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govinfo:USCOURTS-laed-2_20-cv-03135-2
1
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
WILCO MARSH BUGGIES AND
DRAGLINES, INC.
VERSUS
WEEKS MARINE, INC.
CIVIL ACTION
NO. 20-3135
SECTION: “J”(1)
ORDER & REASONS
Before the Court is a Motion for Summary Judgment (Rec. Doc. 110) filed by
Defendant Weeks Marine, Inc. and an opposition (Rec. Doc. 127) filed by Plaintiff
Wilco Marsh Buggies & Draglines, Inc as well as a reply (Rec. Doc. 143). Also before
the Court is Plaintiff’s Motion in Limine to Strike and Exclude Evidence (Rec. Doc.
126) and an opposition (Rec. Doc. 135) filed by Defendant as well as a reply (Rec. Doc.
141). Having considered the briefs, the record, and the applicable law, the Court finds
that the motions should be DENIED.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
The patented technology at issue is Plaintiff’s ‘801 Patent, which is an
amphibious vehicle with excavation capabilities. (Rec. Doc. 1, at 3). Amphibious
vehicles, also known as marsh buggies, help oil and gas companies work both on land
and in marshy terrain. (Rec. Doc. 32, at 2). The typical structure of marsh buggies
involves two pontoons connected to a center platform, which allows the technology to
not sink into low -lying, soft marsh ground. Id. However, with rising water levels,
marsh buggies have become less useful , as they are more likely to sink in higher
water. Id.
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To counter the difficulties presented with climate change, Wilco developed the
‘801 Patent, which incorporates spud barges to allow the marsh buggies to float in
high water in addition to working on land and in marshes . Id. at 2-3. Spud barges
utilize pilings that extend down to the bottom of the water allowing the platform to
stay buoyant even with heavy machinery on top. Id.
After Plaintiff patented this technology in 2003, a Malaysian company, EIK
Engineering (“EIK”), allegedly began selling copies of Plaintiff’s amphibious vehicle
in the U.S. market. (Rec. Doc. 1, at 4-5). The copies allegedly consist of an amphibious
vehicle that has a pair of pontoons and spud system, which Plaintiff contends was
distinct and novel to their ‘801 Patent. Id. Plaintiff has struggled to serve, contact,
and litigate with EIK . Consequentially, Plaintiff sued EIK’s customers instead,
including the Defendant in this case. (Rec. Doc. 32, at 5).
Plaintiff filed the instant suit in this Court on November 18, 2020, seeking a
declaration of infringement and damages. Defendant Weeks Marine. Inc. (“Weeks”)
has moved for summary judgment, asserting that the ‘801 Patent is invalid.
LEGAL STANDARD
Summary judgment is appropriate when “the pleadings, the discovery and
disclosure materials on file, and any affidavits show that there is no genuine issue as
to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.”
Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986) (citing F
ED. R. CIV. P. 56); see Little
v. Liquid Air Corp. , 37 F.3d 1069, 1075 (5th Cir. 1994). When assessing whether a
dispute as to any material fact exists, a court considers “all of the evidence in the
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record but refrains from making credibility determinations or weighing the evidence.”
Delta & Pine Land Co. v. Nationwide Agribusiness Ins. Co., 530 F.3d 395, 398 (5th
Cir. 2008). All reasonable inferences are drawn in favor of the nonmoving party, but
a party cannot defeat summary judgment with conclusory allegations or
unsubstantiated assertions. Little , 37 F.3d at 1075. A court ultimately must be
satisfied that “a reasonable jury could not return a verdict for the nonmoving party.”
Delta, 530 F.3d at 399.
If the dispositive issue is one on which the moving party will bear the burden
of proof at trial, the moving party “must come forward with evidence which would
‘entitle it to a directed verdict if the evidence went uncontroverted at trial.’” Int’l
Shortstop, Inc. v. Rally’s, Inc., 939 F.2d 1257, 1264-65 (5th Cir. 1991). The nonmoving
party can then defeat the motion by either countering with sufficient evidence of its
own, or “showing that the moving party’s evidenc e is so sheer that it may not
persuade the reasonable fact-finder to return a verdict in favor of the moving party.”
Id. at 1265.
