`
`IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE
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`WIRTGEN AMERICA, INC.,
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`Plaintiff/Counterclaim-Defendant,
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`v.
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`CATERPILLAR INC.,
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`Defendant/Counterclaim-Plaintiff.
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`Civil Action No. 1:17-cv-00770-JDW
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`JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
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`JOINT PRETRIAL ORDER
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 328 Filed 02/09/24 Page 2 of 52 PageID #: 30751
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`TABLE OF CONTENTS
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`I.
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`II.
`III.
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`IV.
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`Nature of the Action ............................................................................................................ 1
`A.
`Summary Judgment & Daubert Rulings ................................................................ 2
`B.
`Motions In Limine ................................................................................................... 5
`C.
`The Section 337 Investigation at the International Trade Commission .................. 5
`D.
`The Inter Partes Review Proceedings at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board ....... 10
`Jurisdiction ........................................................................................................................ 11
`Issues of Fact ..................................................................................................................... 12
`A.
`Uncontested Facts ................................................................................................. 12
`1.
`Parties ........................................................................................................ 12
`2.
`Wirtgen America’s Asserted Patents ........................................................ 12
`3.
`Accused Products ...................................................................................... 24
`4.
`Representative Products ............................................................................ 25
`5.
`Documents ................................................................................................ 26
`Contested Facts ..................................................................................................... 26
`B.
`Claim Construction ........................................................................................................... 27
`A.
`Agreed-Upon Claim Constructions (D.I. 167, 168, 182) ...................................... 27
`B.
`Court’s Constructions of the Disputed Terms (D.I. 167, 168) .............................. 28
`Issues of Law .................................................................................................................... 28
`V.
`VI. Witnesses .......................................................................................................................... 29
`VII. Exhibits ............................................................................................................................. 31
`VIII. Statements of Intended Proofs .......................................................................................... 35
`IX.
`Amendment of the Pleadings ............................................................................................ 35
`X.
`Additional Matters ............................................................................................................ 35
`A.
`Demonstrative Exhibits ......................................................................................... 35
`B.
`Procedures for the Timely Exchange of Evidence ................................................ 36
`1.
`Opening Statements .................................................................................. 36
`2.
`Closing Arguments ................................................................................... 37
`3.
`Direct Examination ................................................................................... 37
`4.
`Cross Examination .................................................................................... 39
`5.
`Testimony by Deposition .......................................................................... 39
`6.
`Miscellaneous ........................................................................................... 41
`Treatment of ITC Proceedings .............................................................................. 41
`Number of Jurors and Juror Selection Process ..................................................... 42
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`C.
`D.
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`
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`i
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 328 Filed 02/09/24 Page 3 of 52 PageID #: 30752
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`E.
`Length of Trial ...................................................................................................... 42
`Order of Presentation of Evidence ........................................................................ 43
`F.
`Jury Notes ............................................................................................................. 44
`G.
`Handling of Protected Information at Trial .......................................................... 44
`H.
`Set-Up of Electronic Equipment ........................................................................... 45
`I.
`Federal Judicial Center’s Patent Video ................................................................. 45
`J.
`Order to Control Course of Action ....................................................................... 45
`K.
`Settlement ......................................................................................................................... 46
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`
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`XI.
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`ii
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 328 Filed 02/09/24 Page 4 of 52 PageID #: 30753
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`INDEX OF EXHIBITS
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`STATEMENT OF CONTESTED FACTS TO BE LITIGATED
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`Wirtgen America
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`Caterpillar
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`--
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`--
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`STATEMENT OF ISSUES OF LAW TO BE LITIGATED
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`Wirtgen America
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`Caterpillar
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`TRIAL WITNESSES LISTS
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`Wirtgen America
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`Caterpillar
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`--
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`--
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`--
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`--
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`STATEMENT OF INTENDED PROOFS
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`Wirtgen America
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`Caterpillar
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`--
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`--
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`Exhibit 1A
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`Exhibit 1B
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`Exhibit 2A
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`Exhibit 2B
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`Exhibit 3A
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`Exhibit 3B
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`Exhibit 6A
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`Exhibit 6B
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`iii
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 328 Filed 02/09/24 Page 5 of 52 PageID #: 30754
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`Plaintiff Wirtgen America, Inc. (“Wirtgen America”) and Defendant Caterpillar Inc.
