Golden Blount, Inc. v. Robert H. Peterson, Co.

Error: Bad annotation destination
United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
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GOLDEN BLOUNT, INC.,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
ROBERT H. PETERSON CO.,
Defendant-Appellant.
Charles W. Gaines, Hitt Gaines, P.C., of Richardson, Texas, argued for plaintiff-
appellee. With him on the brief was Greg H. Parker. Of counsel on the brief was
William D. Harris, Jr., Schultz & Associates, of Dallas, Texas.
Leland W. Hutchinson, Jr., Freeborn & Peters, of Chicago, Illinois, argued for
defendant-appellant. With him on the brief were Jennifer L. Fitzgerald and David S.
Becker.
Appealed from: United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
Senior Judge Jerry Buchmeyer
United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
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GOLDEN BLOUNT, INC.
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
ROBERT H. PETERSON CO.,
Defendant-Appellant.
__________________________
DECIDED: February 15, 2006
__________________________
Before MICHEL, Chief Judge, LOURIE, and LINN, Circuit Judges.
LINN, Circuit Judge.
Robert H. Peterson Co. (“Peterson”) appeals from final orders finding that
Peterson willfully infringed U.S Patent No. 5,988,159 (“the ’159 patent”), and awarding
Golden Blount damages and attorney fees. Golden Blount, Inc. v. Robert H. Peterson
Co., No. 3-01-CV-0127-R (N.D. Tex. Dec. 15, 2004) (Final Judgment); Golden Blount,
Inc. v. Robert H. Peterson Co., No. 3:01-CV-0127-R (N.D. Tex. Nov. 15, 2004)
(Attorney Fees Order); Golden Blount, Inc. v. Robert H. Peterson Co., No. 3-01-CV-
0127-R (N.D. Tex. Sept. 2, 2004) (Infringement Order). Because the district court did
not clearly err in finding that Peterson willfully infringed the ’159 patent, we affirm the
district court’s judgment of willful infringement and the award of attorney fees based
principally thereon. However, because the district court did not address certain returned
units in its calculation of damages, we vacate the damages award and remand that
limited aspect of the case to the district court with instructions to reexamine the number
of products sold and, if necessary, re-compute damages and enter judgment thereon
consistent with this opinion.
I. BACKGROUND
On January 18, 2001, Golden Blount filed suit against Peterson for infringement
of the ’159 patent, which relates to fireplace burners and associated equipment.
Beginning on July 29, 2002, the district court held a bench trial. On August 9, 2002, the
district court found willful infringement, held that the claims were not invalid, awarded
damages and attorney fees, and granted an injunction. Peterson appealed to this court
and, in April 2004, we construed certain claims of the ’159 patent, affirmed the validity
determination, vacated the judgment as to infringement, and remanded for specific
factual findings. See Golden Blount, Inc. v. Robert H. Peterson Co., 365 F.3d 1054(Fed. Cir. 2004) (“Golden Blount I”). Because we vacated the judgment with respect to
all issues of infringement, we also vacated and remanded the judgment as to
willfulness, the exceptional nature of the case, and damages. Id. at 1061.
In the district court on remand, both parties filed proposed findings of fact. On
June 22, 2004, the district court adopted Peterson’s proposed findings of non-
infringement. On July 6, 2004, Golden Blount filed a motion under Rule 52(b) of the
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (“Rule”) to amend the judgment, and alternatively, a
Rule 59 motion for a new trial. On August 8, 2004, the district court granted Peterson’s
petition for attorney fees. However, on August 18, 2004, the district court heard oral
argument on Golden Blount’s Rule 52(b) motion and decided that “[it] made a mistake”
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in adopting Peterson’s findings. From the bench, the district court vacated Peterson’s
findings and the award of attorney fees, and requested that Golden Blount provide “the
necessary findings and necessary final judgment.”
On August 31, 2004, Golden Blount submitted another set of proposed findings,
which the district court adopted and entered on September 2, 2004. The district court
found that Peterson both directly and indirectly infringed the ’159 patent and that
infringement was willful. The district court calculated lost-profit damages to be
$429,256, trebled the award to $1,287,766, and awarded Golden Blount attorney fees
and post-judgment interest.
On September 8, 2004, Golden Blount filed a formal application for attorney fees.
On September 17, 2004, Peterson lodged an appeal from the August 18, 2004 order.
On November 15, 2004, the district court calculated the amount of attorney fees to be
$622,015. On December 9, 2004, Peterson appealed from the award of attorney fees.
On December 15, 2004, the district court entered final judgment, and, on January 14,
2005, Peterson appealed from that order. On February 15, 2005, we consolidated the
appeals. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1295(a)(1).
II. DISCUSSION
A. Preliminary Matters
Peterson argues that the district court clearly erred in vacating all of its June 22,
2004 findings because Golden Blount’s Rule 52(b) motion only sought amendment of
some of the findings and Golden Blount did not file another Rule 52(b) motion after
August 18, 2004. Alternatively, Peterson argues that the district court lacked jurisdiction
to enter the September 2, 2004 findings because the August 18, 2004 Minute Order
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was an appealable judgment that Golden Blount did not seek to amend within ten days
as required by Rule 52(a). Peterson adds that, even if this court does not strike the
September 2, 2004 findings, it should apply greater scrutiny than “clear error” review
because the district court adopted Golden Blount’s findings verbatim.
Golden Blount counters that it need not have filed another Rule 52(b) motion with
its August 31, 2004 proposed findings because its original Rule 52(b) motion was
adequate and because it was complying with the district court’s August 18, 2004 order.
Golden Blount adds that the district court had jurisdiction to enter the September 2,
2004 findings because the August 18, 2004 order was not an appealable judgment and
did not start the ten-day clock. Alternatively, Golden Blount asserts that the district
court retained jurisdiction to change its judgment under Rule 60(b)(6). Golden Blount
maintains that even if this court reviews the findings very closely because they were
adopted verbatim, the standard that the court must apply is that of “clear error.” We
agree with Golden Blount.
