Dilatory Tactics and Gamesmanship Warrant Limiting Number of Disputed Claim Terms to Five

The court sua sponte limited the parties to five terms for claim construction because of their litigation tactics. "Nearly a year into this litigation, the record thus far suggests that both parties have engaged in dilatory tactics — and potentially gamesmanship — inconsistent with the Court’s efforts to reach a 'just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of the action.'. . . [I]n light of the consistent delays and, in the Court’s view, needless disputes that have been emblematic of this litigation thus far, the Court invokes its inherent authority to reduce the number of claim terms that it will construe during claims-construction to five terms. The parties’ failure to move this case forward consistent with the Court imposed schedule seriously impacts the time to consider and resolve disputes related to the construction of terms in the relatively straightforward patents at issue."

Zamperla, Inc. et al v. IE Park srl, 6-13-cv-01807 (FLMD November 18, 2014, Order) (Dalton, J.)