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`(“Caterpillar”) submit this Joint Pretrial Order governing trial of this action. This Joint Pretrial
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`Order is being submitted in advance of the Final Pretrial Conference scheduled for February 8,
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`2024. Jury selection and trial are scheduled to begin on February 12, 2024 at 9:30 a.m.1
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`This order shall control the subsequent course of the action, unless modified by the Court
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`to prevent manifest injustice. The parties reserve the right to seek leave to supplement or amend
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`this Joint Pretrial Order based on the Court’s forthcoming rulings, other subsequent events, or by
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`agreement.
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`I.
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`NATURE OF THE ACTION
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`1.
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`Plaintiff and Counterclaim-Defendant Wirtgen America, Inc. filed this lawsuit
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`against Defendant and Counterclaim-Plaintiff Caterpillar Inc. on June 16, 2017, asserting claims
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`of patent infringement. Wirtgen America filed an amended complaint on September 2, 2021.
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`2.
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`In the amended complaint, Wirtgen America alleged that Caterpillar infringes U.S.
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`Patent Nos. 7,828,309 (“the ’309 patent”), 8,118,316 (“the ’316 patent”), 7,530,641 (“the ’641
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`patent”), 8,113,592 (“the ’592 patent”), 9,010,871 (“the ’871 patent”), 9,656,530 (“the ’530
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`patent”), 7,946,788 (“the ’788 patent”), 8,511,932 (“the ’932 patent”), 8,690,474 (“the ’474
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`patent”), RE48,268 (“the ’268 patent”), 8,424,972 (“the ’972 patent”), 9,879,390 (“the ’390
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`patent”), and 9,879,391 (“the ’391 patent”). The products accused of infringement are Caterpillar’s
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`large milling machines (including the PM600 and PM800 series machines), small milling
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`machines (including the PM300 series machines), and rotary mixer machines (including the
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`RM600 and RM800 series machines).
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`1 Unless otherwise indicated, all times referenced in this Joint Pretrial Order are to local
`time in Wilmington, Delaware. Unless otherwise indicated, all days are in calendar days.
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`1
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`3.
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`On October 14, 2021, Caterpillar filed an answer and counterclaims asserting
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`infringement of the U.S. Patent Nos. 9,371,618 (“the ’618 patent”), 9,975,538 (“the ’538 patent”),
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`and 9,523,995 (“the ’995 patent”). On November 18, 2021, Caterpillar filed an amended answer.
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`4.
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`On April 10, 2023, the parties filed a stipulation to stay the proceedings with respect
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`to Wirtgen America’s ’390 and ’391 patents due to the institution of IPR proceedings concerning
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`most of the asserted claims in these patents. D.I. 185. Likewise, the parties filed a stipulation to
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`stay the proceedings with respect to Caterpillar’s ’538 and ’995 patents due to the institution of
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`IPR proceedings on most of the asserted claims in these patents. Id.
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`5.
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`On April 28, 2023, Wirtgen America and Caterpillar narrowed the number of
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`asserted patents and claims pursuant to the Modified Scheduling Order, D.I. 187, and instructions
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`provided during the Court’s teleconference with the parties on April 20, 2023. D.I. 194 and 195.
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`The Court later instructed Wirtgen America, by sua sponte motion, to reduce its number of asserted
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`claims to no more than 20, with no more than four per patent, and Caterpillar to reduce its invalidity
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`references to no more than 20. D.I. 197.
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`6.
