One World Techs., Inc. v. United States

378 F. Supp. 3d 1355, 2019 CIT 56

Opinion

Choe-Groves, Judge:

This opinion concludes the ongoing litigation in the U.S. Court of International Trade between Plaintiff One World Technologies, Inc. ("Plaintiff" or "One World") and the United States, United States Department of Homeland Security, United States Customs and Border Protection, and Commissioner Kevin K. McAleenan (collectively, "Defendants" or "the Government"). Before the court is One World's Joint Motion to Dismiss or to Stay the Case Pending Dismissal of Appeals, May 1, 2019, ECF No. 162 ("Joint Motion to Dismiss"). For the reasons that follow, the court grants Plaintiff's Joint Motion to Dismiss.

BACKGROUND

One World produces Garage Door Openers ("GDOs") under the brand name Ryobi. Pl. Am. Compl. ¶ 8, Apr. 2, 2019, ECF No. 120 ("Pl. Am. Compl."). One World redesigned its GDOs ("Redesigned GDOs") following proceedings before the U.S. International Trade Commission ("ITC"). Pl. Am. Compl. ¶ 1. On March 30, 2018, One World requested a pre-importation administrative *1357 ruling under 19 C.F.R. § 177 ("One World's Ruling Request") from U.S. Customs and Border Protection ("CBP" or "Customs"). Pl. Am. Compl. ¶ 68; Pl. Am. Compl. Ex. V, Apr. 2, 2019, ECF No. 120-22 ("Pl. Am. Compl. Ex. V"). One World's Ruling Request asked Customs to determine that Redesigned GDOs fall outside the scope of the Limited Exclusion Order issued by the ITC. Pl. Am. Compl. ¶ 69; Pl. Am. Compl. Ex. V at 2, 11-14.

While awaiting Customs' ruling letter, One World attempted to import a shipment of Redesigned GDOs on or about June 29, 2018 (Entry No. 442-75629994). Pl. Am. Compl. ¶ 77. Customs denied entry of the shipment, One World protested (Protest No. 160118100231), and Customs issued HQ H300129. Id. ; see Pl. Am. Compl. Ex. F, at 1, Apr. 2, 2019, ECF No. 120-6 ("Pl. Am. Compl. Ex. F"). In HQ H300129, Customs found that the merchandise in the shipment "appears to meet all of the limitations of at least independent claims 1 and 9 of the '319 patent" and One World "has not met its burden to establish that the merchandise at issue does not infringe these claims." Pl. Am. Compl. Ex. F at 38.

Customs responded to One World's Ruling Request and issued a pre-importation ruling, designated HQ H295697, on July 20, 2018. Pl. Am. Compl. ¶ 73; Pl. Am. Compl. Ex. W, Apr. 2, 2019, ECF No. 120-23 ("Pl. Am. Compl. Ex. W") ; see also Defs' Mem. in Supp. of Mot. to Dismiss 2, 6, Apr. 16, 2019, ECF No. 143. In HQ H295697, Customs again found that One World did not meet its burden to establish that the Redesigned GDOs did not infringe the '319 patent. Pl. Am. Compl. Ex. W at 35.

Plaintiff filed suit in the U.S. Court of International Trade to challenge Customs' protest decision and requested a Temporary Restraining Order ("TRO") and Preliminary Injunction ("PI") on September 13, 2018. Summons, One World Techs., Inc. v. United States , No. 18-cv-00200-JCG (CIT Sept. 13, 2018), ECF No. 1; Complaint, One World Techs., Inc. v. United States , No. 18-cv-00200-JCG (CIT Sept. 13, 2018), ECF No. 6 ; Pl. One World Tech.'s Mot. for TRO & Prelim. Inj., One World Techs., Inc. v. United States , No. 18-cv-00200-JCG (CIT Sept. 13, 2018), ECF No. 5. The court issued an opinion in One World Techs., Inc. v. United States , 42 CIT ----, 357 F.Supp.3d 1278 (2018) (" One World I "), on December 14, 2018, which conducted a claim construction analysis and infringement analysis of the Redesigned GDOs. Id. at ----, 357 F.Supp.3d at 1289-93 . The court concluded that because One World's Redesigned GDOs did not contain all the limitations of the '319 Patent, One World's Redesigned GDOs did not infringe the '319 Patent and Customs determined improperly that One World's Redesigned GDOs fell within the scope of the ITC's Limited Exclusion Order. Id. at 1293 . The preliminary injunction directed release of the shipment in that case. Order at 2, One World Techs., Inc. v. United States , No. 18-cv-00200-JCG (CIT Dec. 14, 2018), ECF No. 72.

