throbber
quinn emanuel trial lawyers | washington, dc
`1300 I Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, District of Columbia 20005-3314 | TEL (202) 538-8000 FAX (202) 538-8100
`
`WRITER'S DIRECT DIAL NO.
`(202) 538-8104
`
`WRITER'S EMAIL ADDRESS
`alexlasher@quinnemanuel.com
`
`November 19, 2020
`
`The Honorable MaryJoan McNamara
`Administrative Law Judge
`U.S. International Trade Commission
`500 E Street, SW
`Washington, DC 20436
`
`Re: Certain Vaporizer Cartridges and Components Thereof, Inv. No. 337-TA-1211
`
`Dear Hon. Judge McNamara:
`
`Please find attached Complainant Juul Labs, Inc. and Respondent Aqua Haze LLC’s
`public version of the parties’ joint motion to terminate the investigation. In the Office of Unfair
`Import Investigations’ (“OUII”) Response to the parties’ joint motion to terminate, OUII
`indicated that it supports the motion “provided that the parties file a revised public version of
`their settlement agreement with redactions limited only to information that is properly
`confidential business information (“CBI”) under Commission Rule 201.6(a).” (Commission
`Investigative Staff's Response to Joint Motion to Terminate the Inv. as to Aqua Haze LLC). JLI
`has conferred with OUII, and OUII does not object to the scope of the proposed redactions.
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`/s/ S. Alex lasher
`S. Alex lasher
`
`Counsel for Complainant Juul Labs, Inc.
`
`cc: Enclosures
`
`quinn emanuel urquhart & sullivan, llp
`
`LOS ANGELES | NEW YORK | SAN FRANCISCO | SILICON VALLEY | CHICAGO | WASHINGTON, DC | HOUSTON | SEATTLE | BOSTON | SALT LAKE C ITY
`
`LONON | TOKYO | MANNHEIM | HAMBURG | PARIS | MUNICH | SYDNEY | HONG KONG | BRUSSELS | ZURICH | SHANGHAI | PERTH | STUTTGART
`
`

`

`PUBLIC - EXHIBITS CONTAIN REDACTED MATERIAL
`
`UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
`WASHINGTON, D.C.
`
`Before the Honorable MaryJoan McNamara
`Administrative Law Judge
`
`In the Matter of
`
`CERTAIN VAPORIZER CARTRIDGES
`AND COMPONENTS THEREOF
`
`Investigation No. 337-TA-1211
`
`JOINT MOTION TO TERMINATE THE INVESTIGATION AS TO
`AQUA HAZE LLC
`
`Pursuant to 19 U.S.C. § 1337(c) and 19 C.F.R. § 210.21(c)(1)(ii), Complainant Juul Labs,
`
`Inc. (“Complainant,” or “JLI”) and Respondent Aqua Haze LLC (“Respondent” or “Aqua Haze
`
`LLC”), jointly move to terminate the investigation as to Aqua Haze LLC.
`
`JLI and Aqua Haze LLC submit that the attached Consent Order Stipulation (Exhibit A)
`
`and Proposed Consent Order (Exhibit B) satisfy the requirements of Rule 210.21(c) and that
`
`termination is in the public interest. A copy of the parties’ confidential settlement agreement is
`
`also attached as confidential Exhibit C. JLI and Aqua Haze LLC state that there are no other
`
`agreements, written or oral, express or implied, relating to the subject matter of this
`
`Investigation. Accordingly, JLI and Aqua Haze LLC request that the Administrative Law Judge
`
`issue an initial determination terminating this investigation with respect to Respondent Aqua
`
`Haze LLC on the basis of the consent order pursuant to 19 C.F.R. § 210.21(c).
`
`I.
`
`FACTUAL BACKGROUND
`
`The Commission instituted this Investigation and named Aqua Haze LLC as a
`
`Respondent on August 14, 2020, by publication in the Federal Register based on a complaint
`
`filed by JLI on July 10, 2020. See 85 FR 49679. JLI’s complaint alleged a violation of Section
`
`337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, by reason of the importation into the United States,
`
`1
`
`