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`Pursuant to the Court’s Order requiring the parties to reduce the number of asserted
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`claims, on May 12, 2023, Wirtgen America narrowed its asserted patents and claims to claims 10
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`and 29 of the ’309 patent; claims 5, 13, 16, and 22 of the ’530 patent; claims 12, 13, 15, and 27 of
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`the ’972 patent; claims 11, 17, and 18 of the ’641 patent; claim 5 of the ’788 patent; claims 19 and
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`21 of the ’474 patent; and claims 1, 23, 30, and 32 of the ’268 patent.
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`Summary Judgment & Daubert Rulings
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`On October 5, 2023, Wirtgen America moved for partial summary judgment
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`A.
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`7.
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`seeking:
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`a.
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`Summary judgment that certain Caterpillar accused products infringe
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`certain asserted claims of the ’530, ’309, and ’641 patents;
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`2
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`b.
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`Summary judgment that Caterpillar is estopped from pursuing its invalidity
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`claims against Wirtgen America’s ’530 and ’309 patents under 35 U.S.C. § 315(e);
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`c.
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`Summary judgment that the claim scope in the ’268 patent is not broader
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`than the claim scope of the originally issued U.S. Patent No. 8,408,659; and
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`d.
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`Summary judgment that the accused Wirtgen America W 207 Fi, W 210 Fi,
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`W 220 Fi, and W 250 Fi milling machines do not infringe Caterpillar’s asserted ’618
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`patent.
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`See D.I. 217.
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`8.
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`On October 5, 2023, Caterpillar moved for partial summary judgment seeking:
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`patent;
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`a.
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`b.
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`c.
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`d.
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`Summary judgment of non-infringement of claims 17 and 18 of the ’641
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`Summary judgment of non-infringement of claim 10 of the ’309 patent;
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`Summary judgment of non-infringement of claim 13 of the ’972 patent;
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`Summary judgment of non-infringement of the asserted claims of the ’474
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`and/or ’788 patents;
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`e.
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`f.
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`See D.I. 209.
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`Summary judgment of no willful infringement of the Asserted Patents; and
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`Summary judgment of invalidity of claim 1[c] of the ’268 patent.
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`9.
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`On January 4, 2024, the Court resolved the pending motions for summary
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`judgment. See D.I. 272. The Court held that:
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`a.
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`Wirtgen America is entitled to summary judgment that it does not infringe
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`Claims 1 and 8 of the ’618 patent.
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`3
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`b.
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`Caterpillar is entitled to summary judgment that it does not infringe Claim
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`17 of the ’641 patent.
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`c.
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`d.
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`e.
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`IPR estoppel will apply against Caterpillar.
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`There was no improper broadening of the ’268 patent.
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`The remaining issues raised by the parties’ summary judgment motions will
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`proceed to the jury.
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`See id. at 26.
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`10.
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`On October 5, 2023, Wirtgen America moved to exclude the testimony of
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`Caterpillar’s proffered willfulness expert, Paul Bartkowski. See D.I. 217.
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`11.
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`On October 5, 2023, Caterpillar moved to exclude the testimony of:
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`a.
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`b.
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`Dr. Pallavi Seth’s opinions regarding Wirtgen America’s damages;
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`Wirtgen America’s experts’ opinions that Wirtgen-branded machines
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`practice the Asserted Patents;
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`c.
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`Wirtgen America’s experts’ opinions regarding mental state or subjective
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`intent; and
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`d.
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`Wirtgen America’s experts’ opinions regarding the doctrine of equivalents.
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`12.
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`On January 16, 2024, the Court resolved certain pending Daubert Motions. See D.I.
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`283. That Memorandum and Order did not address the admissibility of Dr. Seth’s testimony. The
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`Court held that:
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`a.
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`b.
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`c.
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`Mr. Bartkowski’s testimony would be excluded;
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`Dr. Meyer’s opinion on the doctrine of equivalents would be excluded;
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`And denied the motions to exclude in all other respects.
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`4
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`13.
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`On February 5, 2024, the Court held that Dr. Seth’s expert report violated principles
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`of apportionment but gave Wirtgen the opportunity to disclose aspects of Dr. Seth’s opinion that
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`it still believed to be admissible. See D.I. 309. Wirtgen served a supplemental expert report.
