Case 1:17-cv-00770-RGA-MPT Document 86 Filed 03/18/22 Page 1 of 8 PageID #: 10119
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`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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`C.A. No. 17-770-RGA
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`JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
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`PLAINTIFF/COUNTERCLAIM-DEFENDANT WIRTGEN AMERICA, INC.’S
`AND DEFENDANT/COUNTERCLAIM-PLAINTIFF CATERPILLAR INC.’S JOINT
`STATEMENT, PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH 3(h)(iii) OF THE SCHEDULING ORDER
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`Pursuant
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`to Paragraph 3(h)(iii) of
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`the Scheduling Order
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`(see D.I. 28),
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`Plaintiff/Counterclaim-Defendant Wirtgen America, Inc. (“Plaintiff” or “Wirtgen America”) and
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`Defendant/Counterclaim-Plaintiff Caterpillar Inc. (“Defendant” or “Caterpillar”), by their
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`undersigned counsel, hereby submit this joint statement.
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`I.
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`JOINT STATEMENT
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`A. Brief History of the Case
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`Wirtgen America filed its original Complaint in this civil action on June 16, 2017. (See
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`D.I. 1). In the original Complaint, Wirtgen America asserted six patent families comprising twelve
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`patents. (See D.I. 1, at ¶11). The Court stayed the original Complaint shortly after filing, and during
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`the stay, the parties litigated: (i) the infringement and validity of some of the asserted patents in a
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`Section 337 investigation before the United States International Trade Commission (“ITC”),
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`identified as Investigation No. 337-TA-1067 (“the 1067 Investigation”); and (ii) the validity of
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`some of the asserted patents in inter partes review (“IPR”) proceedings before the Patent Trial and
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`Appeal Board (“PTAB”) of the United States Patent & Trademark Office (“USPTO”). (See D.I.
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`1
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-RGA-MPT Document 86 Filed 03/18/22 Page 2 of 8 PageID #: 10120
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`33, at ¶¶53-76). Findings and determinations in the 1067 Investigation and the IPR proceedings
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`are further described below.
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`Following these cases the stay was lifted, and the parties began to litigate amended patent-
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`infringement claims Wirtgen America filed in the District of Delaware. In its Amended Complaint,
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`Wirtgen America asserts seven patent families comprising 13 patents, set forth as follows:
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`U.S. Patent No.
`7,828,309
`8,118,316
`7,530,641
`8,113,592
`9,010,871
`9,656,530
`7,946,788
`8,511,932
`8,690,474
`RE48,268
`8,424,972
`9,879,390
`9,879,391
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`(See D.I. 33, at ¶14). Caterpillar answered Wirtgen America’s Amended Complaint, asserting
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`Count
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
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`Patent Family
`Four-Way Full Floating
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`Driving Backwards
`Path Measurement
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`Sensor Switching
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`Vibration Mounting
`Parallel to Surface
`Smart Side Plates
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`permissive counterclaims of infringement with respect to three patents, set forth below:
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`Counterclaim Count
`1
`2
`3
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`U.S. Patent No.
`7,523,995
`9,975,538
`9,371,618
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`(See D.I. 62, Counterclaims at ¶¶ 7-35 and Exs. 2, 4, 6). In addition, Caterpillar asserted a
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`compulsory counterclaim for prosecution laches. (See D.I. 62, Counterclaims at ¶¶ 36-64.)
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`Currently pending before the Court is Wirtgen America’s motion to sever and transfer
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`Caterpillar’s permissive counterclaims for patent infringement. (See D.I. 56).
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`B. Identification of Completed or Pending Litigation
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`2
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-RGA-MPT Document 86 Filed 03/18/22 Page 3 of 8 PageID #: 10121
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`i.
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`Litigation before the United States International Trade Commission
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`a. Completed Litigation
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`In the 1067 Investigation,1 the ITC held that Caterpillar infringed certain claims of U.S.