`

`sale for importation, or sale within the United States after importation of certain vaporizer
`
`cartridges and components thereof (the “Accused Products”) that infringe each of the sole claims
`
`of U.S. Patent Nos. D842,536; D858,870; D858,869; and D858,868.
`
`Aqua Haze LLC executed a Consent Order Stipulation that meets the requirements of 19
`
`C.F.R. § 210.21(c). Aqua Haze LLC agrees that upon entry of the Proposed Consent Order by
`
`the Commission, it will not sell for importation, import into the United States, or sell in the
`
`United States after importation, directly or indirectly, or aid, abet, encourage, participate in, or
`
`induce the sale or importation of the Accused Products, except under consent or license by JLI.
`
`JLI and Aqua Haze LLC executed a settlement agreement that is attached as confidential Exhibit
`
`C.
`
`II.
`
`ARGUMENT
`
`It is in the interest of the public and administrative economy to grant the present motion.
`
`Commission policy and the public interest generally favor resolving litigation through
`
`mechanisms such as consent orders to conserve both public and private resources. See, e.g.,
`
`Certain Height-Adjustable Desk Platforms and Components Thereof, Inv. No. 337-TA-1125,
`
`Order No. 13 at 4 (Sept. 24, 2018) (finding termination of respondent based on a consent order
`
`“in the public interest, which favors settlement to avoid needless litigation and to conserve public
`
`resources”); Certain Air Mattress Bed Systems and Components Thereof, Inv. No. 337-TA-999,
`
`Order No. 9 at 4 (Nov. 18, 2016) (noting the “significant public interest benefits” in resolving the
`
`litigation through the proposed consent order).
`
`JLI and Aqua Haze LLC submit that entry of the Proposed Consent Order (Exhibit B)
`
`and termination of this Investigation with respect to Aqua Haze LLC are in the public interest.
`
`Entering the Consent Order will promote administrative economy by obviating the need for a
`
`2
`
`

`

`determination with respect to Aqua Haze LLC’s activities as they concern the Accused Products.
`
`Moreover, entering the attached Consent Order will not impose an undue burden on the public
`
`health and welfare, competitive conditions in the U.S. economy, production of like or directly
`
`competitive articles in the United States, or U.S. consumers. Commission policy and the public
`
`interest generally favor resolving litigation, which preserve resources for both the Commission
`
`and the private parties
`
`Moreover, JLI and Aqua Haze LLC are not aware of any adverse effects that their
`
`settlement agreement would have on the public interest. See Certain Lithium Silicate Materials
`
`and Products Containing the Same, Inv. No. 337-TA-911, Order No. 16 at 2 (Nov. 10, 2014)
`
`(finding that termination based on settlement would not be contrary to the public interest, and
`
`that “termination of litigation under these circumstances as an alternative method of dispute
`
`resolution is generally in the public interest and will conserve public and private resources”).
`
`III.
`
`CONCLUSION
`
`For the foregoing reasons, JLI and Aqua Haze LLC request that the Investigation be
`
`terminated with respect to Aqua Haze LLC based on consent order pursuant to Commission Rule
`
`210.21(c).
`
`GROUND RULE 2.2 CERTIFICATION
`
`Pursuant to Ground Rule 2.2, counsel for JLI informed all Respondents who have entered
`
`an appearance in this case—2nd Wife Vape, Aqua Haze LLC, EZFumes, Price Point NY,
`
`Vaperistas, LLC, Wireless N Vapor Citi, LLC, Tobacco Alley of Midland, Tobacco Club &
`
`Gifts, Inc. d/b/a Carytown Tobacco, Midwest Goods Inc., eJuiceDB, Smoker’s Express—and the
`
`Commission Investigative Staff of this Motion at least two days before filing. Respondents 2nd
`
`Wife Vape, Aqua Haze LLC, EZFumes, Vaperistas, LLC, eJuiceDB, and Tobacco Club & Gifts,
`
`3
`
`