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`Caterpillar moved for its exclusion. See D.I. 320. On February 9, 2024, the Court denied
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`Caterpillar’s motion to exclude Dr. Seth’s testimony. See D.I. 325, 326.
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`B. Motions In Limine
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`14.
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`On January 19, 2024, Wirtgen America moved in limine to (a) preclude Caterpillar
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`from introducing at trial new theories, expert opinions, or evidence not previously disclosed;
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`(b) preclude Caterpillar from presenting evidence or eliciting testimony regarding a purported
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`belief of non-infringement; (c) preclude Caterpillar from arguing claim construction to the jury;
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`(d) preclude Caterpillar from discussing claims and patents not at issue; and (e) preclude
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`Caterpillar from presenting statements or findings regarding cancelled claims from the PTAB’s
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`Final Written Decision concerning the ’972 patent. D.I. 287.
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`15.
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`On January 19, 2024, Caterpillar moved in limine to (a) limit certain evidence
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`related to Wirtgen GmbH; (b) limit certain prejudicial evidence related to Certain Road Milling
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`Machines and Components Thereof, ITC-337-TA-1067; and (c) preclude unsubstantiated
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`allegations of “tip-over” incidents. D.I. 289.
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`16.
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`On February 7, 2024, the Court resolved Wirtgen and Caterpillar’s Motions in
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`limine. See D.I. 319. The Court granted Wirtgen’s Motions in limine to the extent that Dr. Rakow
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`testifies at trial that the magnet and the sensor are two separate components and denied the Motions
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`in all other respects. The Court denied Caterpillar’s Motions in limine in their entirety.
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`C.
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`17.
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`The Section 337 Investigation at the International Trade Commission
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`On July 19, 2017, Wirtgen America filed a complaint pursuant to 19 U.S.C. § 1337
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`with the United States International Trade Commission (“ITC”) alleging that Caterpillar Inc.,
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`5
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`Caterpillar Paving Products, Inc., Caterpillar Prodotti Stradali S.r.L., Caterpillar Bitelli SpA, and
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`Caterpillar Americas CV unlawfully imported road milling machines that infringe Wirtgen
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`America’s patents. That complaint asserted the ’641, ’309, and ’530 patents along with U.S. Patent
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`Nos. 9,624,628 (“the ’628 patent”) and 9,644,340 (“the ’340 patent”).
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`18.
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`On August 25, 2017, the ITC instituted a Section 337 investigation, Investigation
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`No. 337-TA-1067 (“the 1067 Investigation”), to determine whether there was a violation of
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`subsection (a)(1)(B) of 19 U.S.C. § 1337 by the importation into the United States, sale for
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`importation, or sale within the United States after importation of Caterpillar’s milling machines
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`and components thereof that infringe one or more of claims 1, 2, 4, 6–8, 11, 12, and 15–17 of the
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`’641 patent; claims 1–3, 5–24, and 26–36 of the ’309 patent; claims 1, 2, 5, 6, 9–22, and 27–29 of
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`the ’628 patent; claims 1–5, 7–12, and 14–17 of the ’340 patent; and claims 1–7, 13–24, and 26 of
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`the ’530 patent.
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`19.
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`After institution, the Court stayed this action as to the patents asserted in the 1067
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`Investigation pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1659 and exercised its discretion to stay the case as to the
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`other patents asserted in the Complaint. See D.I. 9.
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`20.
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`On February 5, 2018, pursuant to an unopposed motion by Wirtgen America, an
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`ITC Administrative Law Judge issued an Initial Determination permitting Wirtgen America to
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`terminate the investigation as to multiple asserted claims. This left the following claims at issue:
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`(a) claims 1, 7, 8, 11, 12, and 17 of the ’641 patent; (b) claims 1, 6, 10, 11, 13, 14, 17, 26, 29, and
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`36 of the ’309 patent; (c) claims 1, 5, 6, 11, 14, 15, 16, 18, and 19 of the ’628 patent; (d) claims 1,
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`4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, and 17 of the ’340 patent; and (e) claims 1–3, 5, 15–18, and 22–24 of the ’530
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`patent.