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`Patent Nos. 7,828,309 (the “’309 Patent”) and 9,656,530 (the “’530 Patent”), but not U.S. Patent
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`No. 7,530,641 (the “’641 Patent”). (See D.I. 33, at ¶62). The parties appealed the ITC’s findings
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`to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. (See D.I. 33, at ¶63). The Federal Circuit affirmed
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`the findings of infringement with respect to the ’309 Patent and the ’530 Patent, but vacated the
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`ITC’s finding of non-infringement with respect to the ’641 Patent (See D.I. 33, at ¶64). An
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`exemplary table summarizing these determinations is set forth below.
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`Patent Family
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`Patent No.
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`Driving Backwards
`Four-Way Full Floating
`Path Measurement
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`7,530,641
`7,828,309
`9,656,530
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`ITC’s Finding of
`Infringement
`No Infringement
`Infringement
`Infringement
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`Federal Circuit’s
`Review
`Vacated
`Affirmed
`Affirmed
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`As to the ’641 Patent, the ITC later determined that Caterpillar infringed one or more
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`claims, and the ITC issued a modified limited exclusion order and two modified cease and desist
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`orders covering claims of the ’641 patent (See D.I. 78). The time for filing an appeal of the ITC’s
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`modified orders has expired pursuant to 19 U.S.C. § 1337(c). (See D.I. 78).
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`On January 26, 2021, Caterpillar submitted a request, pursuant to 19 C.F.R. § 177.1 et.
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`seq., to the Exclusion Order Enforcement Branch (“EOE Branch”) of the U.S. Customs and Border
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`1 Wirtgen America filed a complaint, pursuant to 19 U.S.C. § 1337, with the ITC alleging that
`Caterpillar, among other parties, unlawfully imported certain road-milling machines that infringe
`the following patents: 7,530,641, 7,828,309, 9,624,628, 9,644,340, and 9,656,530. (See D.I. 33, at
`¶53). The ITC found no violation of U.S. Patent No. 9,644,340, and Wirtgen America dropped
`U.S. Patent No. 9,624,628 before the evidentiary hearing.
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`3
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-RGA-MPT Document 86 Filed 03/18/22 Page 4 of 8 PageID #: 10122
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`Protection (“Customs”), asking Customs to find that redesigned versions of the accused Caterpillar
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`machines do not infringe certain claims of the ’309 and ’530 Patents. On May 19, 2021, Customs
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`issued a ruling letter holding that Caterpillar’s redesigned versions, in Customs’ view, do not
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`infringe the ’309 and ’530 Patents.
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`b. Pending Litigation
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`On November 24, 2021, Caterpillar submitted a request, pursuant to 19 C.F.R. § 177.1 et.
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`seq., to the EOE Branch of Customs, asking Customs to find that redesigned versions of the
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`accused Caterpillar machines do not infringe certain claims of the ’641 Patent. The parties await a
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`determination from Customs regarding whether, in Customs’ view, Caterpillar’s proposed
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`redesigned machines avoid infringement of the ’641 Patent’s claims.
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`ii.
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`Litigation before the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO)
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`a. Completed Litigation
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`During pendency of the 1067 Investigation, Caterpillar petitioned the PTAB for IPR of the
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`’309 Patent and the ’530 Patent. (See D.I. 33, at ¶66). Caterpillar did not petition for IPR of the
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`’641 Patent. (See D.I. 33, at ¶66). In its final written decisions, the PTAB found certain claims of
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`the ’309 Patent and the ’530 Patent not unpatentable (See D.I. 33, at ¶¶68, 72). Caterpillar appealed
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`the PTAB’s determinations to the Federal Circuit. (See D.I. 33, at ¶¶69, 73). The Federal Circuit
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`affirmed the PTAB without opinion, pursuant to Federal Rule 36. (See D.I. 33, at ¶¶ 70, 74). An
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`exemplary table summarizing these determinations is set forth below.