`

`Inc. d/b/a Carytown Tobacco do not oppose this motion. The Staff indicated it will take a
`
`position on the papers. JLI received no response from Respondents Price Point NY, Wireless N
`
`Vapor Citi, LLC, Tobacco Alley of Midland, Midwest Goods Inc., and Smoker’s Express.
`
`Dated: November 12, 2020
`
` Respectfully submitted,
`
` /s/ Michael F. Reeder II
`
` /s/ S. Alex Lasher
`
`Michael F. Reeder II
`Cadwell Clonts & Reeder LLP
`One Riverway, Suite 1700
`Houston, Texas 77056
`(713) 360-1560
`mreeder@cadwellclontsreeder.com
`
`Counsel for Respondent Aqua Haze LLC
`
`S. Alex Lasher
`QUINN EMANUEL URQUHART &
`SULLIVAN, LLP
`1300 I Street, NW, Suite 900
`Washington, D.C. 20005
`Tel.: (202) 538-8000
`Fax: (202) 538-8100
`
`Kevin P.B. Johnson
`Victoria F. Maroulis
`QUINN EMANUEL URQUHART &
`SULLIVAN, LLP
`555 Twin Dolphin Dr., 5th Floor
`Redwood Shores, CA 94065
`Tel.: (650) 801-5000
`Fax: (650) 801-5100
`
`Andrew M. Holmes
`QUINN EMANUEL URQUHART &
`SULLIVAN, LLP
`50 California Street, 22nd Floor
`San Francisco, CA 94111
`Tel.: (415) 875-6600
`Fax: (415) 875-6700
`
`Counsel for Complainant Juul Labs, Inc.
`
`4
`
`

`

`UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
`WASHINGTON, D.C.
`
`Before the Honorable MaryJoan McNamara
`Administrative Law Judge
`
`In the Matter of
`
`CERTAIN VAPORIZER CARTRIDGES
`AND COMPONENTS THEREOF
`
`Investigation No. 337-TA-1211
`
`REQUEST FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF EXHIBIT C AND LIMITED
`SERVICE THEREOF
`
`Pursuant to Ground Rule 1.6, Complainant and Respondent Aqua Haze LLC request that
`
`the parties’ settlement agreement, attached as Exhibit C to this Motion, be treated in its entirety
`
`as confidential information, and that service of the parties’ unredacted agreement be limited to
`
`Complainant, Respondent Aqua Haze LLC and the Staff.
`
`I certify that this settlement agreement should be considered confidential business
`
`information pursuant to 19 C.F.R. § 201.6(a) at least because:
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`Substantially-identical information is not available to the public;
`
`The disclosure of this information would cause substantial competitive
`
`harm to Complainant and Aqua Haze LLC;
`
`3.
`
`The disclosure of this information would breach existing nondisclosure
`
`agreements between Complainant and Aqua Haze LLC; and,
`
`4.
`
`The disclosure of this information would likely impede the Commission's
`
`efforts and ability to obtain similar information in the future.
`
`5
`
`

`

`Indeed, settlement agreements are routinely treated as confidential business information
`
`pursuant to 19 C.F.R. § 201.6(a), and service is frequently limited only to the signatories of the
`
`agreement and the Staff. See, e.g., Certain Power Covered Plates, Inv. No. 337-TA-1124, Order
`
`No. 36 at 5 (April 11, 2019) (granting the parties’ request to limit service of an unredacted
`
`settlement agreement to the signatories and the Staff); Certain Machine Vision Software,
`
`Machine Vision Systems, and Products Containing the Same, Inv. No. 337-TA-680, Order No.
`
`17 (Initial Determination) (October 26, 2009) (holding that counsel for non-settling respondents
`
`were not entitled to receive unredacted financial terms of settlement).
`
`Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions about this request.
`
` /s/ S. Alex Lasher
`
`S. Alex Lasher
`QUINN EMANUEL URQUHART
`& SULLIVAN, LLP
`1300 I Street, NW, Suite 900
`Washington, D.C. 20005
`Tel.: (202) 538-8000
`Fax: (202) 538-8100
`
`6
`
`