Because the issue of whether the district court properly granted a Rule 52(b)
motion to amend its findings is not unique to patent law, we apply regional circuit law,
here, that of the Fifth Circuit. See Panduit Corp. v. All States Plastic Mfg. Co., 744 F.2d
1564, 1574-75 (Fed. Cir. 1984), overruled on other grounds by Richardson-Merrell Inc.
v. Koller, 472 U.S. 424 (1985). Although we could find no Fifth Circuit decision setting
out the standard of review that is applied in that circuit to a district court’s decision to
amend its findings, we believe it reasonable to conclude that the Fifth Circuit would
apply the abuse of discretion standard. 9 James Wm. Moore et al., Moore’s Federal
Practice ¶ 52.60[2], at 130 (3d ed. 2005) (“Moore’s”) (“The decision of whether to grant
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or deny a motion to amend or enlarge the findings is within the discretion of the trial
court.”); see Weatherchem Corp. v. J.L. Clark, Inc., 163 F.3d 1326, 1336 (Fed. Cir.
1998) (finding no abuse of discretion in the denial of a Rule 52(b) motion).
Rule 52(b) provides that “[o]n a party’s motion filed no later than 10 days after
entry of judgment, the court may amend its findings—or make additional findings—and
may amend the judgment accordingly.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 52(b). “[A] party may move to
amend the findings of fact even if the modified or additional findings in effect reverse the
judgment. If the trial court has entered an erroneous judgment, it should correct it.”
Fontenot v. Mesa Petroleum Co., 791 F.2d 1207, 1219 (5th Cir. 1986) (internal
quotations omitted); accord Nat’l Metal Finishing Co. v. BarclaysAmerican/Commercial,
Inc., 899 F.2d 119, 123 (1st Cir. 1990); 9 Moore’s ¶ 52.60[1], at 130. Golden Blount
filed its Rule 52(b) motion within 10 days of the entry of the June 22, 2004 findings, and
called for the court to accept its “Amended Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law,”
which were in most respects contrary to those made by the district court. Because the
district court may reverse any or all of its findings in acting on a Rule 52(b) motion, see
Fontenot, 791 F.2d at 1219; Nat’l Metal, 899 F.2d at 123, and because a Rule 52(b)
motion provides the district court discretion to amend any of its own findings, see
9 Moore’s ¶ 52.60[2], at 130-31, it matters not that Peterson’s Rule 52(b) motion did not
request all of the changes effected by the September 2, 2004 findings. The district
court did not abuse its discretion in amending its findings and modifying its judgment
accordingly. The cases to which Peterson cites are not germane.
Peterson’s jurisdictional challenge also fails. The district court invited Golden
Blount to submit additional findings and did not intend for the August 18, 2004 Minute
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Order to dispose of the pending Rule 52(b) motion. See McLaughlin v. Mississippi
Power Co., 376 F.3d 344, 350-51 (5th Cir. 2004) (finding that a district court order was
not a final judgment because the district court did not intend to end the litigation with its
order and continued to issue orders in the case); Pandrol USA, LP v. Airboss Ry.
Prods., 320 F.3d 1354, 1362-63 (Fed. Cir. 2003) (noting that “whether an order
constitutes a final judgment depends upon whether the judge has or has not clearly
declared his intention in this respect in his opinion” (internal quotations omitted)). Thus,
the Minute Order was not a final, appealable order. As a result, the district court
retained jurisdiction to enter the September 2, 2004 findings. See 9 Moore’s ¶ 52.62[1]-
[2], at 139-40 (noting that the district court retains jurisdiction while a timely-filed
Rule 52(b) motion is pending). The fact that the Rule 59 motion for a new trial remained
pending until December 15, 2004 further supports this conclusion. While Peterson is
correct that under Rule 58(a)(1)(B), a “separate document” is not required for an order
to constitute a final judgment, that presupposes that the court, by the Minute Order, had
disposed of the Rule 52(b) motion. Here, the district court did not dispose of the motion
as it had requested and was awaiting Golden Blount’s additional findings before
entering judgment.
We reject Peterson’s argument that Golden Blount should have submitted
another Rule 52(b) motion after the August 18, 2004 hearing. Because the original
Rule 52(b) motion was a sufficient basis on which the court could effect the changes in
its findings, and because the Minute Order did not dispose of that motion, the
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submission of another Rule 52(b) motion with the August 31, 2004 proposed findings
was unnecessary.1
Finally, we reject Peterson’s argument concerning the standard of review. While
the district court’s verbatim adoption of Golden Blount’s factual findings may result in
our close scrutiny, it does not affect our application of the clear error standard of review.
See Anderson v. City of Bessemer City, 470 U.S 564, 572 (1985) (“[E]ven when the trial
judge adopts proposed findings verbatim, the findings are those of the court and may be
reversed only if clearly erroneous.”).
B. Infringement
The ’159 patent relates to a fireplace assembly that
is the combination of an inexpensive primary gas logs burner assembly
[14] in gas flow communication with a secondary coals- and embers-
burner tube [104] positioned forward and below the primary burner which
operates to enhance the natural draft of the fireplace to improve efficiency
of burn and aesthetic appeal of the gas-fired artificial logs, coals- and
embers-burner assembly.
’159 patent, col. 3, ll. 54-60. Figure 2, below, illustrates the assembly.
1
Alternatively, the district court on its own motion could have granted relief
from judgment under Rule 60(b)(6). See, e.g., Fort Knox Music, Inc. v. Baptiste, 257
F.3d 108, 111 (2d Cir. 2001) (noting that “nothing forbids the court to grant such [Rule
60(b)] relief sua sponte”); McDowell v. Celebrezze, 310 F.2d 43, 44 (5th Cir. 1962)
(recognizing that Rule 60(b) relief can be granted sua sponte).
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In Golden Blount I, we concluded that the “raised level” limitation in claim 1 refers
to the top of the primary burner tube and requires that the top of the primary tube be
above the top of the secondary burner tube. 365 F.3d at 1059-60. Likewise, we
concluded that the “below” limitation in claim 17 required that the top of the secondary
burner tube be below the top of the primary burner tube. Id.Although Peterson sells its secondary burner (the “EMB”) to distributors
packaged separately from the primary burner, the district court found that Peterson both
directly infringed claims 1, 15, and 17 of the ’159 patent, by assembling the entire
apparatus itself on a number of occasions, and indirectly infringed, by selling the EMB
with instructions leading end-users to assemble the device into the claimed
configuration. To make these findings, the district court concluded that Golden Blount
had proven by a preponderance of the evidence that the “raised level” limitation of
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claim 1 and the “below” limitation of claim 17 read on devices assembled both by
Peterson and the end-users.