If the dispositive issue is one on which the nonmoving party will bear the
burden of proof at trial, the moving party may sa tisfy its burden by merely pointing
out that the evidence in the record is insufficient with respect to an essential element
of the nonmoving party’s claim. See Celotex, 477 U.S. at 325. The burden then shifts
to the nonmoving party, who must, by submittin g or referring to evidence, set out
specific facts showing that a genuine issue exists. See id. at 324. The nonmovant may
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not rest upon the pleadings but must identify specific facts that establish a genuine
issue for trial. See id. at 325; Little, 37 F.3d at 1075.
DISCUSSION
Defendant Weeks Marine. Inc. (“Weeks”) has moved for summary judgment,
arguing that the Asserted Claims of Plaintiff Wilco Marsh Buggies & Draglines, Inc.’s
(“Wilco’s”) patent are invalid because they either lack novelty under 35 U.S.C. § 102
or because they would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art
(“POSITA”) at the time of the invention under 35 U.S.C. § 103. (Rec. Doc. 110 -2, at
5). In its opposition, Wilco argues that the instances of alleged prior art supplied by
weeks do not anticipate the ‘ 801 patent. Wilco also argues in part that certain
elements of Week s’ proffered summary judgment evidence are inadmissible. (Rec.
Doc. 127, at 13, 14). Therefore, the Court must first determine what evidence can be
considered before addressing the merits of Weeks’ motion for summary judgment.
I. Disputed Summary Judgment Evidence
Wilco’s opposition references its Motion in Limine to Exclude the MudMaster
References (Rec. Doc. 126). Wilco states that the exhibits discussed therein should
be excluded and not considered when ruling on summary judgment. (Rec. Doc. 127,
at 13). Therefore, the Court must herein address Wilco’s motion in limine.
A. The Declaration of Patrick Hudson
Wilco first argues in its opposition to Weeks’ Motion for Summary Judgment that
the expert report of Patrick Hudson should be excluded for the reasons stated i n its
Motion to Exclude the Expert Testimony of Patrick Hudson (Rec. Doc. 120). However,
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the Court denied Wilco’s request to file this motion because it was untimely. (Rec.
Doc. 134). Therefore, the Court finds that the Declaration of Patrick Hudson is
admissible evidence and can be used in determining Week s’ motion for summary
judgment.
B. MudMaster References
Wilco next argues that all references to the MudMaster should be excluded
because they lack authenticity, constitute hearsay, and are not eligible as prior art.
(Rec. Doc. 127, at 13). The MudMaster is an alleged instance of prior art that W eeks
alleges anticipated the claimed invention of the ‘801 patent.
Wilco moves to exclude any references to Record Document numbers 110-9, 110-
10, 110-11, 110-13. 110-14, 110-15. 110-16, 110-17, 110-18, 110-19, and 110-20. (Rec.
Doc. 126, at 1). These exhibits are referred to by various exhibit numbers in
different memoranda and filings. Therefore, where possible, the Court will refer to
these exhibits by their record document numbers.
a. 110-9, 110-10, and 110-11 Parchure 1996, Clark 1983, and the FOIA
Response
Wilco has moved to strike two U.S. Army Corps of Engineers publications titled
“Parchure, Trimbak Mukund. Equipment for Contaminated Sediment Dredging. US
Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, 1996” (“Parchure 1996”) and
“Clark, Gene R. Survey of Portable Hydraulic Dredges. US Army Engineer
Waterways Experiment Station, 1983 (“Clark 1983”). Wilco has also moved to strike
a FOIA Response which produced these documents. Weeks relies on these
publications in their Motion for Summary Judgment as evidence that MudMaster
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prior art was available to the public prior to the ‘801 Patent’s effective filing date.
(Rec. Doc. 110-2, at 9). Wilco argues that these publications should be excluded
because they are not properly authenticated, constitute inadmissible hearsay, and
are not relevant.
Federal Rule of Evidence rule 901 requires that in order for an exhibit to be
admitted, it must be authenticated, meaning that the party offering the exhibit
must produce evidence which establishes that the exhibit is what the proponent
says it is. Wilco argues that Parchure 1996 and Clark 1983 should be excluded
because they were obtained from an Internet Archive which is not self-
authenticating. (Rec. Doc. 126-1, at 3, 9-10).