`

`EXHIBIT A
` Consent Order Stipulation
`
`

`

`UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
`WASHINGTON, D.C.
`
`Before the Honorable MaryJoan McNamara
`Administrative Law Judge
`
`
`
`In the Matter of
`
`CERTAIN VAPORIZER CARTRIDGES
`AND COMPONENTS THEREOF
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Investigation No. 337-TA-1211
`
`CONSENT ORDER STIPULATION
`
`
`
`
`WHEREAS, the United States International Trade Commission on August 10, 2020 (85
`
`Fed. Reg. 49,679 (Aug. 14, 2020)), instituted the above-captioned investigation under Section
`
`337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, (19 U.S.C. § 1337) based upon complaint filed by
`
`Complainant Juul Labs, Inc. (“JLI”), which alleged unfair acts in the importation into the United
`
`States, the sale for importation into the United States, and the sale within the United States after
`
`importation of certain vaporizer cartridges and components thereof, by, among others,
`
`Respondent Aqua Haze LLC, (“Aqua Haze LLC”), in violation of Section 337 with respect to
`
`the sole claim of each of U.S. Patent Nos. D842,536 (“’536”), D858,870 (“’870”), D858,869
`
`(“’869”), D858,868 (“’868”) (collectively the “Asserted Claims”);
`
`
`
`WHEREAS, Aqua Haze LLC is willing to accept entry of the Consent Order submitted
`
`concurrently herewith by the International Trade Commission and agrees to all waivers and other
`
`provisions as required by 19 C.F.R. § 210.21; and
`
`
`
`
`
`WHEREAS, Aqua Haze LLC agrees to all terms set forth in the Consent Order.
`
`
`
`

`

`IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED by Aqua Haze LLC in support of the Joint Motion for an
`
`Order Terminating the Investigation as to Aqua Haze LLC by Entry of a Consent Order as
`
`follows:
`
`1.
`
`The Commission has subject matter jurisdiction over this investigation. The
`
`Commission has in rem jurisdiction over the accused vaporizer cartridges and components
`
`thereof that are the subject of the complaint in this investigation. The Commission also has in
`
`personam jurisdiction over Aqua Haze LLC for purposes of this Stipulation and the proposed
`
`Consent Order by virtue of Aqua Haze LLC having appeared in this proceeding. Nothing in this
`
`Stipulation or the proposed Consent Order shall be construed as meaning that Aqua Haze LLC
`
`has submitted to the jurisdiction of any other court.
`
`2.
`
`Aqua Haze LLC, including its officers, directors, employees, agents, and any
`
`entity or individual acting on its behalf and with its authority, agrees, upon entry of the Consent
`
`Order, that it will not sell for importation, import into the United States or sell in the United
`
`States after importation, directly or indirectly, or aid, abet, encourage, participate in, or induce
`
`the sale for importation, importation into the United States or sale in the United States after
`
`importation of vaporizer cartridges and components thereof that infringe any of the claims of the
`
`Asserted Claims, except under consent or license from JLI.
`
`3.
`
`Aqua Haze LLC does not have any existing U.S. inventories of vaporizer
`
`cartridges and components thereof.
`
`4.
`
`Aqua Haze LLC expressly waives all right to seek judicial review or otherwise
`
`challenge the validity of the Consent Order.
`
`2
`
`

`

`
`
`5.
`
`Aqua Haze LLC will cooperate with and will not seek to impede by litigation or
`
`other means the Commission's efforts to gather information under Subpart I of the Commission's
`
`Rules of Practice and Procedure, 19 C.F.R. Subchapter C, Part 210.
`
`
`
`6.
`
`The enforcement, modification and revocation of the Consent Order will be
`
`carried out pursuant to Subpart I of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, 19 C.F.R.
`
`Subchapter C, Part 210.
`
`
`
`7.
`
`The signing of this Stipulation is for settlement purposes only and does not
`
`constitute admission by Aqua Haze LLC that an infringement of the Asserted Claims and/or an
`
`unfair act has been committed.
`
`
`
`8.
`
`The Consent Order shall have the same force and effect and may be enforced,
`
`modified, or revoked in the same manner as is provided in section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930
`
`and this part for other Commission actions, and the Commission may require periodic
`
`compliance reports pursuant to subpart I of this part to be submitted by Aqua Haze LLC.
`
`
`
`9.
`
`The Consent Order shall not apply if any asserted patent claim has expired or is
`
`held invalid or unenforceable by a court or agency of competent jurisdiction or if any article has
`
`been found or adjudicated not to infringe the asserted right in a final decision, no longer subject
`
`to appeal, this Consent Order shall become null and void as to such expired, invalid, or
`
`unenforceable claim or as to any adjudicated article.
`
`
`
`10.
`
`Aqua Haze LLC will not seek to challenge the validity or enforceability of the
`
`patents that form the basis for the complaint in any administrative or judicial proceeding to
`
`enforce the Consent Order.
`
`
`
`
`
`11.
`
`This Consent Order Stipulation and Consent Order are in the public interest.
`
`3
`
`