In support, the district court observed plaintiff’s exhibit 4A (“PX4A”), a device
assembled by Golden Blount to be representative of the combined Peterson primary
burner and EMB. This exhibit showed that the top of the primary burner was raised
relative to the EMB. The district court also referred to testimony of William McLaughlin
(“McLaughlin”), Peterson’s outside patent counsel, and Leslie Bortz (“Bortz”) and Tod
Corrin (“Corrin”), Peterson employees, that in view of defendant’s exhibits 31 and 32
(“DX31” and “DX32”) which together formed a device representative of Peterson’s entire
burner assembly, the top of the EMB is below the top of the primary burner. The court
relied on defense exhibit 34 (“DX34”), an instruction sheet packaged with each EMB
that tells owners “to tighten the . . . ember burner so that the valve faces forward and
flush with the burner pan”; testimony of Bortz that normally the valve rests on the
fireplace floor; and an observation that when the valve of the PX4A rested on a table
flush with the pan, the top of the primary burner was above the top of the EMB. The
district court also cited defense exhibit 30 (“DX30”), instructions which Peterson admits
show the top of the primary burner to be above the top of the EMB. The court explained
that “[t]here has been no reasons given . . . why Peterson didn’t assemble these
devices in accordance with its own instructions.” The district court concluded that
Peterson assembled the claimed apparatus to show distributors, and sold several pre-
assembled units with a primary burner “substantially identical” to those sold individually
to distributors. The district court also concluded that end-users assembled the device
into the claimed configuration. The court reasoned that Peterson supplied the EMB with
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instructions, explaining that “when instructions are provided . . . it can be
circumstantially inferred that the customer follows those instructions with respect to the
accused device.”
As to contributory infringement, the district court found that Peterson knew that
the combination for which its components were especially made was patented as of
December 1999. The court found that the EMB had no non-infringing uses, that the
EMB was not a staple article, and thus that Peterson was a contributory infringer. As to
inducement of infringement, the court found that because Peterson knew about the
patent as of December 1999, and because Peterson provided instructions to its
customers on how to configure the components, Peterson knew or should have known
that it was inducing infringement. The court cited to demonstrations that Peterson
provided its distributors as evidence of inducement, and concluded that Peterson was
an inducer.
On appeal, Peterson argues that even though it did not object at trial to the
admission of PX4A, the exhibit is not entitled to weight because it is not authentic, and
thus that the district court erred in relying on it. Peterson also asserts that neither DX30
nor DX34 proves that either Peterson or its customers made the infringing apparatus.
As to the instruction sheet, DX34, Peterson asserts that it does not lead to the formation
of an infringing configuration. As to the additional instruction sheet, DX30, Peterson
argues that it was not distributed to all end-users, and thus cannot evidence
infringement on the part of those end-users who did not receive it. Alternatively,
Peterson asserts that these instructions do not apply to the devices that it sold pre-
assembled because the primary burner on those devices is different than the primary
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burner reflected in the instruction sheets. As to contributory infringement, Peterson
argues that Golden Blount admitted that the apparatus can be configured in a non-
infringing manner and thus that there can be no contributory infringement. As to
inducement, Peterson asserts that cases that have relied on instructions as evidence of
third party-infringement have found that following the instructions must result in
infringement, and that infringement in this case is not a foregone conclusion based on
the instructions. Finally, Peterson argues that it held a good-faith belief that neither it
nor its customers were infringing, and thus that it did not have the requisite intent to
induce. Golden Blount counters that the infringement findings were not clearly
erroneous. We agree with Golden Blount.
Infringement is a question of fact reviewed for clear error. Golden Blount I, 365
F.3d at 1058. A factual finding is clearly erroneous when, despite some supporting
evidence, the reviewing court is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake
has been made. United States v. U.S. Gypsum Co., 333 U.S. 364, 395 (1948).
The parties disagree on whether following the instructions would lead to the
formation of an infringing configuration. Instruction sheet DX34, which was packaged
with the EMB, instructs the user to install the valve flush with the burner pan. Bortz
testified that the valve sits on the fireplace floor and the valve supports the EMB.
Viewing the device that Peterson assembled for trial (the combined DX31 and DX32),
McLaughlin and Bortz testified that the top of the primary burner was raised relative to
the top of the EMB when the valve rested on the table (shown to be a flat surface).2
2
On appeal, Peterson vigorously challenges the authenticity of exhibit
PX4A, presumably because it believes that the district court relied on PX4A in finding
infringement. However, the citations to the trial transcript provided by the district court
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Moreover, Corrin admitted that instruction sheet DX30, which was offered to customers
who requested it, illustrates an assembly with the top of the primary burner above the
top of the EMB. Presented with this evidence, we conclude that the district court did not
clearly err in finding that both DX34 and DX30 taught the infringing configuration. We
reject Peterson’s arguments to the contrary.
Next, the parties dispute whether direct infringement by Peterson can be inferred
from Peterson’s assembly of eleven units in light of both instruction sheets, and whether
direct infringement by customers can be inferred from sales of the EMB packaged with
DX34, and with DX30 available upon request. Circumstantial evidence can support a
finding of infringement. See Moleculon Research Corp. v. CBS, Inc., 793 F.2d 1261,
1272 (Fed. Cir. 1986) (holding that circumstantial evidence of extensive sales and
dissemination of an instruction sheet can support a finding of direct infringement by the
customer); Alco Standard Corp. v. Tenn. Valley Auth., 808 F.2d 1490, 1502-03 (Fed.
