In a recent memorandum order, Judge Robinson rejected the plaintiff’s efforts to present willfulness evidence in the damages phase of trial. IGT v. Bally Gaming Int’l, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 06-282-SLR (D. Del. June 20, 2012). Inconsistently with Judge Robinson’s typical practice, the plaintiff had requested that it be permitted to try willfulness during the liability phase of the case. The Court permitted the plaintiff to do that, but, thereafter, the plaintiff failed to include any information about its willfulness allegations in its interrogatory responses, and the parties engaged in no discovery regarding willfulness at any time. Id. at 1-2. After the Court’s summary judgment rulings largely disposed of the liability phase of the case, the plaintiff sought to present willfulness evidence in the damages phase. Judge Robinson explained, “Plaintiff, over defendants’ objection, requested permission to pursue the issue of willfulness during the liability phase of the case. Although the court generally separates the resolution of liability from the resolution of willfulness and damages, the court granted plaintiff’s request. Plaintiff never brought up the issue of willfulness again until the April 2009 pretrial order. In seeking a second opportunity to pursue its willfulness claim, plaintiff is requesting a second bite at the apple. The court is not inclined to make two exceptions for plaintiff.” Id. at 3.
IGT v. Bally Gaming Int’l, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 06-282-SLR (D. Del. June 20, 2012).
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