Plaintiff then attempted to import two shipments of Redesigned GDOs (Entry Nos. 442-75658274 ("First Shipment") and 442-75658266 ("Second Shipment")) on January 2, 2019. See Entry Summary, No. 442-75658274, Jan. 30, 2019, ECF No. 21-1 ; Detention Notice, Entry No. 442-75658274, Pl. Am. Compl. Ex. H, Apr. 2, 2019, ECF No. 120-8 ; Entry Summary, No. 442-75658266, Jan. 30, 2019, ECF No. 21-2. Customs detained the First and Second Shipments on January 15, 2019 and January 17, 2019, respectively. Pl. Am. Compl. ¶¶ 11-16; Pl. Am. Compl. Ex. H, Apr. 2, 2019, ECF No. 120-8 ; Pl. Am. Compl. Ex. I, Apr. 2, 2019, ECF No. 120-9.

*1358 Plaintiff attempted to import an additional shipment of Redesigned GDOs on January 22, 2019 (Entry No. 442-75661187 ("Third Shipment")), and filed this suit on January 25, 2019, shortly before another shipment of Redesigned GDOs was imported on January 29, 2019 (Entry No. 442-75661948 ("Fourth Shipment")). Pl. Am. Compl. ¶¶ 17-22; Pl. Am. Compl. Ex. Q, Apr. 2, 2019, ECF No. 120-17 ; Summons, Jan. 25, 2019, ECF No. 1 ; Compl., Jan. 25, 2019, ECF No. 6 ("Compl.") ; Pl. Am. Compl. Ex. R, Apr. 2, 2019, ECF No. 120-18.

The court held a TRO, PI, and Subject Matter Jurisdiction Hearing ("TRO & PI Hr'g") on February 11, 2019. TRO & PI Hr'g, Feb. 11, 2019, ECF No. 50 ; TRO & PI Hr'g Tr., Feb. 11, 2019, ECF No. 60. Following the hearing, the court issued a TRO directing Defendants not to seize the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Shipments. Order, Feb. 11, 2019, ECF No. 51. The court extended the TRO on February 21, 2019. Order, Feb. 21, 2019, ECF No. 70.

Chamberlain filed a writ of mandamus in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on February 13, 2019, which was denied on March 7, 2019. Emergency Pet. for a Writ of Mandamus, In Re The Chamberlain Group, Inc. , No. 19-111 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 13, 2019), ECF No. 3 ; Order, In Re The Chamberlain Group, Inc. , 756 Fed.Appx. 991 (Fed. Cir. 2019), ECF No. 29.

While the motion for the preliminary injunction was pending, Plaintiff attempted to import two additional shipments of Redesigned GDOs (Entry Nos. 442-75662557 ("Fifth Shipment") and 442-75665436 ("Sixth Shipment")). Pl. Am. Compl. ¶¶ 23-28. The Fifth and Sixth Shipments were not subject to the original complaint in this case. See Compl. Customs proffers that the Fifth Shipment was seized on March 8, 2019 and the Sixth Shipment was seized on March 11, 2019. Defs.' Resp. to Pl.'s Mot. for Leave to File Am. Compl. 3, Mar. 29, 2019, ECF No. 113. 1

The court issued a preliminary injunction on March 11, 2019. One World Techs., Inc. v. United States, et al. , --- F.Supp.3d ----, Slip Op. 19-33, 2019 WL 2005746 (CIT Mar. 11, 2019) (" One World II "); Order, Mar. 11, 2019, ECF No. 87. The preliminary injunction granted the requested relief in part, directing that the entries of Redesigned GDOs could not be seized. Order, Mar. 11, 2019, ECF No. 87.

The ITC filed a notice of appeal of the preliminary injunction on March 13, 2019. Notice of Appeal, Mar. 13, 2019, ECF No. 90. The Chamberlain Group, Inc. ("Chamberlain") filed a notice of appeal on March 19, 2019. Chamberlain's Notice of Appeal, Mar. 19, 2019, ECF No. 95. After the ITC filed notice of its appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the ITC filed a motion to stay the preliminary injunction and proceedings in the U.S. Court of International Trade on March 13, 2019. Mot. of the ITC to Stay the Prelim. Inj. & All Further Proceedings, Mar. 13, 2019, ECF No. 91.