Cir. 1986) (“Although the evidence of infringement is circumstantial, that does not make
it any less credible or persuasive.”). Peterson does not dispute that it assembled eleven
devices itself and that each end-user that purchased an EMB attached it to a primary
in its opinion indicate that the district court was, in fact, relying on Golden Blount’s
demonstration of DX31 and DX32. Nonetheless, we reject Peterson’s argument that we
should accord PX4A no weight. Under Fifth Circuit law, in the absence of an
authenticity objection, exhibits may be admitted and considered by the trier of fact for
such probative value as they may have. Permian Petroleum Co. v. Petroleos
Mexicanos, 934 F.2d 635, 647 (5th Cir. 1991). We may review the decision to admit the
exhibit only for plain error. Id. at 648. There is no plain error in the district court’s
decision to admit exhibit PX4A. The testimony of Golden Blount’s Golden Blount
(“Blount”) and Peterson’s Vincent Jankowski (“Jankowski”) identified the device shown
in PX4A as Peterson’s assembled product, and the district court was entitled to give the
exhibit probative weight.
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burner (or had an installer do it). In light of the concession that each EMB was attached
to a primary burner; and given the evidence showing that DX34 was packaged with
each EMB, that both the DX30 and DX34 instruction sheets teach an infringing
configuration, and that the demonstration device assembled by Peterson at trial
exemplified an infringing configuration, we conclude that the district court did not clearly
err in finding that more likely than not, each time an EMB was attached to a primary
burner by either Peterson or an end-user, the combination was infringing. See
Moleculon, 793 F.2d at 1272. See also Metabolite Labs., Inc. v. Lab. Corp., 370 F.3d
1354, 1364-65, cert. granted in part, 126 S. Ct. 601 (2005) (holding that circumstantial
evidence was sufficient to show that a method step was carried out by the direct
infringer, even in the absence of direct evidence for each direct infringer).
We reject Peterson’s argument that Golden Blount could not rely on the
instruction sheets to prove acts of direct infringement by end-users. As for instruction
sheet DX34, the argument is based on the premise that DX34 does not teach the
infringing configuration. That premise is not valid, as we have concluded supra, that the
finding that DX34 taught the infringing configuration was not clearly erroneous. As for
instruction sheet DX30, the degree to which DX30 was disseminated—which is
debatable on this record—is immaterial given the instructions set forth in DX34 and
provided to each customer. Moreover, contrary to the view advanced by Peterson, it
matters not that the assembled device can be manipulated into a non-infringing
configuration, because the instructions packaged with each device teach the infringing
configuration and nothing in the record suggests that either Peterson or any end-user
ignored the instructions or assembled the burners in a manner contrary to the
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instructions so as to form a non-infringing configuration. See Hilgraeve Corp. v.
Symantec Corp., 265 F.3d 1336, 1343 (Fed. Cir. 2001) (“[T]ests of an accused device
under unusual conditions are not necessarily relevant to an infringement analysis.”); cf.
High Tech Med. Instrumentation, Inc. v. New Image Indus., Inc., 49 F.3d 1551, 1555-56
(Fed. Cir. 1995) (finding that a device does not infringe if it does not infringe in its
normal configuration, even if it may be altered into an infringing configuration under
unusual circumstances).3
The next issue before us is whether Golden Blount carried its burden of proving
that there were no substantial non-infringing uses of the EMB, and thus that Peterson
was a contributory infringer under § 271(c). See Golden Blount I, 365 F.3d at 1061(holding that the burden of persuasion is on the plaintiff). Relying on Peterson’s
admission that the EMB was not a staple article of commerce and was especially made
or adapted for use with a primary burner, and evidence that the instruction sheets
taught only the infringing configuration, the district court had ample basis to conclude
that Golden Blount had made out a prima facie showing that Peterson’s product was not
“suitable for substantial non-infringing use,” thus shifting the burden of production to
Peterson. See Symbol Techs., Inc. v. Opticon, Inc., 935 F.2d 1569, 1575-76 (Fed. Cir.
1991) (explaining that once the patentee makes out a prima facie showing of
infringement, the defendant can counteract it by cross-examining the patentee’s
evidence or putting on its own defense). We reject Peterson’s argument that C.R. Bard,
3
We also reject the argument that the instructions cannot serve as
evidence of infringement for the devices that Peterson sold pre-assembled. Based on
Corrin’s testimony, the district court did not err in finding that the burner depicted in the
instruction sheet and the burners in the pre-assemblies were “substantially identical.”
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Inc. v. Advanced Cardiovascular Sys., Inc., 911 F.2d 670, 674-75 (Fed. Cir. 1990),
disposed of Peterson’s burden to come forward with rebuttal evidence. In C.R. Bard,
we reversed a district court’s grant of a motion for summary judgment of contributory
infringement, reasoning that the device at issue, in theory, could be used in a way so as
not to infringe the asserted method claim and that the record did not foreclose a
reasonable fact-finder from concluding that the device was actually used in the non-
infringing way. Id. In this case, which was decided not on summary judgment but after
a bench trial, Golden Blount made out a prima facie showing that the EMB had no non-
infringing use. The burden of production then shifted to Peterson to introduce some
evidence that end-users actually assembled the burners in a non-infringing way.
Having introduced no evidence that anyone actually made or used the assembly in a
manner contrary to the instructions so as to form a non-infringing assembly, Peterson
cannot complain that the district court found that the EMB was not “suitable for
substantial non-infringing use.” Thus, we conclude that the district court did not clearly
err in finding that Peterson acted as a contributory infringer each time it sold an EMB
that was ultimately assembled into an infringing device.