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`6
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`21.
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`On March 15, 2018, pursuant to another unopposed motion by Wirtgen America,
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`an ITC Administrative Law Judge issued an Initial Determination permitting Wirtgen America to
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`terminate the investigations as to multiple asserted claims. This left the following claims at issue:
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`(a) claims 1, 7, 11, and 17 of the ’641 patent; (b) claims 10, 29, and 36 of the ’309 patent; (c) claims
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`1, 11, 15, 18, and 19 of the ’628 patent; (d) claims 4, 5, 9, and 12 of the ’340 patent; and (e) claims
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`2, 5, 16, and 23 of the ’530 patent.
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`22.
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`On March 27, 2018, pursuant to another unopposed motion by Wirtgen America,
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`an ITC Administrative Law Judge issued an Initial Determination permitting Wirtgen America to
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`terminate the investigations as to multiple asserted claims. This left the following claims at issue:
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`(a) claims 1, 7, 11, and 17 of the ’641 patent; (b) claims 10, 29, and 36 of the ’309 patent; (c) no
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`claims of the ’628 patent; (d) claims 4, 5, 9, and 12 of the ’340 patent; and (e) claims 2, 5, 16, and
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`23 of the ’530 patent.
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`23.
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`Regarding the claims and patents ultimately tried, on October 1, 2018, an ITC
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`Administrative Law Judge issued a Final Initial Determination (“FID”) concluding (1) that
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`Caterpillar failed to show that claims 10, 29, and 36 of the ’309 patent are invalid; (2) that the
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`PM600 and PM 800 series machines did not infringe claim 10 of the ’309 patent; (3) that the
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`PM600 and PM800 series machines infringe claims 29 and 36 of the ’309 patent; (3) that
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`Caterpillar failed to show that claims 11 and 17 of the ’641 patent are invalid; (4) that, “the
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`[PM300, PM600, and PM800 series machines] practice limitations 11[a]–11[g] when they are
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`driven in reverse” and “practice the steps of claim[] 17 when the milling drum is raised and they
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`are driven in reverse,” but that Wirtgen America failed to prove induced infringement of those
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`claims; (5) that Caterpillar showed claims 1 and 7 of the ’641 patent are indefinite; (6) that
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`Caterpillar failed to show that claims 2, 5, 16, and 23 of the ’530 patent are invalid; (7) that the
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`7
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 328 Filed 02/09/24 Page 12 of 52 PageID #: 30761
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`PM600 and PM800 series machines infringe claims 2, 5, 16, and 23 of the ’530 patent; (8) that the
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`PM620 machine infringes claims 4, 5, 9, and 12 of the ’340 patent; and (9) that Caterpillar showed
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`that claims 4, 5, 9, and 12 of the ’340 patent are obvious. The Administrative Law Judge therefore
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`found a violation of Section 337 with respect to the ’309 patent and the ’530 patent. The 1067
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`Investigation, FID at 175–76, 435–38 (Oct. 1, 2018).
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`24.
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`On July 18, 2019, the ITC issued its Final Determination; a limited exclusion order
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`precluding importation of road milling machines (e.g., the PM600 and PM800 series machines)
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`and components thereof covered by claim 29 of the ’309 patent or claims 2, 5, 16, or 23 of the
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`’530 patent; and a cease and desist order precluding “any of the following activities in the United
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`States: importing, selling, offering for sale, marketing, advertising, distributing, transferring
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`(except for exportation) and soliciting United States agents or distributors for road milling machine
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`and components thereof that infringe one or more of claim 29 of [the ’309 patent] or claims 2, 5,
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`16, or 23 of [the ’530 patent].” The 1067 Investigation, Cease and Desist Order at 1 (July 18,
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`2019). The ITC did not find sufficient evidence that Caterpillar induced customers to infringe
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`claims 11 and 17 of the ’641 patent.
