Realsearch Inc. et al. v. Valon Kone Brunette Ltd. et al., (2003) 234 F.T.R. 312 (TD)

• Judge: Noël, J.
• Court: Federal Court (Canada)
• Case Date: May 15, 2003
• Jurisdiction: Canada (Federal)
• Citations: (2003), 234 F.T.R. 312 (TD)

Realsearch v. Valon Kone Brunette (2003), 234 F.T.R. 312 (TD)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2003] F.T.R. TBEd. JN.029

Realsearch Inc. and Dingwell's Machinery & Supply Ltd. (plaintiffs/defendants by counterclaim) v. Valone Kone Brunette Ltd. and BDR Machinery Ltd. (defendants/plaintiffs by counterclaim)

(T-1300-02; 2003 FCT 669)

Indexed As: Realsearch Inc. et al. v. Valon Kone Brunette Ltd. et al.

Federal Court of Canada

Trial Division

Noël, J.

May 28, 2003.

Summary:

The plaintiffs sued the defendants for patent infringement. The defendants moved pursuant to rule 107 of the Federal Court Rules, 1998, for a separate determination of the issue of claim construction and for a schedule for this determination.

The Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division, granted the motion. The court ruled that the case be dealt with as a specially managed proceeding and that the issue of claim construction be dealt with by the case management judge in collaboration with the parties.

Patents of Invention - Topic 3506

Infringement actions - General - Severance of issues - The plaintiffs sued the defendants for patent infringement - The defendants moved pursuant to rule 107 of the Federal Court Rules, 1998, for a separate determination of the issue of claim construction and for a schedule for this determination - The Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division, granted the motion - The court stated: "Without settlement, patent infringement actions in this Court often take many years to be resolved. I believe that this suggested new procedure might give an opportunity to parties to speed up the litigation in such actions. If, early in the litigation, the claims are construed, the parties can possibly better determine the relative merits of their positions. The chances of success for one party or the other could be better ascertained and assessed by each."

Practice - Topic 5204

Trials - General - Severance of issues or parties - General - [See Patents of Invention - Topic 3506 ].

Cases Noticed:

Markman v. Westview Instruments Inc. (1996), 52 F.(3d) 967; affd. 116 S. Ct. 1384, refd to. [para. 6].

CIBA-Geigy Canada Ltd. v. Novopharm Ltd. et al. (2001), 274 N.R. 334; 14 C.P.R.(4th) 491 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 8].

Illva Saronno S.p.A. v. Privilegiata fabbrica maraschino Excelsior Girolamo Luxardo S.p.A. et al., [1999] 1 F.C. 146; 157 F.T.R. 217 (T.D.), consd. [para. 8].

Whirlpool Corp. et al. v. Camco Inc. et al., [2000] 2 S.C.R. 1067; 263 N.R. 88, refd to. [para. 11].

Free World Trust v. Électro Santé Inc. et al., [2000] 2 S.C.R. 1024; 263 N.R. 150; 9 C.P.R.(4th) 168, refd to. [para. 11].

Almecon Industries Ltd. v. Anchortek Ltd. et al. (2003), 303 N.R. 76 (F.C.A.), consd. [para. 11].

Polansky Electronics Ltd. v. AGT Ltd. et al. (2001), 277 A.R. 43; 242 W.A.C. 43, consd. [para. 12].

Statutes Noticed:

Federal Court Rules, 1998, rule 3, rule 107(1) [para. 8].

Counsel:

David Aitken, for the plaintiffs;

Ronald E. Dimock and Michael D. Crinson, for the defendants.

Solicitors of Record:

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Ottawa, Ontario, for the plaintiffs;

Dimock Stratton Clarizio LLP, Toronto, Ontario, for the defendants.

This motion was heard at Ottawa, Ontario, on May 15, 2003, by Noël, J., of the Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division, who delivered the following decision at Ottawa, Ontario, on May 28, 2003.