Finally, Peterson cites to Moba, B.V. v. Diamond Automation, Inc., 325 F.3d
1306, 1318 (Fed. Cir. 2003), Hewlett-Packard Co. v. Bausch & Lomb, Inc., 909 F.2d
1464, 1469 (Fed. Cir. 1990), and Manville Sales Corp. v. Paramount Systems, Inc., 917
F.2d 544, 553-54 (Fed. Cir. 1990), and argues that it held a good-faith belief that its
instruction sheets would not lead to infringement based on opinions of counsel, and
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that, as a matter of law, it lacked the intent necessary to find inducement.4 In both
Moba and Hewlett-Packard, we explained that “the only intent required of [defendant] is
the intent to cause the acts that constitute infringement.” Moba, 325 F.3d at 1318 (citing
Hewlett-Packard, 909 F.2d at 1469). In this case, Peterson intended to cause the acts
that led to infringement because Peterson packaged its DX34 instruction sheet with the
EMB and intended to have customers assemble the apparatus in accordance with the
instructions. Thus, the inducement finding is consistent with Moba and Hewlett-
Packard. In Manville Sales, we reversed a finding of inducement because the alleged
inducer did not have notice of the patent until after suit was filed and the infringing acts
only continued after the alleged inducers acquired a “‘good faith belief,’ based on advice
4
The district court required that Golden Blount prove that Peterson knew or
should have known that it was inducing infringement, a standard which Golden Blount
has not challenged. It should be noted that “there is a lack of clarity concerning whether
the required intent must be merely to induce the specific acts [of infringement] or
additionally to cause an infringement.” MercExchange, L.L.C. v. eBay, Inc., 401 F.3d
1323, 1332 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (citing Insituform Techs., Inc. v. CAT Contracting, Inc., 385
F.3d 1360, 1378 (Fed. Cir. 2004)), cert. granted in part, 126 S. Ct. 733 (2005); see
Manville Sales, 917 F.2d at 553 (“The plaintiff has the burden of showing that the
alleged infringer's actions induced infringing acts and that he knew or should have
known his actions would induce actual infringements.” (emphasis in original)). But see
Hewlett-Packard, 909 F.2d at 1469 (“[P]roof of actual intent to cause the acts which
constitute the infringement is a necessary prerequisite to finding active inducement.”).
We need not resolve that ambiguity in this case, however, because it is undisputed that
Peterson had notice of the patent following a December 1999 letter and that Peterson
provided the DX34 instruction sheet to customers directing them to perform specific acts
leading to the assembly of infringing devices, from which the district court could draw an
inference of intent sufficient to meet either standard. See MEMC Elec. Materials v.
Mitsubishi Materials Silicon Corp., 420 F.3d 1369, 1378-80 & n.4 (Fed. Cir. 2005); see
also Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. v. Grokster, Ltd., 125 S. Ct. 2764, 2779-83
(2005) (drawing on the inducement of infringement standard long applied in the patent
law context and “holding that one who distributes a device with the object of promoting
its use to infringe copyright, as shown by clear expression or other affirmative steps
taken to foster infringement, is liable for the resulting acts of infringement by third
parties”).
04-1609, 05-1141, -1202 16
of counsel, that [the] product did not infringe.” 917 F.2d at 553-54; see supra note 4.
Although Peterson argues that it acted in good faith and cites several oral opinions of
counsel, we conclude for the reasons discussed infra Part II.C, that the district court did
not clearly err in dismissing those opinions as incompetent and in finding that
Peterson’s assertions of good faith ring hollow. The inducement finding is not
inconsistent with Manville Sales. Moreover, Peterson’s argument that it could not have
induced the infringement of those customers who did not receive the instruction sheet
DX30 is of no moment as it is based on the erroneous premise that instruction sheet
DX34, which was included with each product sold to all customers, does not lead to an
infringing configuration.
For the foregoing reasons, we find no reversible error in the district court’s
findings that claims 1, 15, and 17 of the ’159 patent were infringed.
C. Willfulness
The district court considered the following evidence in finding that Peterson
willfully infringed the ’159 patent. On December 10, 1999, Golden Blount sent a letter to
Peterson stating that the ’159 patent had “issued,” that Peterson was marketing a
device that is “substantially similar to the burner assembly that is claimed in each of the
claims of the subject patent,” that Golden Blount would “take whatever steps are
reasonable and necessary to prevent infringement,” and that Peterson should alert
Golden Blount of its “intentions” by January 14, 2000. On December 17, 1999, Corrin
sent McLaughlin the “infringement letter” and a copy of “instructions and working
drawings,” and told him that “[w]e have been selling this product since May 1999.”
McLaughlin discussed the matter with Bortz over the phone. Bortz testified that he had
04-1609, 05-1141, -1202 17
looked at the drawings and told McLaughlin that “for 20 years or more, the whole
industry has been making things like this.” McLaughlin testified that he gave Bortz an
oral opinion that “if we can prove that what the Peterson Company was doing with the
present product, the ember flame booster for 20 or 30 years, then either they would not
infringe any claim . . . or . . . that claim would be invalid.” At the time, McLaughlin did
not possess the accused device, the file wrapper, or any prior art.
On December 30, 1999, Corrin sent a letter to Golden Blount, acknowledging
receipt of the December 10, 1999, letter and stating that Peterson would “try to get back
to [them] as soon as possible,” but that January 10, 2000, is “unreasonable.” Bortz
testified that “[i]t was around Christmas time,” and “[they] were trying to determine what
the patent meant because [they] didn’t see anything in the patent that wasn’t things
[they] had done for many years.” On May 3, 2000, Golden Blount sent a letter to
Peterson stating that it had not received a “response” from Peterson, that it had
“inspected [the] EMB Series Ember Flame Booster and find [the EMB] to be clearly
within the scope of at least some of the claims of the subject patent,” and that it “will
take necessary steps to stop any such infringement.” On May 16, 2000, Peterson sent
a letter to Golden Blount in reply, which stated, in pertinent part:
[Y]ou are correct in that we have not yet responded.
Our lack of response has been due to at least in part to our inability
to understand what you want. Your December 10, 1999 letter states that
your client has informed you that the Robert H. Peterson Company is
“marketing a device that is substantially similar to the burner assembly
that is claimed in each of the claims of the subject patent.” We very much
disagree with this statement.
Your letter of May 3, 2000 states, “We have inspected your EMB
Series Ember Flame Booster and find it to be clearly within the scope of at
least some of the claims of the subject patent.”
Please explain to us, in detail, the basis upon which you believe
that we are infringing on your client’s patent.
04-1609, 05-1141, -1202 18
McLaughlin testified that he thought it reasonable under the circumstances to ask for a
more detailed explanation because he would respond to such letters “[u]sually by
providing a more detailed explanation,” which would be a “[c]ross reference [of] the
elements of the claim to the accused products.”