The Parties submitted a Scheduling Order on March 20, 2019. Corrected Consent Mot. for Scheduling Order, Mar. 20, 2019, ECF No. 97. The court issued a scheduling *1359 order on March 21, 2019. Scheduling Order, Mar. 21, 2019, ECF No. 99.

Defendants moved for rehearing or reconsideration pursuant to USCIT Rule 60 on March 21, 2019. Defendants' Mot. for Reh'g or Recons., Mar. 21, 2019, ECF No. 100. One World, Chamberlain, and the ITC responded. Pl.'s Opp'n to Defs' Mot. to Reconsider, Apr. 3, 2019, ECF No. 122 ; Chamberlain's Resp. to Defs' Mot. for Reh'g or Recons., Apr. 3, 2019, ECF No. 124 ; Resp. of the ITC to U.S. Defs' Mot. for Reh'g or Recons., Mar. 29, 2019, ECF No. 112.

The ITC moved separately for a stay pending appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on March 22, 2019. Non-Confidential Emergency Mot. of Appellant ITC to Stay the Trial Ct.'s Prelim. Inj. & Further Proceedings Below Until Subject Matter Jurisdiction is Established, One World Techs., Inc. v. United States , No. 19-1663 (Fed. Cir. Mar. 22, 2019), ECF No. 6-1.

Plaintiff filed a motion to amend the complaint and a motion for supplemental injunctive relief on March 25, 2019. Pl.'s Mot. for Leave to File Am. Compl., Mar. 25, 2019, ECF No. 101 ; Emergency Mot. for Additional Injunctive Relief, Mar. 25, 2019, ECF No. 103 ("Motion for Additional Injunctive Relief"). Defendants filed an Answer to Plaintiff's original complaint, ECF No. 6, on March 26, 2019. Defs.' Answer & Affirmative Defense, Mar. 26, 2019, ECF No. 104.

Customs filed the administrative record in this case on March 26, 2019. Confidential Administrative R. for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Mar. 26, 2019, ECF No. 105 ; Public Administrative R. for CBP, Mar. 26, 2019, ECF No. 106.

Plaintiff filed a motion to supplement its Motion for Additional Injunctive Relief on March 28, 2019. Mot. to Suppl. Emergency Mot. for Additional Injunctive Relief, Mar. 28, 2019, ECF Nos. 108 & 109.

Defendants, Chamberlain, and the ITC responded to One World's motion to amend the complaint. Defs' Resp. to Pl.'s Mot. for Leave to File Am. Compl., Mar. 29, 2019, ECF No. 113 ; Chamberlain's Opp'n to Pl.'s Mot. for Leave to File Am. Compl., Mar. 29, 2019, ECF No. 114 ; Opp'n of the ITC to Pl's Mot. for Leave to File Am. Compl., Mar. 28, 2019, ECF No. 110.

The court granted Plaintiff's motion to amend the complaint, and Plaintiff's Amended Complaint was deemed filed on April 2, 2019. Order, Apr. 2, 2019, ECF No. 119 ; see also Pl. Am. Compl. Plaintiff's Amended Complaint alleged two counts. Count I requested injunctive relief and challenged Custom's decision to detain and exclude the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Shipments, and seize the Fifth and Sixth Shipments. Pl. Am. Compl. ¶¶ 83-94. Count II requested declaratory relief and challenged, inter alia , Customs' application of HQ H295697 to detain, exclude, or seize present and future shipments of Redesigned GDOs, as well as modify or revoke HQ H295697. Pl. Am. Compl. ¶¶ 95-117.

Defendants, Chamberlain, and the ITC responded to and opposed One World's Motion for Additional Injunctive Relief. Defs.' Resp. to Pl.'s Emergency Mot. for Additional Injunctive Relief, Apr. 2, 2019, ECF No. 117 ; Chamberlain's Resp. in Opp'n to Pl.'s Suppl. Emergency Mot. for Additional Injunctive Relief, Apr. 2, 2019, ECF No. 116 ; Opp'n of the ITC to Appellant's Mots. for Additional Injunctive Relief, Apr. 2, 2019, ECF No. 115.