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`25.
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`The parties then appealed certain findings of the ITC’s Final Determination in the
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`1067 Investigation to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Caterpillar
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`appealed the finding of a violation with respect to the ’530 and ’309 patents, and Wirtgen America
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`appealed the ITC’s determination that Caterpillar’s acts did not induce infringement of the ’641
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`patent by Caterpillar’s customers.
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`26.
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`On March 15, 2021, the Federal Circuit issued its opinion in Caterpillar Prodotti
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`Stradali S.r.L. et al. v. Int’l Trade Comm’n et al., No. 2019-2445, and Wirtgen America, Inc. v.
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`Int’l Trade Comm’n et al., No. 2019-1911. The Federal Circuit affirmed the ITC’s decision as to
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`8
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 328 Filed 02/09/24 Page 13 of 52 PageID #: 30762
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`the ’309 and ’530 patents, reversed the ITC’s finding that Wirtgen America had failed to prove the
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`knowledge required for inducement, and vacated the finding of no induced infringement of the
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`’641 patent with respect to the PM600 and PM800 series machines. The Federal Circuit affirmed
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`the ALJ’s findings (adopted by the ITC) that Wirtgen America failed to prove that Caterpillar’s
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`PM300 series machines infringed claims 11 and 17 of the ’641 patent because Wirtgen America
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`failed to show that a PM300 machine had been used in the United States in any infringing manner.
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`See Caterpillar Prodotti Stradale S.r.L. v. ITC, 847 F. App’x 893, 900 (Fed. Cir. 2021). The
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`Federal Circuit remanded for further proceedings related to the ’641 patent.
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`27.
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`On November 4, 2021, the Commission issued a modified limited exclusion order
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`and two modified cease and desist orders covering claims 11 and 17 of the ’641 patent.
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`28.
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`The ITC’s and Federal Circuit’s decisions in the 1067 Investigation that the PM600
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`and PM800 series machines infringe certain valid claims of the ’309, ’530, and ’641 patents and
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`that the PM300 series machines infringe certain valid claims of the ’641 patent are final. And the
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`ITC has issued a limited exclusion order prohibiting Caterpillar from importing infringing
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`machines and components thereof prior to the expiration of those patents.
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`29.
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`Caterpillar updated its PM600 and PM800 Series machines (collectively, the “2019
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`and 2020 PM600 and PM800 Redesigned Machines”) in 2019 and 2020 related to the features
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`found to infringe the ’530 and ’309 patents. Caterpillar again updated the machines (collectively,
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`the “2021 PM600 and PM800 Redesigned Machines”) in 2021 related to the features found to
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`infringe the ’641 patent. On May 19, 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“Customs”)
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`determined that the 2019 and 2020 PM600 and PM800 Redesigned Machines did not infringe the
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`valid claims found infringed by the legacy PM600 and PM800 Series machines with respect to the
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`’530 and ’309 patents as a result of ITC Investigation No. 337-TA-1067, and therefore that the
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`9
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 328 Filed 02/09/24 Page 14 of 52 PageID #: 30763
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`2019 and 2020 PM600 and PM800 Redesigned Machines were not subject to the limited exclusion
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`order issued prior to the end of that investigation. On April 2, 2022, Customs also determined that
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`the 2021 PM600 and PM800 Redesigned Machines did not infringe the valid claims found
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`infringed by the legacy PM600 and PM800 Series machines with respect to the ’641 patent as a
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`result of ITC Investigation No. 337-TA-1067, and therefore that the 2021 PM600 and PM800
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`Redesigned Machines were not subject to the limited exclusion order issued at the end of the
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`investigation.
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`30.
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`On May 27, 2021, this Court lifted the stay with respect to all of the patents asserted
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`in the 1067 Investigation, except the ’641 patent pending remand. D.I. 25. Following the
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`Commission’s decision on remand, on January 20, 2022, this Court lifted the stay with respect to
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`the ’641 patent. D.I. 78. The record of the 1067 Investigation is admissible pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
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`§ 1659(b), but none of its findings are binding in this case.