There was no further communication by either party until January 18, 2001, when
Golden Blount filed suit. McLaughlin testified that after suit was filed, Bortz asked
McLaughlin for another opinion of counsel, in part, because Bortz had heard that an
opinion could help avoid a charge of willful infringement. The following is Bortz’ trial
testimony regarding his conversation with McLaughlin:
Q What was the other part of the conversation?
A Well, I couldn’t understand the basis of the suit, the financial basis
of the suit. And I just didn’t see it all [sic] that there would be a reason to
pursue. I didn’t see any financial basis. So during the course of that
conversation I did say [that] I have heard or have been told that in patent
suits, if you lose, you may be required to pay fees of the other side.
Q And your concern, then, was over what could amount to those very
large patent lawyer fees that you were talking about earlier. Your concern
was about that rather than the fact that you might lose a rather small
lawsuit; is that right?
A (no response)
Q Isn’t that fair? That’s what you told me, isn’t it?
A Well, I didn’t understand the financial basis of the lawsuit.
Q What do you mean by that, sir?
A What you’ve brought up today. Excuse me, yesterday. I’m sorry.
Q You were of the opinion, were you not, sir, that the maximum that
you might have to pay would be tied in to just the little ember booster item
itself?
A That was my own thought process.
Q And that wasn’t really much worth messing with, was it?
A On a financial basis, that is correct.
McLaughlin testified that he gave his client two additional oral opinions, one in
February 2001 and another in May 2001, both after suit had been filed. According to
McLaughlin’s testimony, in the February opinion, he stated that based on a picture and
04-1609, 05-1141, -1202 19
a drawing of the accused device, he did not believe that the EMB literally infringed any
claim of the ’157 patent, and that at least some of the claims were invalid. In the May
opinion, after reviewing the file wrapper for the first time, but still not having viewed the
accused device, he concluded that none of the claims were literally infringed, that
claims 1 through 18 were not infringed under the doctrine of equivalents, and that the
remaining claims were invalid. McLaughlin testified that what he gleaned from an
eventual inspection of the accused product, that he did not glean from the drawings,
was insight into the “relative position” of the device.
In explaining its willfulness finding, the district court stated that in the two and
one-half years after Peterson received notice of the patent, Peterson never obtained a
written opinion of counsel and that the oral opinions obtained by Peterson were
rendered without counsel having examined either the patent’s prosecution history or the
accused device, and were thus incompetent. The district court criticized Peterson for
relying on an opinion of counsel based on the unproven representation of Bortz that the
invention had been around for 20 to 30 years. The district court found that “Peterson
made no further efforts to determine whether it was truly infringing or not, until after suit
was filed,” and that Peterson then sought another opinion in order to avoid a willfulness
finding and liability for attorney fees. The district court also found that Peterson was not
concerned about paying infringement damages because, according to Peterson, “the
suit was not a very meaningful case ‘dollarwise.’” The district court found that the
opinions were “to be used only as an illusory shield against a later charge of willful
infringement, rather than in a good faith attempt to avoid infringing another’s patent.”
The district court found that Peterson’s continued infringement through May 16, 2000,
04-1609, 05-1141, -1202 20
and through the trial proceedings was particularly egregious. As to Peterson’s
explanation that it did not garner a more expansive opinion early on because it was
awaiting “additional information or further explanation [of the infringement charge] from
Blount’s attorney,” the district court found that “Blount did not, after sending multiple
notice of infringement letters . . . owe Peterson any obligation with regard to advising
Peterson how they actually were infringing.”
Peterson challenges the district court’s willfulness finding on two grounds. First,
Peterson argues that the district court drew an inference of the type prohibited by Knorr-
Bremse Systeme Fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GMBH v. Dana Corp., 383 F.3d 1337 (Fed. Cir.
2004) (en banc). Peterson asserts that it had no duty to seek an opinion of counsel (let
alone a competent opinion), and that the district court could not consider whether it
obtained an opinion of counsel in evaluating whether it discharged its duty of due care.
Peterson argues that while the lack of a competent opinion might leave it at a
disadvantage in attempting to disprove willfulness, the lack of a competent opinion
cannot help Golden Blount make out its prima facie case that Peterson acted willfully.
Peterson asserts that because the district court must disregard the opinion-related
evidence, the only affirmative evidence of willfulness—that Peterson sought to avoid
paying attorney fees—does not amount to reckless conduct and thus the district court
clearly erred in finding willfulness. Second, Peterson argues that even in the absence
of a formal opinion of counsel, because it held a reasonable, good-faith belief that it did
not directly infringe and that its instructions did not induce its customers to infringe, it did
not act in reckless disregard of the patent and thus the willfulness finding was clearly
erroneous. Peterson asserts that this good-faith belief was based on the facts that it
04-1609, 05-1141, -1202 21
was not regularly selling a two-burner apparatus to distributors and that it thought that it
was recommending to customers that the EMB be installed “level” with the primary
burner, not “below” it.
Golden Blount counters that Peterson’s understanding of the Knorr-Bremse
decision is wrong and that Knorr-Bremse only addressed adverse inferences and
merely eliminated the ability of the trier of fact to infer from the absence of an opinion
letter that such an opinion, if rendered, would have been unfavorable to the potential
infringer. Golden Blount further argues that the adverse inference holdings of Knorr-
Bremse do not apply to this case because Peterson did not assert a privilege and
“offered up” the opinions of counsel as a defense against the charge of willful
infringement. Golden Blount asserts that the incompetent opinions, taken together with
the other evidence presented, supports the finding of willfulness and that, based on all
of the evidence, the district court’s willfulness determination was not clearly erroneous.
Willfulness is a question of fact reviewed for clear error. Slimfold Mfg. Co. v.
Kinkead Indus., Inc., 932 F.2d 1453, 1459 (Fed. Cir. 1991). “The extent to which the
infringer disregarded the property rights of the patentee, the deliberateness of the
tortious acts, or other manifestations of unethical or injurious commercial conduct, may
provide grounds for a finding of willful infringement . . . .” Hoechst Celanese Corp. v. BP
Chems. Ltd., 78 F.3d 1575, 1583 (Fed. Cir. 1996). In this regard, “there continues to be
‘an affirmative duty of due care to avoid infringement of the known patent rights of
others.’” Knorr-Bremse, 383 F.3d at 1345-46 (quoting L.A. Gear Inc. v. Thom McAn
Shoe Co., 988 F.2d 1117, 1127 (Fed. Cir. 1993)).