Defendants filed a motion to withdraw their Motion for Rehearing or Reconsideration. Defs.' Mot. for Leave to Withdraw its Mot. for Reh'g or Recons., Apr. 5, 2019, ECF No. 129. One World, Chamberlain, *1360 and the ITC responded. Pl.'s Resp. to Defs.' Mot. to Withdraw Their Mot. for Reh'g or Recons., Apr. 10, 2019, ECF No. 136 ; Chamberlain's Resp. to the Government's Mot. to Withdraw Its Mot. for Reh'g or Recons., Apr. 9, 2019, ECF No. 132 ; Resp. of the ITC to U.S. Defs.' Mot. to Withdraw Its Mot. for Reh'g or Recons., ECF No. 133.

The court requested that Plaintiff provide additional information regarding the evidence for Plaintiff's Motion for Additional Injunctive Relief to clarify the record. Ltr. from Ct., Apr. 8, 2019, ECF No. 131. One World filed a Table of Evidence on April 10, 2019. Pl.'s Table of Evid., Apr. 10, 2019, ECF No. 135. Defendants and Chamberlain filed objections. Defs.' Resp. to Pl.'s Table of Evid., Apr. 11, 2019, ECF No. 139 ; Chamberlain's Objs. to Pl.'s Table of Evid., Apr. 11, 2019, ECF Nos. 137 & 138. One World responded to Defendants' and Chamberlain's objections. Pl.'s Resp. to the Government's and Chamberlain's Objs. to Pl.'s Table of Evid., Apr. 12, 2019, ECF Nos. 140 & 141.

Chamberlain filed a motion to partially dismiss Plaintiff's Amended Complaint on April 12, 2019. Chamberlain's Mot. to Partially Dismiss Am. Compl., Apr. 12, 2019, ECF No. 142. Defendants filed a motion to dismiss Plaintiff's Amended Complaint on April 16, 2019. Defs.' Mot. to Dismiss, Apr. 16, 2019, ECF No. 143.

Defendants filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on April 17, 2019. Notice of Appeal, Apr. 17, 2019, ECF No. 144. The ITC's motion for a stay pending appeal before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit was denied on April 17, 2019. Order, One World Techs., Inc. v. United States , No. 19-1663 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 17, 2019), ECF No. 37.

Plaintiff provided a status update regarding its Motion for Additional Injunctive Relief on April 19, 2019. Ltr. from One World to Ct., Apr. 19, 2019, ECF Nos. 146 & 147. The court requested that Plaintiff submit evidence in support of One World's status update. Ltr. from Ct., Apr. 24, 2019, ECF No. 154. One World filed a declaration and supporting exhibits on April 25, 2019. Ltr. from One World to Ct., Apr. 25, 2019, ECF Nos. 156 & 157.

One World notified the court of the ITC's Chief Administrative Law Judge's ("ALJ") Recommended Determination in the ITC's modification proceedings regarding the Redesigned GDOs on April 23, 2019, which concluded that the Redesigned GDOs do not infringe Chamberlain's patent and recommended that the ITC amend the prior Limited Exclusion Order to exclude the Redesigned GDOs. Pl. One World's Notice of Suppl. Authority in Supp. of Its Emergency Mot. for Additional Injunctive Relief, Apr. 23, 2019, ECF Nos. 151 & 152 ("One World's Notice of Supplemental Authority"); Recommended Determination, Ex. A, April 23, 2019, ECF No. 151-1. Chamberlain and the ITC responded. Resp. of Chamberlain to One World's Notice of Suppl. Authority, April 25, 2019, ECF No. 155 ; Resp. of the ITC to One World's Notice of Suppl. Authority, April 24, 2019, ECF No. 153.

The court denied the ITC's motion to stay on May 2, 2019. One World Techs., Inc., v. United States, et al. , --- F.Supp.3d ----, Slip Op. 19-53, 2019 WL 1975941 (CIT May 2, 2019).

Plaintiff and Defendants reached a Settlement Agreement on May 1, 2019 and filed the present Joint Motion to Dismiss. Joint Mot. to Dismiss, May 1, 2019, ECF No. 162. Chamberlain opposed the Joint Motion to Dismiss. Resp. of Chamberlain to Joint Mot. to Dismiss, May 2, 2019, ECF No. 163. The ITC took no position. Resp. of the ITC to the Mot. to Dismiss, *1361 May 2, 2019, ECF No. 165. Defendants replied on May 2, 2019. Defs.' Reply to Chamberlain's Resp. to the Joint Mot. to Dismiss, May 2, 2019, ECF No. 167. Defendants filed a clarification of their position regarding a stay on May 3, 2019. Clarification of Defs.' Position Regarding a Stay, May 3, 2019, ECF No. 169.