`

`IT IS SO STIPULATED.
`
`Date:
`
`\\ ' GL‘ ’10
`
`Aqua Haze LLC
`
`\l& \évmm PmMAN
`By:
`Its: MQRQ%'an3 3A¢.V\ba\f
`
`

`

`EXHIBIT B
` Proposed Consent Order
`
`

`

`UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
`WASHINGTON, D.C.
`
`Before the Honorable MaryJoan McNamara
`Administrative Law Judge
`
`
`In the Matter of
`
`CERTAIN VAPORIZER CARTRIDGES
`AND COMPONENTS THEREOF
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Investigation No. 337-TA-1211
`
`[PROPOSED] CONSENT ORDER
`
`The United States International Trade Commission on August 10, 2020 (85 Fed. Reg.
`
`
`
`49,679 (Aug. 14, 2020)), instituted the above-captioned investigation under Section 337 of the
`
`Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, (19 U.S.C. § 1337) naming numerous respondents, including
`
`Aqua Haze LLC (“Aqua Haze LLC”), based upon the complaint filed by Complainant Juul Labs,
`
`Inc. (“JLI”) that alleged unfair acts in the importation into the United States, the sale for
`
`importation into the United States, and the sale within the United States after importation of
`
`certain vaporizer cartridges and components thereof, by, among others, Respondent Aqua Haze
`
`LLC, in violation of Section 337 with respect to the sole claim of each of United States Patent
`
`Nos. D842,536 (“’536”), D858,870 (“’870”), D858,869 (“’869”), D858,868 (“’868”)
`
`(collectively the “Asserted Claims”).
`
`
`
`Aqua Haze LLC has executed a Consent Order Stipulation in which it agrees to the entry
`
`of this Consent Order and to all waivers and other provisions as required by Commission Rule of
`
`Practice and Procedure 210.21(c) (19 C.F.R. § 210.21(c)). JLI and Aqua Haze LLC have filed a
`
`Joint Motion to Terminate the Investigation as to Aqua Haze LLC based on a Consent Order.
`
`
`
`1
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
`
`1.
`
`Upon the entry of this Consent Order, Aqua Haze LLC shall not sell for
`
`importation, import into the United States, or sell in the United States after importation, directly
`
`or indirectly, or aid, abet, encourage, participate in, or induce the sale for importation,
`
`importation into the United States or sale in the United States after importation of certain
`
`vaporizer cartridges and components thereof that infringe any of the claims of the Asserted
`
`Claims, except under consent or license from JLI.
`
`
`
`2.
`
`This Consent Order shall be applicable to and binding upon Aqua Haze LLC,
`
`their officers, directors, agents, servants, attorneys, employees, affiliates, and all persons, firms,
`
`or corporations acting or claiming to act on its behalf or under its direction or authority.
`
`
`
`3.
`
`Aqua Haze LLC shall be precluded from seeking judicial review or otherwise
`
`challenging or contesting the validity of this Consent Order.
`
`
`
`4.
`
`Aqua Haze LLC shall cooperate with and shall not seek to impede by litigation or
`
`other means the Commission's efforts to gather information under Subpart I of the Commission's
`
`Rules of Practice and Procedure, 19 C.F.R. Part 210.
`
`
`
`5.
`
`Aqua Haze LLC and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and any entity or
`
`individual acting on its behalf and with its authority shall not seek to challenge the validity or
`
`enforceability of the Asserted Claims in any administrative or judicial proceeding to enforce the
`
`Consent Order.
`
`
`
`6.
`
`Aqua Haze LLC does not have any existing U.S. inventories of vaporizer
`
`cartridges and components thereof.
`
`
`
`7.
`
`When an Asserted Patent expires, this Consent Order shall become null and void
`
`as to such expired patent.
`
`
`
`2
`
`