04-1609, 05-1141, -1202 22
The patentee bears the burden of persuasion and must prove willful infringement
by clear and convincing evidence. Comark Commc’ns, Inc. v. Harris Corp., 156 F.3d
1182, 1190 (Fed. Cir. 1998). “There is no evidentiary presumption that every
infringement is willful.” Norian Corp. v. Stryker Corp., 363 F.3d 1321, 1332 (Fed. Cir.
2004). “Willful infringement is not established by the simple fact of infringement,” even
where the accused has knowledge of the patents. Id.; accord Ajinomoto Co. v. Archer-
Daniels-Midland Co., 228 F.3d 1338, 1351-52 (Fed. Cir. 2000). “The patentee must
present threshold evidence of culpable behavior” before the burden of production shifts
to the accused to put on evidence that it acted with due care. Norian, 363 F.3d at 1332(“[A]bsent an initial presentation of evidence . . . this burden of coming forward in
defense [does] not arise.”). That threshold showing cannot be satisfied merely by proof
that the accused is asserting the attorney-client privilege to withhold an opinion of
counsel. As we explained in Knorr-Bremse, this court’s precedent had (until that point)
aided the patentee in making its case on willfulness by permitting the trier of fact to infer
from an alleged infringer’s failure to produce an opinion letter that such an opinion, if
rendered, was or would have been unfavorable to the alleged infringer. 383 F.3d at
1343. See also Fromson v. W. Litho Plate & Supply Co., 853 F.2d 1568 (Fed. Cir.
1988). We overruled this precedent and held that “[t]he adverse inference that an
opinion was or would have been unfavorable, flowing from the infringer’s failure to
obtain or produce an exculpatory opinion of counsel, is no longer warranted.” Knorr-
Bremse, 383 F.3d at 1344 (emphasis added); accord Imonex Servs., Inc. v. W.H.
Munzprufer Dietmar Trenner GMBH, 408 F.3d 1374, 1378 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (“In that
case, the affirmative duty of due care to avoid infringement was reiterated, but it was
04-1609, 05-1141, -1202 23
found no longer appropriate to draw an adverse inference with respect to willful
infringement from failure to obtain legal advice.” (citing Knorr-Bremse, 383 F.3d at 1345-
46)); Insituform Techs., Inc. v. CAT Contracting, Inc., 385 F.3d 1360, 1377 (Fed. Cir.
2004) (“‘[T]he failure to obtain an exculpatory opinion of counsel shall no longer provide
an adverse inference or presumption that such an opinion would have been
unfavorable.’” (quoting Knorr-Bremse, 383 F.3d at 1346)).
On the other hand, if the privilege is not asserted, the patentee in making its
threshold showing of culpable conduct is free to introduce as evidence whatever
opinions were obtained and to challenge the competence of those opinions in
satisfaction of the patentee’s burden on willfulness. Nothing in Knorr-Bremse precludes
a patentee from attempting to make such a showing. See nCUBE Corp. v. Seachange
Int’l, Inc., No. 03-1341, 03-1366, 2006 WL 39053, at *5 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 9, 2006)
(following jury verdict of willfulness, affirming the denial of a motion for JMOL where
infringer received notice of the patent when suit was filed and obtained an incompetent
opinion upon which the infringer relied in continuing to infringe); Knorr-Bremse, 383
F.3d at 1346-47; Read Corp. v. Portec, Inc., 970 F.2d 816, 828-31 (Fed. Cir. 1992),
abrogated in part on other grounds by Markman v. Westview Instruments, Inc., 52 F.3d
967 (Fed. Cir. 1995) (en banc), aff’d, 517 U.S. 370 (1996) (explaining that willfulness
may be found in cases in which opinions are incompetent, such as where an attorney
does not examine necessary facts, or where the analysis is superficial).
We reject Peterson’s argument that the district court drew an inference of the
type prohibited by Knorr-Bremse from the fact that Peterson failed to obtain a
competent opinion of counsel. The district court did not infer that if Peterson had
04-1609, 05-1141, -1202 24
obtained a competent opinion regarding the ’159 patent, the opinion would have been
unfavorable to Peterson. That would have been an improper basis upon which to rest a
willfulness finding. See Insituform, 385 F.3d at 1377 (vacating the district court’s finding
of willfulness for drawing the type of negative inference prohibited by Knorr-Bremse).
Instead, the district court considered all of the facts presented in assessing whether
Peterson acted in reckless disregard of Golden Blount’s patent rights after receiving
notice of the ’159 patent. Here, Peterson did not assert the attorney-client privilege and
Golden Blount offered up as evidence in its case on willfulness, inter alia, the legal
infirmities of the several oral opinions that Peterson obtained. The competence of those
opinions and the facts surrounding Peterson’s obtaining of those opinions were relevant
to the willfulness issue and properly were considered by the district court, along with all
of the other evidence presented, both in assessing whether Golden Blount made out its
prima facie case, see Norian, 363 F.3d at 1332-33, and in deciding whether Peterson’s
infringement was willful, see Insituform, 385 F.3d at 1377; Read, 970 F.2d at 828-31.
See also nCUBE Corp., 2006 WL 39053, at *5. Therefore, Peterson’s first argument to
overturn the willfulness finding is without merit.