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`D.
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`31.
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`The Inter Partes Review Proceedings at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board
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`During the pendency of this action and the 1067 Investigation, Caterpillar
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`petitioned the Patent Trial and Appeal Board of the United States Patent and Trademark Office
`
`(“PTAB”) for inter partes review (“IPR”) of the ’309 and ’530 patents.
`
`32.
`
`On October 19, 2017, Caterpillar petitioned for IPR of the ’309 patent, seeking a
`
`decision from the PTAB that claims 1–3, 5–24, and 26–36 are unpatentable. On July 11, 2019, the
`
`PTAB entered a revised Final Written Decision determining that Caterpillar established that claims
`
`1–3, 5–9, 11–16, 21–24, 26–28, and 33–36 are unpatentable and that Caterpillar had failed to
`
`establish that claims 10, 17–20, and 29–32 are unpatentable. On August 15, 2019, Caterpillar filed
`
`an appeal of that decision as to, inter alia, the PTAB’s findings that claims 10, 17–20, and 29–32
`
`of the ’309 patent are not unpatentable. On August 28, 2019, Wirtgen America filed a cross appeal
`
`as to the PTAB’s findings that claims 1–3, 5–9, 11–16, 21–24, 26–28, and 33–36 are unpatentable.
`
`10
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`
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 328 Filed 02/09/24 Page 15 of 52 PageID #: 30764
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`On February 3, 2021, the Federal Circuit affirmed the PTAB without opinion pursuant to Federal
`
`Circuit Rule 36.
`
`33.
`
`Also on October 19, 2017, Caterpillar petitioned for IPR of the ’530 patent, seeking
`
`a decision from the PTAB that claims 1–7, 13–24, and 26 are unpatentable. On May 22, 2019, the
`
`PTAB entered a final written decision determining that Caterpillar had failed to establish that
`
`claims 1–7, 13–24, and 26 are unpatentable. On July 23, 2019, Caterpillar filed an appeal of that
`
`decision as to, inter alia, the PTAB’s findings that claims 1–7, 13–24, and 26 of the ’530 patent
`
`are not unpatentable. On February 3, 2021, the Federal Circuit affirmed the PTAB without opinion
`
`pursuant to Federal Circuit Rule 36.
`
`34.
`
`The PTAB’s and Federal Circuit’s decisions finding claims 10, 17–20, and 29–32
`
`of the ’309 patent and claims 1–7, 13–24, and 26 of the ’530 patent not unpatentable are final.
`
`35.
`
`On August 4, 2022, Caterpillar petitioned for IPR of the ’972 patent, seeking a
`
`decision from the PTAB that claims 1, 12, 15, 16, 22, 23, and 26 are unpatentable. On February 7,
`
`2023, the PTAB issued a decision instituting IPR on all requested claims. As of January 29, 2024,
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`a final written decision has not been entered.
`
`II.
`
`JURISDICTION
`
`36.
`
`This action for patent infringement arises under the patent laws of the United States,
`
`Title 35, United States Code. This Court has jurisdiction over those claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
`
`§ 1338, which directs that United States District Courts shall have original jurisdiction of any civil
`
`action arising under any Act of Congress relating to patents, and pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331,
`
`which pertains to civil actions arising under the laws of the United States.
`
`37.
`
`Personal jurisdiction and venue over Caterpillar are proper in this District because
`
`Caterpillar, a Delaware corporation, resides in this District.
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`11
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`
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 328 Filed 02/09/24 Page 16 of 52 PageID #: 30765
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`38.
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`The parties agree that this Court has jurisdiction over the proceedings and that
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`venue is proper.
`
`III.
`
`ISSUES OF FACT
`A.
`
`Uncontested Facts
`
`39.