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`Patent Family
`Four-Way Full Floating
`Path Measurement
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`b. Pending Litigation
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`Patent No. Claims Not Unpatentable
`7,828,309
`10, 17-20, 29-32
`9,656,530
`1-7, 13-24, 26
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`Federal Circuit’s
`Review
`Affirmed (R. 36)
`Affirmed (R. 36)
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`At this time, there are no pending challenges to Wirtgen America’s or Caterpillar’s asserted
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`4
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-RGA-MPT Document 86 Filed 03/18/22 Page 5 of 8 PageID #: 10123
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`patents at the USPTO.
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`II. WIRTGEN AMERICA’S STATEMENT
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`A. Further Amendment of Complaint
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`At this time, Wirtgen America does not intend to amend the complaint to add additional
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`patents.
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`B. Institution of Further District Court Litigation
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`At this time, Wirtgen America does not intend to institute any further litigation in this or
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`other federal district courts within the next year. Wirtgen America continues to monitor new
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`product launches of Caterpillar, its subsidiaries, and its affiliates, including products imported by
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`Caterpillar, and reserves the right to identify new accused products.
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`C. Expectation of Filing Challenges to Counter-Asserted Patents at the USPTO
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`At this time, Wirtgen America is currently evaluating whether to file challenges (e.g., IPR)
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`against Caterpillar’s counter-asserted patents—U.S. Patent Nos. 7,523,995, 9,975,538, and
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`9,371,618—with the USPTO. If Wirtgen America chooses to file challenges against these counter-
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`asserted patents with the USPTO, Wirtgen America expects to file said challenges within the
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`timeframe permitted by 35 U.S.C. § 315(b).
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`Provided below is a table of Wirtgen America’s asserted patents that are not challengeable
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`through IPR proceedings at the USPTO. A reason as to why each asserted patent is not
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`challengeable is provided in conjunction therewith.
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`Count
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
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`Patent Family
`Four-Way Full
`Floating
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`Driving Backwards
`Path Measurement
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`Patent No.
`7,828,309
`8,118,316
`7,530,641
`8,113,592
`9,010,871
`9,656,530
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`Why It is Not Challengeable
`Already Challenged Before the USPTO and
`Time-Barred*
`Time-Barred*
`Time-Barred*
`Time-Barred*
`Time-Barred*
`Already Challenged Before the USPTO and
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`5
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-RGA-MPT Document 86 Filed 03/18/22 Page 6 of 8 PageID #: 10124
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`7
`8
`9
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`Sensor Switching
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`7,946,788
`8,511,932
`8,690,474
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`Time-Barred*
`Time-Barred*
`Time-Barred*
`Time-Barred*
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`* Indicates that the time period for filing a petition for IPR has expired under 35 U.S.C. §
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`315.
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`D. Reservation of Rights
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`Wirtgen America’s filing of this joint statement should not be construed, interpreted, or
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`understood: (a) to be a concession or admission that discovery of subject matter underlying or
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`pertaining to Caterpillar’s permissive counterclaims for patent infringement (see D.I. 62, at 47-55
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`(¶¶7-35)) is contemplated by this civil action or the Court’s Scheduling Order (see D.I. 28); or (ii)
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`as a concession of Wirtgen America’s motion to sever and transfer Caterpillar’s permissive
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`counterclaims from this civil action (see D.I. 56). Furthermore, Wirtgen America notes that its
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`disclosure obligations, pursuant to the Scheduling Order, are limited by the Federal Rules of Civil
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`Procedure, the Local Rules for the District of Delaware, and any governing case law.
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`Wirtgen America expressly reserves the right to modify, amend, supplement, withdraw, or
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`correct its disclosures as appropriate based upon its future evaluation of facts and evidence in its
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`possession, and upon further investigation and discovery in this action.
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`III. CATERPILLAR’S STATEMENT
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`A. Further Amendment of Counterclaims
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`At present, Caterpillar does not intend to amend its counterclaims to assert additional
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`patents. Caterpillar continues to monitor new product launches of the Wirtgen Group, including
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`products imported by Wirtgen America, and reserves the right to identify new Accused Products.