Although Wilco points to an email from Weeks’ counsel stating that the Clark
1983 and Parchure 1996 were “located” using the online database (Rec. Doc. 126-1,
at 3), the actual documents themselves were obtained from the ERDC Library of the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Rec. Doc. 135, at 11). Therefore, Weeks asserts that
both Clark 1983 and Parchure 1996 are properly authenticated in accordance with
Fed. R. Evid. 901(b)(7) which provides that a document may be authenticated with
evidence that shows it was recorded in a public office. Wilco asserts that the ERDC
Library is not a public office at all, although they do not cite any law or cases to this
effect. (Rec. Doc. 141, at 3). The Court could not locate nor did either of the parties
provide any Fifth Circuit precedent directly addressing what constitutes a public
office for the purposes of Rules 901(b)(7) or 803(8). However, the ERDC Library is
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run by the Army Corps of Engineers and is located on a military base. Therefore,
the Court finds that it is a public office.
Wilco also asserts that Clark 1983 and Parchure 1997 should be excluded
because they are hearsay. (Rec. Doc. 126-1, at 6, 10). However, neither of these
exhibits is being introduced for the truth of the information asserted in the
publications. Rather, they are being introduced to show that prior art was publicly
available prior to the ‘801 Patent’s critical date. Therefore, these documents are not
hearsay at all.
Finally, Wilco also attempts to argue that Clark 1983 and Parchure 1996 should
be excluded because they do not show that they were publicly available prior to the
‘801 Patent’s critical date as is required by 35 U.S.C. § 102. Weeks’ opposition
properly characterizes this as a relevancy objection, although Wilco does not name
it as such. (Rec. Doc. 135, at 12). Wilco argues that there is no affidavit from a
librarian attesting to the availability date of these publications nor is there an
identifiable date stamp showing when the document was deposited and indexed.
(Rec. Doc. 126-1, at 6). However, the FOIA response (Rec. Doc. 110-11) establishes
the dates on which both Clark 1983 and Parchure 1996 were catalogued in the
library archive. The records indicate that a physical copy of Clark 1983 was entered
into the library on August, 16, 1983 (Rec. Doc. 135-2) and that a physical copy of
Parchure 1996 was entered into the library on November 6, 1996. (Rec. Doc. 135-3).
In its reply to Weeks’ opposition to the motion in limine, Wilco argues that the
FOIA letter itself is inadmissible hearsay which therefore cannot be used to show
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that these documents were publicly available. (Rec. Doc. 141, at 3). Federal Rule of
Evidence rule 803(8) states that evidence will not be excluded as hearsay if:
(A) it sets out: (i) the office's activities; (ii) a matter observed while
under a legal duty to report, but not including, in a criminal case, a
matter observed by law-enforcement personnel; or (iii) in a civil case or
against the government in a criminal case, factual findings from a
legally authorized investigation; and (B) the opponent does not show
that the source of information or other circumstances indicate a lack of
trustworthiness.
Wilco argues that the FOIA response letter was not prepared as part of the
regular record keeping activities of a public office, was not prepared pursuant to a
legal duty, and does not contain factual findings from a legally authorized
investigation. (Rec. Doc. 141, at 2). Furthermore, Wilco argues that the military
base which houses the ERDC Library is restricted, and therefore, even if Clark 1983
and Parchure 1996 were published there as is detailed in the FOIA response, a
POSITA would have been unable to obtain these documents. (Rec. Doc. 141, at 3).
As discussed previously, the ERDC Library is a public office, and the FOIA
response was prepared in accordance with a legal duty under the Freedom of
Information Act to fulfill such requests. Furthermore, the records search conducted
to locate these documents and the dates they were entered into the library is a
legally authorized investigation, even if it was merely a quick records search.
Therefore, the Court finds that the FOIA Response meets the requirements of Rule
803(8) and is admissible. Wilco is unable to successfully negate the indicia of
trustworthiness demonstrated by these exhibits. Therefore, they are deemed
admitted.
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b. Declaration of David Binkley dated May 19, 2022
Wilco also moves to exclude the May 19, 2022 Declaration of David Binkley from
evidence. (Rec. Doc. 126-1, at 10-11). However, Weeks has stated that they do not
intend to proffer this declaration as a trial exhibit. (Rec. Doc. 135, at 15 n.7).
