Laches Remains Viable Defense to Claim for Permanent Injunctive Relief

The court denied plaintiff's motion for judgment on the pleadings that defendants could not pursue a laches defense against plaintiff's claim for patent injunctive relief. "The Supreme Court recently held [in SCA Hygiene Products Aktiebolag v. First Quality Baby Products, LLC, 137 S.Ct. 954, 960 (2017)] that laches does not bar recovery of damages incurred within the statute of limitations in patent cases. In light of that holding, the parties dispute whether the defense of laches may ever bar injunctive relief. . . . [I]n SCA Hygiene, the Supreme Court explicitly declined to address the application of laches to equitable defenses and the portion of the Federal Circuit’s opinion addressing the issue. . . . The [Federal Circuit] concluded that 'laches in combination with the [eBay v. MercExchange, LLC, 547 U.S. 388, 391(2006)] factors may in some circumstances counsel against an injunction.'. . . The Federal Circuit merely articulates that a plaintiff’s delay in bringing suit is relevant to whether equitable relief is warranted. . . . [T]he Supreme Court has not held that laches is never a bar to injunctive relief, but rather that it only bars such relief when the delay is of 'sufficient magnitude.' Therefore, laches is still a viable defense to [plaintiff's] claims."

Spitz Technologies Corporation v. Nobel Biocare USA, LLC et al, 8-17-cv-00660 (CACD September 11, 2017, Order) (Selna, USDJ)