`

`
`
`8.
`
`This Consent Order shall become null and void as to any claim of any intellectual
`
`property right that is held invalid or unenforceable by a court or agency of competent jurisdiction
`
`or as to any article that has been found or adjudicated not to infringe the asserted right in a final
`
`decision, no longer subject to appeal.
`
`
`
`9.
`
`The Commission has subject matter jurisdiction over this investigation. The
`
`Commission has in rem jurisdiction over the accused vaporizer cartridges and components
`
`thereof that are the subject of the complaint in this investigation. The Commission also has in
`
`personam jurisdiction over Aqua Haze LLC for purposes of this Stipulation and the proposed
`
`Consent Order by virtue of Aqua Haze LLC having appeared in this proceeding. Nothing in this
`
`Stipulation or the proposed Consent Order shall be construed as meaning that Aqua Haze LLC
`
`has submitted to the jurisdiction of any other court.
`
`
`
`10.
`
`This investigation is hereby terminated with respect to Aqua Haze LLC, provided,
`
`however, that enforcement, modification, or revocation of the Consent Order shall be carried out
`
`pursuant to Subpart I of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, 19 C.F.R. part 210.
`
`
`
`
`
`By Order of the Commission
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`___________________________
`
`Lisa A. Barton
`
`Secretary to the Commission
`
`Issued: ___________, 2020
`
`
`
`3
`
`