`
`The facts detailed below are uncontested and require no proof at trial. Any party,
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`with prior notice to all other parties, may read any or all of the uncontested facts to the jury and
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`will be charged for the time used to do so. Any fact so read will become part of the evidentiary
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`record in this case.
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`1.
`
`Parties
`
`40. Wirtgen America is a Tennessee corporation with its principal place of business at
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`6030 Dana Way, Antioch, Tennessee, 37013-3116.
`
`41.
`
`Caterpillar is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business at 5205
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`North O'Connor Blvd, Suite 100, Irving, Texas 75039.
`
`2. Wirtgen America’s Asserted Patents
`(a)
`
`The ’309 patent
`
`42.
`
`U.S. Patent No. 7,828,309, entitled “Road-building Machine,” issued November 9,
`
`2010.
`
`43. Wirtgen America owns all right, title, and interest in the ’309 patent.
`
`44.
`
`The ’309 patent has three named inventors, Christian Berning, Dieter Simons, and
`
`Markus Schäfer.
`
`45.
`
`Claim 1 of the ’309 patent is presented below:
`
`1. A road-building machine, of which a left front wheel or caterpillar, right front
`wheel or caterpillar, left rear wheel or caterpillar and right rear wheel or caterpillar
`is connected to a chassis of the road-building machine by means of an actuating
`member and is adjustable in height with respect to a frame of the road-building
`machine, the individual actuating members being connected rigidly to the chassis
`
`12
`
`
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 328 Filed 02/09/24 Page 17 of 52 PageID #: 30766
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`and being positively coupled to one another in such a way that the left front wheel
`or caterpillar and the right rear wheel or caterpillar can be adjusted in height in the
`same direction and in the opposite direction to the right front wheel or caterpillar
`and the left rear wheel or caterpillar, and the actuating members being designed as
`double-acting working cylinders with a first and a second working chamber which
`are filled with a pressure medium, the working cylinders being connected to one
`another via coupling lines.
`
`46.
`
`Claim 9 of the ’309 patent is presented below:
`
`9. The road-building machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the
`coupling lines can be connected to a pressure medium source and/or a pressure
`medium sump via working lines with the aid of a valve control.
`
`47.
`
`48.
`
`Claim 9 of the ’309 patent depends from independent claim 1.
`
`Claim 10 of the ’309 patent is presented below:
`
`10. The road-building machine as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the valve
`control is designed such that all the wheels are raised in a first operating mode and
`are lowered in a second operating mode, this taking place in each case by the same
`amount.
`
`49.
`
`50.
`
`Claim 10 of the ’309 Patent depends from dependent claim 9.
`
`Claim 26 of the ’309 patent is presented below:
`
`26. A road-building machine, comprising:
`
`a chassis having a forward direction;
`
`a left front wheel or caterpillar;
`
`a right front wheel or caterpillar;
`
`a left rear wheel or caterpillar;
`
`a right rear wheel or caterpillar;
`
`a first working cylinder rigidly connected to the chassis and connected to the left
`front wheel or caterpillar for adjusting a height of the left front wheel or caterpillar
`relative to the chassis;
`
`a second working cylinder rigidly connected to the chassis and connected to the
`right front wheel or caterpillar for adjusting a height of the right front wheel or
`caterpillar relative to the chassis;
`
`13
`
`
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 328 Filed 02/09/24 Page 18 of 52 PageID #: 30767
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`a third working cylinder rigidly connected to the chassis and connected to the left
`rear wheel or caterpillar for adjusting a height of the left rear wheel or caterpillar
`relative to the chassis;
`
`a fourth working cylinder rigidly connected to the chassis and connected to the right
`rear wheel or caterpillar for adjusting a height of the right rear wheel or caterpillar
`relative to the chassis;
`
`a rotating working roller or rotor supported from the chassis between the front
`wheels or caterpillars and the rear wheels or caterpillars and extending transversely
`to the forward direction;
`
`each of the working cylinders including at least one working chamber filled with a
`pressure medium; and
`
`coupling lines connecting the working cylinders