Furthermore, Weeks does not refer to this declaration in their Motion for Summary
Judgment. Rather, they refer to Mr. Binkley’s November 3, 2022 deposition. To the
extent that Wilco implies that Mr. Binkley’s deposition testimony should also be
excluded, the Court finds that Wilco has not shown that Mr. Binkley does not have
personal knowledge of the record keeping practices of DMI within the instant
Motion to Strike. Therefore, Wilco’s request to strike the May 19th Declaration is
moot, and any implied request to strike the November 3rd Declaration is denied.
c. 110-13, 110-14, 110-15, 110-16: DMI Brochures
Wilco next moves to strike the following DredgeMasters International, Inc.
documents: (1) DredgeMasters International Inc., Technical File 80112 [Brochure],
1987 (“MudMaster Technical File 80112”) (2) DredgeMasters International Inc.,
MudMaster [Brochure], 1987 (“MudMaster Brochures”) (3) DredgeMasters
International Inc. [Brochure], 1987 (“DredgeMasters General Brochure”) under Fed.
R. Evid. 602 and 901. (Rec. Doc. 126-1, at 13). Wilco argues that these exhibits
cannot be properly authenticated because no one with any personal knowledge can
attest to its creation, dissemination, or public availability. (Rec. Doc. 126-1, at 16).
Weeks argues that this technical file constitutes a business record under Rule
803(6) and an ancient document under 803(16) which applies to statements in
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documents prepared prior to January 1, 1998 and whose authenticity is established.
Weeks argues that the authenticity of the brochure has been established by Mr.
Binkley who testified that he was aware of the brochures when he started working
at DMI in 1987 and personally distributed them to customers at a trade show and
to customers who visited the DMI office. (Rec. Doc. 135, at 18). Mr. Binkley also
testified that he had personal knowledge of the record keeping system at DMI and
knew that the marketing materials were stored in both digital and physical format.
Id. at 19. Because Mr. Binkley can testify from personal knowledge as to the
existence of the brochure and that it is what it is purported to be, the document is
properly authenticated and is admissible.
d. D
ocuments identified as Exhibits A – H in Dr. Patrick Hudson’s
Supplemental Invalidity Report dated November 4, 2022 (“Collaborative
References”)1
The Collaborative References refer to:
(i) Exhibit A- Assembly Disassembly Instructions – Model
AHP-250SM (“the MudMaster Assembly-Disassembly
Instructions”)
(ii) Exhibit B- Shipping Weights and Dimensions of Major
Components – Model AHP-250SM
(iii) Exhibit C- Trunnion Assembly
(iv) Exhibit D- Track System Operation – Model AHP-250SM
(v) Exhibit E- 12-22-80 LEI Sales Contract
(vi) Exhibit F- 12-22-80 LEI Sales Contract – As-Sold Specs
(vii) Exhibit G- Feb. 2, 1981 Inter-Office Memorandum re.
Amphibious Dredge at ConExpo
(viii) Exhibit H- 3-22-93 PSI Engineering Sales Contract
1 The corresponding record document numbers in Weeks’ Motion for Summary Judgment are Rec. Doc. 110-117
(Exhibit A), Rec. Doc. 110-118 (Exhibit D), Rec. Doc. 110-119 (Exhibit E), and Rec. Doc. 110-120 (Exhibit G).
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These exhibits are intended to show that a MudMaster sale had occurred prior to
the ‘801 Patent’s effective date and that this sale contained all the limitations
expressed in that Patent. Wilco argues that the Collaborative References should be
excluded because they cannot be authenticated and constitute inadmissible
hearsay. (Rec. Doc. 127, at 14). Wilco argues that Mr. Binkley cannot authenticate
these documents because he was not employed at DMI until 1987, seven years after
the alleged sale. (Rec. Doc. 126-1, at 23). Furthermore, Wilco argues that Weeks
fails to offer any direct evidence that the Collaborative References were publically
accessible prior to June 3, 2003. Id. at 22. Weeks again argues that these documents
are admissible under the business records exception in Fed. R. Evid. 803(6) and as
ancient documents under 803(16).
Wilco does not dispute that any of the Collaborative references are ancient
documents created prior to January 1, 1998. Instead, Wilco argues in its reply that
these documents “must first clear the hurdle of FRE 803(6) to be authenticated.”
(Rec. Doc. 137-2, at 9). The hearsay exception for ancient documents does not bear
some sort of double requirement of being both ancient and a business record.
