to keep an open mind in order to reassess their
`
`previous positions and to find creative means for resolving the dispute.
`
`AVOIDANCE OF SANCTIONS
`
`12.
`
`All counsel are reminded of their obligations to read and comply with this
`
`Order. Delaware counsel are reminded of their obligations to inform out-of-state counsel of this
`
`Order. To avoid the imposition of sanctions, counsel shall advise the Court immediately of any
`
`problems regarding compliance with this Order.
`
`/s/ Sherry R. Fallon
`UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
`
`6