`

`
`
`EXHIBIT C
` Settlement Agreement
`
`

`

`PUBLIC - CONTAINS REDACTED MATERIAL
`
`CONFIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
`
`THIS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made this 8th day of
`September, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), between Juul Labs, Inc. (“JLI”), a privately-held
`corporation organized and existing under the laws of the state of Delaware, with its principal
`place of business at 560 20th Street, San Francisco, California 94107, and Aqua Haze LLC, a
`privately-held corporation with its principal place of business at 12801 N Stemmons Fwy, Suite
`809, Farmers Branch, TX 75234. JLI and Aqua Haze LLC are individually referred to herein as
`a “Party,” and collectively as the “Parties.”
`
`WHEREAS, there are numerous sources for electronic nicotine delivery system
`(“ENDS”) cartridges and non-ENDS cartridges (including but not limited to
`cannabidiol (“CBD”) products, cartridges that do not contain any content when imported
`(“empty pods”), or others filled with non-nicotine products (such as caffeine, taurine, melatonin
`and charnomile)) entering the United States that infringe JLI’s US. Patent Nos. D842,536;
`D858,870; D858,869; and D858,868 (“the Asserted Patents”), and it is extremely difficult to
`identify the actual sources of such unauthorized infringing products because infringing entities
`have shown and are expected to continue to show, for example but without limitation, the ability
`to utilize a number of different companies, business names, and addresses for purposes of
`concealing their sales and importation of infringing products, and/or employ complex business
`arrangements, conduct business under multiple names, and/or form intricate arrays of
`confusingly similar affiliates;
`
`WHEREAS, unauthorized infringing Juul-compatible cartridges are typically
`manufactured, marketed, sold and imported into the US. in violation of applicable regulations;
`
`WHEREAS, in response to the rampant infringement of JLI’s intellectual property rights,
`JLI has been and remains engaged in diligent efforts to use the enforcement of its intellectual
`property rights when possible to disrupt and stop distribution of such infringing products,
`although the difficulties described above often make JLI’s efforts challenging and expensive;
`
`WHEREAS, on July 10, 2020, JLI filed a Complaint (the “1211 Complaint”) at the
`United States International Trade Commission (“ITC”) requesting that the ITC investigate JLI’s
`allegations of patent infringement of JLI’s US. Patent Nos. D842,536; D858,870; D858,869; and
`D858,868 (“the Asserted Patents”) as a violation of Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as
`amended, by Aqua Haze LLC and other entities, via the manufacturing, importing, distributing,
`selling in the United States, and/or otherwise dealing in certain vaporizer cartridges and
`components thereof. On August 10, 2020, the ITC instituted the requested investigation, which
`was then styled as In the Matter of Certain Vaporizer Cartridges and Components Thereof
`Investigation No. 337-TA-1211 (the “1211 Investigation”);
`
`WHEREAS, JLI named Aqua Haze LLC as a Defendant in a district court complaint,
`Juul Labs, Inc. v. Aqua Haze LLC, No. 3-20-cv-01827 (N .D. Tex.) (“the JLI District Court
`Case”) alleging infringement of the same Asserted Patents;
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`WHEREAS, Aqua Haze LLC has agreed to stipulate that products it has imported into
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the United States, sold after importation in the United States, and/or manufactured or sold for
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`importation into the United States infringe the sole claim in each of the Asserted Patents;
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`WHEREAS, Aqua Haze LLC has agreed to settle the 1211 Investigation and the JLI
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`District Court Case and, in so doing, Aqua Haze LLC admits that the sole claim of each of the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Asserted Patents is valid and that the Juul-compatible cartridges that Aqua Haze LLC has
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`imported into the United States, sold after importation in the United States, and/or manufactured
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`or sold for importation into the United States infringe the sole claim in each of the Asserted
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Patents; and Aqua Haze LLC desires to work with JLI in an effort to resolve both the 1211
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Investigation and the JLI District Court Case, and prevent products that infringe JLI’s patents
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`from being sold by or through Aqua Haze LLC;
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`hereinafter contained and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:
`
`
`
`
`Section 1.
`
`
`
`Definitions
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The terms set forth below shall have the following meanings in the Agreement:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1.1
`“Asserted Patents” means JLI’s US. Patent Nos. D842,536; D858,870;
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`D85 8,869; and D85 8,868, including but not limited to continuations, continuations—in-part, and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`divisionals of those patent and patent applications that derive therefrom regardless of when filed,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`to the extent they read on Infringing Juul-compatible Cartridges.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1.2
`“Infringing Juul-compatible Cartridges” means any electronic nicotine delivery
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`system (“ENDS”) cartridge, or non-ENDS cartridge (including but not limited to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`cannabidiol (“CBD”) products, cartridges that do not contain any content when imported
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(“empty pods”), or other filled non-nicotine product (such as caffeine, taurine, melatonin and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`chamomile))—including any and all components thereof—that infringes the Asserted Patents
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`and is compatible with or works with the JUUL System. For the avoidance of doubt, for the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`purposes of this Agreement, Infringing Juul-compatible Cartridges include, but are not limited