The court held a telephonic status conference on May 3, 2019, ECF No. 168. Following the status conference, the court suspended all briefing, discovery, and further proceeding deadlines occurring on or after May 1, 2019 in Court No. 19-00017. Order, May 3, 2019, ECF No. 171. The court also ordered proceedings in Court No. 18-00200 to be stayed effective May 3, 2019. Order, One World Techs., Inc. v. United States , No. 18-cv-00200-JCG (CIT May 3, 2019), ECF No. 119.

Defendants moved to dismiss their appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Federal Defendants-Appellants' Mot. to Dismiss Appeal No. 2019-1783, One World Techs., Inc. v. United States , Nos. 19-1663, 19-1681, 19-1783 (Fed. Cir. May 3, 2019), ECF No. 49. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit granted Defendants' motion and dismissed Defendants' appeal. Order, One World Techs., Inc. v. United States , No. 19-1783 (Fed. Cir. May 6, 2019), ECF No. 50. Chamberlain's appeal, Court No. 19-1681, and the ITC's appeal, Ct. No. 19-1663, currently remain pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. See One World Techs., Inc. v. United States , Nos. 19-1663, 19-1681 (Fed. Cir. filed Mar. 18, 2019 & Mar. 21, 2019).

JURISDICTION

The court found jurisdiction previously in this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1581(i) (2012). See One World II . This court has jurisdiction over Plaintiff's Joint Motion to Dismiss, as Federal Rule of Appellate Practice 4(a)(4)(B)(i) suspends the effect of the notices of appeal until the U.S. Court of International Trade rules on the motions to alter or amend the judgment under USCIT Rule 59 and for relief under USCIT Rule 60. 2 See Order, Apr. 2, 2019, ECF No. 119 ; Bd. of Trs. of Bay Med. Ctr. v. Humana Military Healthcare Servs., Inc. , 123 F.App'x 995 , 997 (Fed. Cir. 2005) ("Under Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(4)(B)(i), the notice of appeal was not effective until the district court had disposed of the motion for reconsideration on the merits."); Fed. R. App. P. Rule 4(a)(4)(A)(iv), (vi) ; Fed. R. Civ. P. 62.1 Advisory Committee Notes, 2009 Adoption ("Appellate Rule 4(a)(4) lists six motions that, if filed within the relevant time limit, suspend the effect of a notice of appeal filed before or after the motion is filed until the last such motion is disposed of. [sic]"). As Plaintiff has a pending motion under USCIT Rule 59, Plaintiff's Emergency Motion for Additional Injunctive Relief, Mar. 25, 2019, ECF Nos. 102 & 103, and Defendants have a pending motion under USCIT Rule 60, Defs.' Mot. for Reh'g or Recons., Mar. 21, 2019, ECF No. 100, this court retains jurisdiction to rule on the present Joint Motion to Dismiss.

DISCUSSION

I. Voluntary Dismissal Under USCIT Rule 41(a)(2)

Plaintiff's Joint Motion to Dismiss requests dismissal of Count I of the Amended *1362 Complaint with prejudice, and dismissal of Count II of the Amended Complaint without prejudice. Joint Motion to Dismiss 3. Although Plaintiff and Defendants consent to the motion, Defendant-Intervenor Chamberlain does not consent to the Joint Motion to Dismiss, Resp. of Chamberlain to Joint Motion to Dismiss 1, May 2, 2019, ECF No. 163, and the motion is adjudicated under USCIT Rule 41(a)(2). See Garber v. Chicago Mercantile Exch. , 570 F.3d 1361 , 1365 (Fed. Cir. 2009) (stating that " Rule 41(a) contemplates the voluntary dismissal of actions .... Rule 41(a)(1)(A)(ii) permits dismissal at any time during the proceedings if all parties sign a stipulation of dismissal. In contrast, Rule 41(a)(2) contemplates dismissal of the action by the plaintiff at a latter stage of the proceedings without agreement from all parties involved.").