Instead Rule 803(16) is its own exception to the hearsay rule. There is no
requirement for ancient documents to meet two unrelated hearsay exception to be
authenticated. In fact, Rule 901 provides that ancient documents can be
authenticated if they are (1) in a condition that creates no suspicion about their
authenticity (2) were in a place where, if authentic, they would likely be; and (3) are
at least twenty years old when offered. Wilco provides no evidence that would call
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into question the authenticity of these exhibits, nor does it suggest that they were
kept in a suspicious place or are younger than twenty years old. Furthermore, the
Fifth Circuit has repeatedly emphasized that the standard for authentication is not
burdensome. See United States v. Ceballos, 789 F.3d 607, 618 (5th Cir. 2015). A
proponent of evidence does not need to conclusively prove its authenticity. Rather,
the proponent nearly needs to “produce evidence sufficient to support a finding that
the item is what the proponent claims it is.” Fed. R. Evid. 901(a). The Court finds
that the testimony of Mr. Binkley is sufficient to authenticate these ancient
documents.
Wilco also argues that these exhibits should be excluded because they do not
constitute publicly available prior art. (Rec. Doc. 126-1, at 20). Wilco asserts that
“Weeks offers no direct evidence from anyone with personal knowledge attesting
that the Collaborative References were made available to the public” prior to the
filing date of the ‘801 Patent. (Rec. Doc. 126-1, at 21). Wilco also argues that the
Collaborative References are not printed publications under 35 U.S.C. § 102. A
document is publicly accessible when “has been disseminated or otherwise made
available to the extent that persons interested and ordinarily skilled in the subject
matter or art, exercising reasonable diligence, can locate it and recognize and
comprehend therefrom the essentials of the claimed invention without need of
further research or experimentation.” Cordis Corp. v. Boston Scientific Corp., 561
F.3d 1319, 1333 (Fed. Cir. 2009) (internal citation and quotation omitted).
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Weeks argues that these DMI documents are relevant as prior art because
they are either printed publications under 35 U.S.C. § 102, or because they are
evidence which establishes that the MudMaster was in public use or on sale prior to
the ‘801 Patent’s effective date and “it embodied the claimed invention, thereby
qualifying the machine itself as an individual prior art reference under 35 U.S.C. §
102.” (Rec. Doc. 135, at 24).
In particular, Wilco urges that Exhibits E, F, and G be excluded because they
were all created prior to the time that Mr. Binkley started working at DMI and are
therefore outside of his personal knowledge. (Rec. Doc. 126-1, at 23). However, Wilco
cannot show that Mr. Binkley was unfamiliar with the record keeping practices at
DMI. In fact, Binkley testified that it was regular practice at DMI to create sales
invoices such as those in Exhibits E and F. Wilco cannot show that these documents
were not kept and stored in the way that would be expected by DMI’s normal record
keeping practices. Because, Binkley is a qualified custodian of these records,
because they are all older than twenty years old, and because they bear sufficient
indicia of trustworthiness that they are what they are purported to be, the
Collaborative references are deemed authenticated and admissible under Rule
803(16). Therefore, all of the evidence challenged by Wilco’s Motion in Limine to
Strike and Exclude Evidence (Rec. Doc. 126) is deemed admitted, and the motion
is DENIED.
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II. W eek s’ Motion for Summary Judgment
Turning now to the merits of Weeks’ Motion for Summary Judgment (Rec. Doc.
110), the Court must evaluate whether claims 1-5 and 9-15 of U.S. Patent No.
6,918,801 (“the ‘801 Patent”) are invalid because they either lack novelty or because
they would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art at the time of
the invention. A patent is presumed valid, and invalidity must be proven by clear
and convincing evidence. Hybritech Inc. v. Monoclonal Antibodies, Inc., 802 F.2d
1367, 1375 (Fed. Cir. 1986).
a. Novelty
Under 35 U.S.C. § 102, patents should not be issued if the patent was anticipated,
or if “patented or described in a printed publication in this or a foreign country or in
public use or on sale in this country, more than one year prior to the date of the
application for patent in the United States.”
2 To prevail on a claim that a patent is
invalid because it has been anticipated, the claimant must prove by clear and
convincing evidence that “the four corners of a single, prior art document describe
every element of the claimed invention, either expressly or inherently, such that a
person of ordinary skill in the art could practice the invention without undue
experimentation.” Advanced Display Systems, Inc. v. Kent State University, 212
F.3d 1272, 1282 (Fed. Cir. 2000). Additionally, to fully anticipate a claimed
invention, the prior art must be “enabling.” To be enabling, a person of ordinary
2 Because the patent at issue was filed prior to March 16, 2013, pre-America Invents Act (“AIA”) law governs this
case.