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`B. Institution of Further District Court Litigation
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`6
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-RGA-MPT Document 86 Filed 03/18/22 Page 7 of 8 PageID #: 10125
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`At present, Caterpillar does not intend to institute another District Court litigation within
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`the next year. Caterpillar continues to monitor new product launches of the Wirtgen Group,
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`including products imported by Wirtgen America, and reserves the right to assert additional
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`patents.
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`C. Challenges to Asserted Patents
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`Certain claims in the “Sensor Switching” family asserted in this action by Wirtgen America
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`overlap with claims previously found to be unpatentable by the USPTO in connection with an IPR
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`challenge filed by Caterpillar on U.S. Patent No. 8,308,395.
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`At present, Caterpillar expects to file IPR challenges by the deadline permitted by 35
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`U.S.C. § 315(b) against the following patents asserted by Wirtgen America: 8,424,972, 9,879,390,
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`and 9,879,391.
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`D. Reservation of Rights
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`Discovery has proceeded on both parties’ claims and counterclaims, including the
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`counterclaims that are the subject of Plaintiff’s Motion to Sever. Caterpillar expressly reserves
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`the right to modify, amend, supplement, withdraw, or correct its disclosures as appropriate based
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`upon its future evaluation of facts and evidence in its possession, and upon further investigation
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`and discovery in this action.
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`Dated: March 18, 2022
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`YOUNG CONAWAY STARGATT
` & TAYLOR, LLP
`
`/s/ Samantha G. Wilson
`__________________________________
`Adam W. Poff (No. 3990)
`Samantha G. Wilson (No. 5816)
`Rodney Square
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`
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`POTTER ANDERSON & CORROON LLP
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`
`/s/ Bindu A. Palapura
`__________________________________
`Bindu A. Palapura (No. 5370)
`Hercules Plaza, 6th Floor
`1313 N. Market Street
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`7
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-RGA-MPT Document 86 Filed 03/18/22 Page 8 of 8 PageID #: 10126
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`Wilmington, DE 19801
`(302) 984-6000
`bpalapura@potteranderson.com
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`OF COUNSEL:
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`James C. Yoon
`Ryan R. Smith
`Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
`650 Page Mill Road
`Palo Alto, CA 94304
`(650) 493-9300
`jyoon@wsgr.com
`rsmith@wsgr.com
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`Lucy Yen
`Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
`1301 Avenue of the Americas, 40th Floor
`New York, NY 10019
`(212) 999-5800
`lyen@wsgr.com
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`Attorneys for Defendant Caterpillar Inc.
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`1000 North King Street
`Wilmington, DE 19801
`(302) 571-6600
`apoff@ycst.com
`swilson@ycst.com
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`OF COUNSEL:
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`Ryan D. Levy
`Seth R. Ogden
`William E. Sekyi
`Scott M. Douglass
`Dominic A. Rota
`Mark A. Kilgore
`John F. Triggs
`Patterson Intellectual Property Law, P.C.
`1600 Division Street, Suite 500
`Nashville, Tennessee 37203
`(615) 242-2400
`rdl@iplawgroup.com
`sro@iplawgroup.com
`wes@iplawgroup.com
`smd@iplawgroup.com
`dar@iplawgroup.com
`mak@iplawgroup.com
`jft@iplawgroup.com
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`Daniel E. Yonan
`Paul A. Ainsworth
`R. Wilson Powers III
`Kyle E. Conklin
`Deirdre M. Wells
`Joseph H. Kim
`Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox PLLC
`1100 New York Ave., NW, Suite 600
`Washington, DC 20005
`(202) 371-2600
`dyonan@sternekessler.com
`painsworth@sternekessler.com
`tpowers@sternekessler.com
`kconklin@sternekessler.com
`dwells@sternekessler.com
`josephk@sternekessler.com
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`Attorneys for Plaintiff Wirtgen America, Inc.
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`8
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