1. Home
  2. |Insights
  3. |Limited Amendments Of Infringement Contentions During Discovery Are Consistent With The Federal Discovery Rules

Limited Amendments Of Infringement Contentions During Discovery Are Consistent With The Federal Discovery Rules

Client Alert | 1 min read | 11.21.06

In 02 Micro International Ltd. v. Monolithic Power Systems, Inc., (No. 06-1064; November 15, 2006), the Federal Circuit affirms the district court's denial of leave to amend infringement contentions and supplementation of an expert report. Local rules require parties to state infringement contentions early in the litigation, with the ability to amend the contentions to account for the district court's claim construction. All other amendments to infringement contentions are allowed only for good cause which requires a showing of diligence.

The Federal Circuit holds that the requirement of the local rules to amend contentions with diligence after discovery of new information is consistent with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure by balancing the right to develop new information in discovery with the need for certainty of legal theories. As 02 Micro did not provide sufficient evidence that it acted with diligence during the three month delay between discovery of new information and amendment of the infringement contentions, the Federal Circuit holds that the district court's denial of leave to amend infringement contentions was not unreasonable or arbitrary.

Insights

Client Alert | 5 min read | 12.02.25

CARB Delays Enforcement of California’s Climate-Related Financial Risk Report Law (SB 261) and Issues New Guidance on Climate Disclosure Requirements in SB 261 and SB 253

As we have reported previously, California has enacted a pair of climate-related reporting laws that apply to large entities doing business in California (SB 253 and SB 261, as modified by SB 219). This alert provides an update on only the most recent events; please see previous alerts for a broader overview of the laws’ requirements....