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skill in the art must be able to make or use the claimed invention without undue
experimentation based on the disclosure of that particular document. In re Morsal,
713 F.3d 104, 110 (Fed. Cir. 2013).
Weeks points to three alleged instances of prior art that anticipate the claims of
the ‘801 Patent: the MudMaster, Harada, and Zong. Weeks is entitled to summary
judgment if any of these three bear no difference between the claimed invention and
the referenced disclosure. (Rec. Doc. 110, at 15). In other words, if there is even one
difference between any of these machines and the ‘801 Patent, summary judgment
must be denied.
1. MudMaster
Weeks points to the 1980 sale of the MudMaster from Dredgemasters, Inc. to
Latina Export & Import, Inc. as a sale that invalidates the ‘801 Patent. Therefore,
Weeks must show by clear and convincing evidence that this sale occurred and that
each claim of the ‘801 patent can be found in the Mudmaster. As addressed above,
the Court finds that the DMI sales documents (Rec. Docs. 110-17, 110-18) are
admissible. However, Weeks must prove not only that the sale occurred, but also
that each limitation of the asserted claims existed in that particular sale.
Wilco asserts that Weeks has failed to establish that the MudMaster anticipated
each limitation of the ‘801 Patent because “Weeks inappropriately relies on more
than seven (7) references relating to MudMaster dated between 1983 and 1996”
which were all created after the sale to demonstrate the features of the 1980
product and because “Weeks’ attempt to utilize multiple references to demonstrate
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invalidity by anticipation is a violation of the fundamental rule that a single
reference must disclose every element of the challenged patent.” (Rec. Doc. 127, at
16). Furthermore, Wilco argues that none of these references are contemporaneous
with the 1980 sale, and therefore there is no way to prove that the 1980 machine
contains each and every limitation of the asserted claims of the ‘801 Patent. (Rec.
Doc. 127, at 17).
The Federal Circuit has explained that in order to conclusively anticipate a
patent, every element of a claimed invention must be contained within a single
prior art reference. Advanced Display Systems, Inc., 212 F.3d at 1282. It is possible
for extraneous documents to be considered if they are “incorporated by reference,”
meaning that the host document must identify with detailed particularity what
specific material it incorporates and clearly indicate where the material is found in
the various documents.” Id. “If incorporation by reference comes into play in an
anticipation determination, the court’s role is to determine what material in
addition to the host document constitutes the single reference. The factfinder’s role,
in turn, is to determine whether that single reference describes the claimed
invention.” Id. In its motion for summary judgment, Weeks does not identify where
if at all their MudMaster references are incorporated into one another so that they
may be considered one reference. Therefore, the Court cannot say as a matter of law
that these documents constitute one instance of prior art which anticipates the ‘801
Patent.
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Because the bar for holding a patent invalid is clear and convincing evidence,
and because all inferences in resolving a motion for summary judgment must be
made in favor of the non-movant, the Court finds that there is a genuine issue of
material fact as to whether the sale of the MudMaster teaches each and every
limitation of the ‘801 Patent.
2. Harada
Weeks also asserts that Harada (Japanese Publ. No. JPH0654018B2) anticipates
the claims in the ‘801 Patent. Wilco argues that Harada “does not teach a device
which can move on land as required by claims 1, 9, and 12, and it fails to disclose an
operable spud system as required by claims 1, 9, and 12.” (Rec. Doc. 127, at 18).
Wilco argues that “Harada fails to provide an enabling disclosure of “a track system
disposed on said pontoons and adapted to provide propulsion to the vehicle when
moving on land or in water,” as recited in claims 1 and 12 of the ‘801 Patent. (Rec.
Doc. 127, at 19). Wilco argues that the cleats on the track system of Harada would
become too clogged with mud to properly operate, and therefore render the Harada
a non-enabling reference. Id. Wilco cites to the expert testimony of William T.
Bennett to support this assertion that the track system would not operate properly.
Weeks has moved to strike certain portions of Bennett’s testimony related to his
opinions on copying and either strike or restrict his testimony where it deviates
from this Courts Markman hearing findings relating to the “connected to /attached
to conflict”. (Rec. Doc. 109, at 10). However, because neither of these topics is
necessary to decide the Motion for Summary Judgment, the Court will defer on
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addressing Weeks’ arguments concerning the scope of Bennett’s testimony.
Therefore, the Court finds that there is a genuine issue of material fact as to
whether the Harada is enabling and therefore fully anticipates the ‘801 Patent.
