ClearPlay v. Dish Network LLC

CourtDistrict Court, D. Utah
DecidedJanuary 6, 2023
Docket2:14-cv-00191
StatusUnknown

This text of ClearPlay v. Dish Network LLC (ClearPlay v. Dish Network LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Utah primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
ClearPlay v. Dish Network LLC, (D. Utah 2023).

Opinion

THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF UTAH

CLEARPLAY, INC., MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER RE: CLEARPLAY’S Plaintiff, DAUBERT MOTIONS

v. Case No. 2:14-cv-00191-DN-CMR DISH NETWORK, LLC, and ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, District Judge David Nuffer Magistrate Judge Cecilia M. Romero Defendants.

Plaintiff ClearPlay, Inc. (“ClearPlay”) filed six motions seeking the exclusion of Defendants Dish Network, LLC and EchoStar Technologies, LLC’s (collectively “Dish”) experts’ opinions and testimony.1 OVERVIEW ClearPlay’s Daubert Motion No. 1 seeks to exclude portions of Dr. Clifford Reader’s opinions and testimony regarding the invalidity of ClearPlay’s asserted patents. ClearPlay misconstrues Dr. Reader’s opinions and testimony and the effect of a prior order denying supplemental claim construction. Also, Dr. Reader’s opinions were timely and sufficiently disclosed. Therefore, ClearPlay’s Daubert Motion No. 12 is DENIED.

1 Plaintiff’s Motion to Exclude in Part the Testimony of Clifford Reader on Invalidity (“ClearPlay’s Daubert Motion No. 1”), docket no. 426, filed Aug. 1, 2022; Plaintiff’s Motion to Exclude Clifford Reader’s Damages-Related Opinions (“ClearPlay’s Daubert Motion No. 2”), docket no. 430, filed Aug. 1, 2022; Plaintiff’s Motion to Exclude the Testimony of Stuart Lipoff and Robert Flavin (“ClearPlay’s Daubert Motion No. 3”), docket no. 439, filed Aug. 1, 2022; Plaintiff’s Motion to Exclude the Testimony of Benjamin Goldberg (“ClearPlay’s Daubert Motion No. 4”), docket no. 427, filed Aug. 1, 2022; Plaintiff’s Motion to Exclude in part the Testimony of Richard S. Hoffman (“ClearPlay’s Daubert Motion No. 5”), docket no. 440, filed Aug. 1, 2022; Plaintiff’s Motion to Exclude the Testimony of Sarah Butler (“ClearPlay’s Daubert Motion No. 6”), docket no. 433, filed Aug. 1, 2022. 2 Docket no. 426, filed Aug. 1, 2022. ClearPlay’s Daubert Motion No. 2 seeks exclusion of Dr. Reader’s damages-related opinions and testimony. ClearPlay misconstrues Dr. Reader’s opinions and testimony and the effect of the order denying supplemental claim construction. Dr. Reader’s damages-related opinions and testimony are technical in nature; within the field of his expertise; and are sufficiently reliable. Therefore, ClearPlay’s Daubert Motion No. 23 is DENIED.

ClearPlay’s Daubert Motion No. 3 seeks exclusion of Robert Flavin and Stuart Lipoff as expert witnesses. There is no dispute regarding Flavin, and Dish does not intend to call Flavin as an expert witness at trial. However, ClearPlay fails to sufficiently articulate a prejudice caused by Dish’s failure to timely make Lipoff available for deposition. And ClearPlay misconstrues Lipoff’s report and the effect of the order denying supplemental claim construction. Therefore, ClearPlay’s Daubert Motion No. 34 is GRANTED as to Flavin and DENIED as to Lipoff. ClearPlay’s Daubert Motion No. 4 seeks to exclude the opinions and testimony of Dr. Benjamin Goldberg regarding the invalidity of ClearPlay’s asserted patents. ClearPlay misconstrues Dr. Goldberg’s opinions and testimony and the effect of the order denying

supplemental claim construction. But while Dr. Goldberg may testify regarding the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) proceedings and record to rebut ClearPlay’s expert witness (Dr. Nicholas Feamster), he is precluded from offering opinions that ClearPlay’s conduct constitutes prosecution disclaimer or prosecution history estoppel. Therefore, ClearPlay’s Daubert Motion No. 45 is DENIED in part and GRANTED in part. ClearPlay’s Daubert Motion No. 5 seeks to exclude potions of Richard Hoffman’s opinions and testimony regarding damages. Hoffman’s reasonable royalty opinions that rely on

3 Docket no. 430, filed Aug. 1, 2022. 4 Docket no. 439, filed Aug. 1, 2022. 5 Docket no. 427, filed Aug. 1, 2022. Dish’s usage data are unreliable and inadmissible. But Hoffman’s opinions and testimony regarding apportionment and non-infringing alternatives are sufficiently reliable and admissible. Therefore, ClearPlay’s Daubert Motion No. 56 is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. ClearPlay’s Daubert Motion No. 6 seeks exclusion of Sarah Butler as an expert witness.

Butler is qualified to testify as an expert on surveys and market research, including survey and market research methodologies and consumer decision making, choice, and behavior in the context of surveys and market research. Butler’s opinions and testimony regarding survey and market research methodologies and her criticism of underlying advertising materials and survey data are within her field of expertise, and are admissible. But Butler is not an economist, and is not qualified to offer expert opinions and testimony on valuation methodologies or value calculations, including criticisms of Dr. Sullivan’s use of survey data in his valuation methodologies and value calculations. And Butler is not qualified to rework Dr. Sullivan’s calculations or create her own valuations. Therefore, ClearPlay’s Daubert Motion No. 67 is DENIED in part and GRANTED in part.

Contents OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................................... 1 STANDARD OF REVIEW ............................................................................................................ 4 DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................................. 7 ClearPlay’s Daubert Motion No. 1: Dr. Reader’s opinions and testimony regarding invalidity are admissible ......................................................................................... 7 ClearPlay’s Daubert Motion No. 2: Dr. Reader’s damages-related opinions and testimony are admissible........................................................................................................ 11 ClearPlay’s Daubert Motion No. 3: Flavin is excluded as an expert, but Lipoff may testify as an expert and his opinions and testimony are admissible ...................... 13 ClearPlay’s Daubert Motion No. 4: Dr. Goldberg’s opinions and testimony are admissible, but he may not opine that ClearPlay’s conduct constitutes prosecution disclaimer or prosecution history estoppel ........................................................... 16

6 Docket no. 440, filed Aug. 1, 2022. 7 Docket no. 433, filed Aug. 1, 2022. ClearPlay’s Daubert Motion No. 5: Hoffman’s reasonable royalty opinions that rely on Dish’s usage data are inadmissible, but his opinions on apportionment and non- infringing alternatives are admissible ................................................................... 17 ClearPlay’s Daubert Motion No. 6: Butler’s opinions regarding Dish’s advertisements, surveys, and market data are admissible, but she is not qualified to opine regarding valuation methodology or value calculations ....................................... 24 ORDER ......................................................................................................................................... 28

STANDARD OF REVIEW District courts serve as the gatekeepers of expert evidence and must decide which experts may testify before the jury and the permissible scope of that testimony.8 In making these determinations, the district court is given “broad latitude.”9 But the district court must be mindful that the Federal Rules of Evidence generally favor the admissibility of expert testimony.10 Excluding expert testimony is the exception rather than the rule.11 “Vigorous cross-examination, the presentation of contrary evidence, and careful instruction on the burden of proof are the traditional and appropriate means of attacking . . .

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ClearPlay v. Dish Network LLC, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/clearplay-v-dish-network-llc-utd-2023.