In Arcelormittal France v. AK Steel Corp., C.A. No. 10-050-SLR (D. Del. Aug. 25, 2011), plaintiffs unsuccessfully moved for JMOL on invalidity and for a new trial. Id. at 18. Plaintiffs’ motion for JMOL focused on (1) whether a particular prior art reference qualified as a printed publication, (2) whether that reference disclosed all limitations of the asserted patent, and (3) whether there was a motivation to combine that reference with other asserted prior art references. Id. at 5. After finding that the jury’s verdict of anticipation and obviousness was supported by substantial evidence, Judge Robinson rejected plaintiffs’ multiple arguments in support of their motion for a new trial. Id. at 11. For example, although “[p]laintiffs argue[d] that defendants’ experts improperly testified about two . . . prior art references,” the court found that (1) “plaintiffs never objected to this testimony at trial and, therefore, arguments pertaining to said testimony are waived” and (2) “even if objections to said testimony had been preserved, the testimony was merely explanatory in nature, and gave context for defendants’ experts’ understanding of the level of skill in the art.” Id. at 12-13. Thus, “even if the experts’ testimony was beyond the scope of the expert report, the error was harmless.” Id. at 14. Because the court denied both of plaintiffs’ motions, Judge Robinson denied defendants’ JMOL of noninfringement as moot. Id. at 18.
Arcelormittal France v. AK Steel Corp., C.A. No. 10-050-SLR (D. Del. Aug. 25, 2011)
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