Because the Court finds a genuine issue of material fact as relating to claims 1 and
12, it is unnecessary to address Weeks’ other contentions relating to Harada.
3. Zong
Weeks also argues that the disclosed apparatus of Zong discloses each and every
limitation of the asserted claims. (Rec. Doc. 110, at 10). However, Wilco again points
to a genuine issue of material fact regarding whether Zong provides enabling
disclosure relating to is track system in light of claims 1 and 12 of the ‘801 Patent.
(Rec. Doc. 127, at 21). Similar to Harada, Wilco’s expert, William Bennett, opines
that Zong’s track system is not fully enabling because it has “insufficient driving
force provided by the track system” to free the machine from deep mud. Id. Bennett
points to Zong’s unique “walking spuds” that move the machine through the marsh
when the tracks lose traction as evidence that the track system alone would be
insufficient. Id. Wilco and Weeks have both submitted expert testimony regarding
whether or not Zong fully anticipates the ‘801 patent. Therefore, the Court finds
that there is a genuine issue of material fact related to Zong, and the Court has no
need to evaluate Weeks’ other claims relating to Zong in this Order.
Finally, the sheer volume of evidence submitted by both parties in this case
weighs against summary judgment. Both sides have introduced competing
testimony and evidence as to the validity of the ‘801 Patent and whether it was
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infringed. Therefore, because the standard for invalidating a patent for lack of
novelty is clear and convincing evidence, the Court cannot conclude that Weeks is
entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
b. Obviousness
Weeks alternatively argues that summary judgment should be granted because
the claimed invention would be obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to
which the claimed invention pertains under 35 U.S.C. § 103. “The combination of
familiar elements according to known methods is likely to be obvious when it does
no more than yield predictable results.” KSR International Co. v. Teleflex Inc., 550
U.S. 398, 416 (2007). However, “a patent composed of several elements is not proved
obvious merely by demonstrating that each of its elements was, independently,
known in the prior art.” Id.
Weeks asserts that Conventional Amphibious Excavators were in public use or
on sale in the U.S. more than a year prior to the priority date of the ‘801 Patent.
(Rec. Doc. 110, at 27). However, these excavators presented a risk of overturning
while floating because using the backhoe would shift the center of gravity. Id.
Weeks also points out that spud barges existed prior to the ‘801 Patent. The spuds
allow for stabilization and work to prevent capsizing. Weeks asserts that a POSITA
would have found it obvious to combine the pre-existing amphibious excavators with
spuds in the same way that the MudMaster, Harada, and Zong references teach. Id.
at 28.
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Wilco argues however that Weeks is merely engaging in hindsight bias by
concluding that because the elements of the claimed invention were combined it
must have been obvious to do so. (Rec. Doc. 127, 23-24). Wilco also asserts that
Weeks did not address the secondary considerations or objective evidence of non-
obviousness. Courts are required to consider objective evidence of non-obviousness
including the commercial success of the invention, a long-felt but unsolved need
addressed by the invention, a failure of others to solve the problem which the
invention addresses, and the copying of the invention by others. Graham v. John
Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 17-18 (1966). Although these factors are called “secondary”
they are not secondary in importance, but merely secondary in the analysis.
Truswal Sys. Corp. v. Hydro-Air Eng'g, Inc., 813 F.2d 1207, 1212 (Fed. Cir. 1987).
Wilco is correct in asserting that Weeks does not address any of the secondary
considerations required in the obviousness analysis. Wilco submits evidence of the
profits earned from sales of its claimed invention (Rec. Docs. 127-2 – 127-10),
testimony that the machines used prior to this device bore significant disadvantages
suggesting a long-felt need for improvement (Rec. Doc. 127-1, at ¶¶ 6-11), and
circumstantial evidence that EIK could have copied Wilco’s product in creating their
machines which were subsequently sold to Weeks. Id. at ¶¶ 19-22. Therefore,
because Wilco has produced evidence suggestive of the non-obviousness of the ‘801
Patent, and because all inferences must be resolved in favor of the non-moving
party, the Court finds that there is a genuine issue of material fact as to the
obviousness of the ‘801 Patent.
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CONCLUSION
Accordingly, Wilco’s Motion in Limine to Strike and Exclude Evidence (Rec.
Doc. 126) is hereby DENIED. Weeks’ Motion for Summary Judgment (Rec. Doc.
110) is also DENIED.
New Orleans, Louisiana, this 21st day of December, 2022.
____________________________________
CARL J. BARBIER
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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