Dismissal under USCIT Rule 41(a)(2) is within the discretion of the court. USCIT Rule 41(a)(2) ("[A]n action may be dismissed at the plaintiff's request only by court order, on terms that the court considers proper."); see Walter Kidde Portable Equip., Inc. v. Universal Sec. Instruments, Inc. , 479 F.3d 1330 , 1336-37 (Fed. Cir. 2007) ; Tomoegawa (U.S.A.), Inc. v. United States , 15 C.I.T. 182 , 190, 763 F.Supp. 614 (1991). The primary purpose of USCIT Rule 41(a)(2) is to prevent voluntary dismissals that unfairly affect the other side, and to permit the imposition of curative conditions. Legal prejudice to the defendant is the foremost factor for the court to consider in exercising its discretion over a Rule 41(a)(2) motion to dismiss. Tomoegawa , 15 C.I.T. at 190 , 763 F.Supp. 614 ; see also Zhengzhou Harmoni Spice Co. v. United States , 34 C.I.T. 40 , 47-49, 675 F.Supp.2d 1320 (2010) (discussing that dismissal without prejudice has a greater risk of legal prejudice than dismissal with prejudice).

As an initial matter, the court finds that there is no legal prejudice to the Defendants, as Defendants consent to Plaintiff's Joint Motion to Dismiss and raise no assertion of prejudice to Defendants' interests. Joint Mot. to Dismiss, May 1, 2019, ECF No. 162 ; see Defs.' Reply to Chamberlain's Resp. to the Joint Mot. to Dismiss, May 2, 2019, ECF No. 167.

The court also considers prejudice to Defendant-Intervenors. See Zhengzhou Harmoni Spice , 34 C.I.T. at 49 , 675 F.Supp.2d 1320 . Defendant-Intervenor ITC does not assert any prejudice as a result of Plaintiff's Joint Motion to Dismiss. Resp. of the ITC to the Mot. to Dismiss 1, May 2, 2019, ECF No. 165 (taking "no position" on the Joint Motion to Dismiss). The court finds that there is no legal prejudice to the ITC.

Defendant-Intervenor Chamberlain asserts prejudice from Plaintiff's voluntary dismissal. Resp. of Chamberlain to Joint Mot. to Dismiss 5, May 2, 2019, ECF No. 163. Chamberlain argues that the Settlement Agreement will prejudice Chamberlain by giving effect prematurely to the ITC ALJ's Recommended Determination before the ITC decides whether to adopt the ALJ's recommendation. Id. Defendants counter that the Settlement Agreement will not give effect to the ITC ALJ's Recommended Determination, but explain instead that the "reasoning underlying the recommendations ... caused Customs to reevaluate the appropriateness of continuing to exclude and seize One World's Redesigned GDOs." Defs.' Reply to Chamberlain's Resp. to the Joint Mot. to Dismiss 3, May 2, 2019, ECF No. 167. Defendants also contend that as a Defendant-Intervenor, "Chamberlain's role is limited to defending the Government's actions" and that Chamberlain requests relief which is beyond the scope of *1363 Plaintiff's Amended Complaint and "does not support the position of the [D]efendants." Id. at 2-3.

First, the court notes that Chamberlain has not filed any crossclaim or counterclaim in this action, and Chamberlain's interests in the present action are limited to that of a Defendant-Intervenor. United States v. T.J. Manalo, Inc. , 33 C.I.T. 1530 , 1536, 659 F.Supp.2d 1297 (2009) (noting that "because no counterclaim was asserted in this case, there can be no concern that such a claim might be compromised by a dismissal"). As Plaintiff and Defendants have resolved their dispute by means of a Settlement Agreement, the court finds that Chamberlain cannot insist that Plaintiff maintain the present action for the purposes of serving Chamberlain's interests as a Defendant-Intervenor. See Zhengzhou Harmoni Spice , 34 C.I.T. at 50 , 675 F.Supp.2d 1320 .

Second, the court finds that Chamberlain is not prejudiced by the dismissal of Plaintiff's claims that seek relief contrary to Chamberlain's interests, including Chamberlain's interest in protecting its patent rights. See , e.g. , Resp. of Chamberlain to Joint Mot. to Dismiss 3, May 2, 2019, ECF No. 163 (noting Chamberlain's interest in its patent rights). On the contrary, dismissal benefits Chamberlain by removing the possibility that the court could grant Plaintiff's requested relief by finding that One World's products do not infringe Chamberlain's patent. The court concludes that dismissal also benefits Chamberlain because Chamberlain itself requested that the court partially dismiss the Amended Complaint, and the court is thus partially granting Chamberlain's requested relief. See Chamberlain's Mot. to Partially Dismiss Am. Compl., Apr. 12, 2019, ECF No. 142.