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`to, any products or any components thereof that infringe any of the claims of Asserted Patents
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`and includes, but is not limited to, the articles listed in Appendix 1.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1.3
`“Aqua Haze LLC Website” means Aqua Haze LLC’s websites, namely, any
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`websites, social media accounts, or e-commerce accounts owned or controlled by Aqua Haze
`
`
`
`
`
`
`LLC now or in the future.
`
`
`
`1.4
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`“Third Party” or “Third Parties” means any person other than JLI or Aqua Haze
`
`
`
`LLC.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1.5
`“Confidential Business Information” means any documents and things produced
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`by Aqua Haze LLC in the 1211 Investigation and deemed produced in the JL1 District Court
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Case, and designated as confidential by Aqua Haze LLC, subject to the parties agreements
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`regarding use as set forth in Appendix 3.
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Section 2.
`
`Termination of the Investigation and the JLI District Court Case
`
`Dismissal of the 1211 Investigation, Prerequisites. Upon Aqua Haze LLC’s:
`2.1
`(1) filing with the ITC the Stipulation Regarding Infringement, Domestic Industry, and Public
`Interest described in Section 3.2 and Appendix 2; and (2) completion and full compliance with
`the Agreed Discovery Obligations set forth in Section 3.3 and Appendix 3 of this Agreement—
`i. e. , upon either (a) J Li’s communication of its decision not to depose Aqua Haze LLC or (b) the
`adjournment of JLI’s deposition of Aqua Haze LLC, as provided for in Appendix 3)—within
`five (5) days the Parties will jointly file in the 1211 Investigation a motion to terminate the 1211
`Investigation, which shall include the Proposed Consent Order and Consent Order Stipulation as
`set forth in Section 3.4 of this Agreement and Appendices 4 and 5, respectively. The Parties
`agree, subject to Respondent’s full compliance with these prerequisites, to reasonably cooperate
`if needed in filing all papers necessary to resolve the 121 1 Investigation with respect to Aqua
`Haze LLC.
`
`Dismissal of the JLI District Court Case, Prerequisites. Upon Aqua Haze
`2.2
`LLC’s satisfaction of all of the prerequisites set forth in Section 2.1; and subsequent to the filing
`in the 1211 Investigation of the Parties’ joint motion to terminate pursuant to Consent Order;
`within three (3) business days of the termination of the 1211 Investigation; the Parties shall
`prepare and file a stipulation and joint motion for an order of dismissal with retained jurisdiction,
`or its procedural equivalent, in the JLI District Court Case with respect to Aqua Haze LLC based
`on this Agreement. The Parties agree that the district court presiding over the JLI District Court
`Case. the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas will retain jurisdiction to
`enforce this Agreement. The Parties agree, subject to Respondent’s compliance with the
`prerequisites of Section 2.1 and this paragraph, to reasonably cooperate if needed in filing all
`papers necessary to resolve the JLI District Court Case with respect to Aqua Haze LLC.
`
`2.3
`
`
`
`Section 3.
`
`Consideration and Obligations
`
`No Knowing Infringement of JLI Patents. Aqua Haze LLC (1) will not
`3.1
`knowingly manufacture for importation. market, distribute, sell for importation, import, or sell
`after importation into the United States any Infringing Juul-compatible Cartridge, directly or
`indirectly. and (2) will not knowingly aid. abet, encourage. participate in, or induce the
`manufacture for importation, marketing, distribution, sale for importation, importation, or sell
`after importation into the United States any Infringing Juul-compatible Cartridge except (as
`applied to (1) and (2) above) under consent or license from JLI, its successors, or assignccs, or to
`the extent permitted by the Agreement or by law, or until the expiration, invalidation, or
`unenforceability of all of the Asserted Patents. Such efforts shall include:
`
`3.1.1. Cease and Desist Marketing, Distribution, and Infringing Juul-
`compatible Cartridges. Aqua Haze LLC agrees to immediately cease and desist marketing.
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`distributing, and selling any Infringing Juul-compatible Cartridges into the United States,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`including by removing listings of any Infringing Juul-compatible Cartridges from the Aqua Haze
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`LLC Website targeted at sale into the United States, until such time as provided by Section 3.1.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`3.1.2. Cessation of Sales. Aqua Haze LLC attests that as of the Effective Date
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(a) it no longer has any Infringing Juul-compatible Cartridges in its possession, custody, and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`control in the United States, (b) it has ceased and desisted from manufacturing for importation,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`marketing, distributing, and selling for importation, or selling after importation in the US. of any
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`infringing Juul-compatible Cartridges, and (c) no Infringing Juul-compatible Cartridges remain
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`listed on the Aqua Haze LLC Website for sale into the United States or are otherwise available
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`for sale or distribution by Aqua Haze LLC in the US.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`3.1.3. No Aid to Others. Aqua Haze LLC will not aid others, including any co-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Respondents in the 1211 Investigation or any party named as a defendant by JLI in any district
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`court actions for infringement of the Asserted Patents, now or in the future, in any action against
`
`JLI.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`3.2
`Stipulation Regarding Infringement, Domestic Industry, and Public Interest.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Within three (3) business days after the Effective Date, Aqua Haze LLC shall stipulate that the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket