Initiating Ex Parte Reexamination Instead of Inter Partes Review No Basis For Denying Stay

The court granted defendant's motion to stay pending its requests for ex parte reexamination and rejected plaintiff's argument that defendant was engaging in gamesmanship by not seeking inter partes review. "⁠[Plaintiff] argues that [defendant] only made this choice because it wanted to delay this litigation as much as possible, as evidenced by the longer timeline for completion of ex parte reexamination and the fact that reexamination does not have the same estoppel effect as IPR. . . . [I]t was reasonable for [defendant] to choose not to pursue IPR given that the constitutionality of the procedure is currently being considered by the United States Supreme Court. . . . Moreover . . . choosing ex parte reexamination makes economic sense because IPR filing fees alone would cost $50,000 more than reexamination."

Carlson Pet Products, Inc. v. North States Industries, Inc., 0-17-cv-02529 (MND March 5, 2018, Order) (Menendez, MJ)