Third, Chamberlain asserts that it will be prejudiced by dismissal because Chamberlain disagrees with the Settlement Agreement between One World and Defendants. See Resp. of Chamberlain to Joint Mot. to Dismiss 5, May 2, 2019, ECF No. 163. Chamberlain argues that the ITC's orders do not permit Customs to release the Redesigned GDOs for consumption in the United States. See id. at 4-5. Defendants counter that Customs is permitted to conditionally release the subject merchandise under bond. See Defs.' Reply to Chamberlain's Resp. to the Joint Mot. to Dismiss 3-4, May 2, 2019, ECF No. 167. The court finds that Chamberlain's concerns with the Settlement Agreement are not appropriately addressed in the context of Plaintiff's motion for voluntary dismissal. See In re Cyclobenzaprine Hydrochloride Extended-Release Capsule Patent Litig. , 504 F.App'x 900 , 906 n.3 (Fed. Cir. 2013) (noting that a settlement agreement is akin to a contract).

The court concludes that Chamberlain does not demonstrate that Chamberlain will suffer prejudice in this action if the court grants Plaintiff's Joint Motion to Dismiss. The court exercises its discretion to grant Plaintiff's Joint Motion to Dismiss.

II. Jurisdiction Over the Settlement Agreement

Pursuant to USCIT Rule 41(a)(2) and as a term of the dismissal, the court exercises its discretion to retain jurisdiction over enforcement of and compliance with the Settlement Agreement. USCIT Rule 41(a)(2) ; see Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of Am. , 511 U.S. 375 , 381, 114 S.Ct. 1673 , 128 L.Ed.2d 391 (1994) ; Nissim Corp. v. ClearPlay, Inc. , 499 F.App'x 23 , 30 (Fed. Cir. 2012) (citing Kokkonen for the holding that a court "has the discretion to retain ancillary jurisdiction to enforce a settlement agreement");

*1364 In re Cyclobenzaprine Hydrochloride Extended-Release Capsule Patent Litig. , 504 F.App'x at 909 n.6 ; Schaefer Fan Co. v. J & D Mfg. , 265 F.3d 1282 , 1287 (Fed. Cir. 2001) ; see also 28 U.S.C. §§ 1585 , 2201. The court notes that the Government agreed to conditionally release the First, Second, Third and Fourth Shipments in Section 1.3 of the Settlement Agreement, and the Government agreed to conditionally release all future shipments of Redesigned GDOs in Section 1.5 of the Settlement Agreement. See Settlement Agreement, Ex. A, May 1, 2019, ECF No. 162-3. The court expects that One World and Defendants will abide by the terms of the Settlement Agreement.

III. Pending Motions in This Action

For the foregoing reasons, the court dismisses the complaint, and the court denies the following pending motions as moot: Defendants' Motion for Rehearing or Reconsideration, March 21, 2019, ECF No. 100, Plaintiff's Emergency Motion for Additional Injunctive Relief, March 25, 2019, ECF Nos. 102 & 103, Plaintiff's Motion to Supplement Emergency Motion for Additional Injunctive Relief, March 28, 2019, ECF Nos. 108 & 109, Defendants' Motion for Leave to Withdraw its Motion for Rehearing or Reconsideration, April 5, 2019, ECF No. 129, Chamberlain's Motion to Partially Dismiss Amended Complaint, April 12, 2019, ECF No. 142, Defendants' Motion to Dismiss, April 16, 2019, ECF No. 143, and Plaintiff's Emergency Motion to Release the Merchandise, May 9, 2019, ECF No. 176.

A judgment will issue accordingly.

1 Plaintiff initially notified the court of the seizure by letter. Ltr. from Jason C. White to Hon. Jennifer Choe-Groves, Mar. 11, 2019, ECF No. 85. Defendants moved to strike Plaintiff's letter. Defs.' Mot. to Strike, Mar. 12, 2019, ECF No. 88. The court denied Defendants' Motion to Strike on March 13, 2019. Order, Mar. 13, 2019, ECF No. 89 ; see also Defs.' Resp. to Pl.'s Mot. for Leave to File Am. Compl., Mar. 29, 2019, ECF No. 113 (proffering that "these entries have been seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection").

2 Federal Rule of Appellate Practice 4(a)(4)(A) references the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The Rules of the United States Court of International Trade ("CIT Rules") are styled, numbered and arranged to the maximum extent practicable in conformity with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the CIT Rules are the appropriate cross-reference in this matter. See Preface, CIT Rules.