We also reject Peterson’s second argument. The district court did not clearly err
in dismissing Peterson’s asserted good-faith belief in non-infringement, and thus in
finding willfulness. Peterson made little-to-no effort to assess whether it infringed or
whether the patent was invalid after receiving notice of the patent. The district court did
not clearly err in according little weight to the first two oral opinions rendered by
McLaughlin in light of the fact that McLaughlin did not have, and therefore could not
have considered, the prosecution history or the accused device when the opinions were
04-1609, 05-1141, -1202 25
given. McLaughlin’s admission that he was able to better assess the “relative position”
of the device when he was finally able to view the accused device illustrates the
importance of possessing the accused device to the performance of an infringement
analysis in this case. The district court also did not clearly err in criticizing Peterson’s
reliance on the representation of Bortz that the invention had been around for 20 to 30
years. Although the naked reliance on such a representation might have been
reasonable if the accused product had been on the market for 20 to 30 years, the EMB
in this case had only been on the market a short period of time and Peterson made little
effort to uncover prior art until after suit was filed. Furthermore, the district court did not
clearly err in dismissing Peterson’s assertions that it could not directly infringe because
it sold the EMB alone to distributors and that it could not induce infringement because it
was recommending a “level” installation. As to the first argument, Peterson ignores the
fact that its sales of components presented questions of contributory and induced
infringement. As to the second argument, Peterson relies on testimony interpreting the
instructions given to customers and testimony about how Peterson’s burners ideally are
positioned relative to one another. However, the district court had before it the actual
instruction sheets, DX30 and DX34, which taught the infringing configuration, and
evidence that at least DX34 was contained in the package given to each end-user.
Finally, the district court did not clearly err in inferring that Peterson demonstrated a
cavalier attitude toward Golden Blount’s patent rights from the facts that Peterson did
not respond substantively to Golden Blount’s notice letters and that it only sought a
thorough opinion of counsel after suit was filed, and then only out of a concern to avoid
a willfulness finding and a possible judgment for attorney fees. Although other
04-1609, 05-1141, -1202 26
inferences may be drawn from these facts, we do not have “a definite and firm
conviction” that a mistake has been made. Given all of the evidence, Peterson’s
assertions that it subjectively did not believe it was infringing are insufficient to rebut the
inference of reckless conduct adequately supported by the facts presented.
D. Damages
The district court applied the test outlined in Panduit Corp. v. Stahlin Bros. Fibre
Works, Inc., 575 F.2d 1152 (6th Cir. 1978), relied upon the largely un-impeached
testimony of Blount and Corrin, and found that there was sufficient demand for the
product for the period in question, that there were no acceptable non-infringing
substitutes, and that Golden Blount had enough manufacturing and marketing capacity
to promote the device. Based on Golden Blount’s testimony that Peterson and Golden
Blount controlled 95% of the market, the district court found that there was a two-
supplier market and that “‘but for’ Peterson’s infringing activities, Blount would have
made the sales it normally would have made.” The district court noted that “[t]o
determine the actual damage amount in a lost profit case, [it had to] multiply Blount’s
per unit profit [on the lost sale] times the number of infringing devices that Peterson
sold.” The district court found that Golden Blount had established two alternative bases
from which to conclude that it would have lost the sale of the entire burner assembly,
the grate, and a full set of artificial logs. The district court explained that the first basis
was Peterson’s infringement of claim 15, which positively claims the burner assembly
positioned underneath the artificial logs and a grate-support means. The district court
explained that the second basis was the entire-market-value rule, finding that “the
ember burner is the basis for the customer’s demand” and that “the elements of
04-1609, 05-1141, -1202 27
independent claims 1 and 17 [i.e., the burner assembly] constitute a functional unit with
the artificial logs and the grate support.” The district court cited the testimony of Charlie
Hanft (“Hanft”), a third-party retailer, that 97.5% of the time he sells an ember burner, he
sells an entire burner assembly and log set with it, noted that Peterson offered no
numerical evidence on how often the EMB is sold with the entire burner assembly and
log set, and concluded that Golden Blount had proven the “standard practice in the
industry.” As a result, the district court found that 97.5% of the time that Peterson sold
an EMB, Golden Blount lost the sale of its entire burner assembly and a full set of logs,
and that 2.5% of the time, Golden Blount lost the sale of its ember burner alone. Based
on those percentages, the fact that Peterson sold 3,7235 EMBs during the period in
5
In its August 9, 2002 decision, the district court found that Peterson sold
3,689 EMBs during the period in question. Both parties sought to amend the district
court’s finding. In an August 22, 2002 motion Peterson sought to reduce the number of
EMBs sold by 288 units, because Peterson had sold those units prior to receiving the
December 10, 1999 notice letter. In an August 23, 2002 motion Golden Blount sought
to increase the number of EMBs in the damages calculation to account for EMBs sold
by Peterson that had been previously unreported because they had been sold between
the date of Peterson’s last sales report (April 30, 2002) and the judgment date (August
9, 2002).
In turn, in a September 19, 2002 motion, Peterson reported that it sold 322 EMBs
between April 30 and September 19, 2002 but that it had received returns of 802 units
between May 1, 2002 and September 19, 2002 (the majority of which presumably
coming after entry of judgment). Peterson argued that it typically sells EMBs to
distributors, that the distributors sells EMBs to retailers, and that the retailers assemble
the EMB to the primary burner. Peterson asserted that the 802 returned units never
made it to retailers and thus never became part of a directly infringing configuration.
Because the 802 units never led to a direct infringement, according to Peterson,
Peterson could not be liable for contributory or induced infringement and the 802 units
could not be included in the damages award.
In a September 23, 2002 response, Golden Blount stated its agreement that the
288 units sold prior to the notice letter had to be subtracted from the damages
calculation. In an October 4, 2002 response, Golden Blount stated its agreement that
322 units were to be added the damages award to account for sales between April 30
and August 8, 2002 bringing the total number of EMBs sold to 3,723. However, Golden
Blount objected to reducing the figure by 802 units, arguing that Peterson could not “un-
04-1609, 05-1141, -1202 28
question, and the fact that Golden Blount’s per unit profit was $117.92 and $14.09 on its
entire burner assembly and log set, and its ember burner alone, respectively, the district
court calculated total damages at $429,256. Based on the willfulness finding, the
district court trebled the award to $1,287,766.
On appeal, Peterson argues that Golden Blount failed to prove that the parties
were competing for sales of two-burner installations, and thus that Golden Blount was
required to (but failed to) show that it could retrofit the Golden Blount ember burner to
existing Peterson primary burners. Peterson asserts that it had no obligation to put on
evidence about how it sold its EMBs because Golden Blount did not make out a prima
facie showing that Peterson’s EMBs were sold with the entire assembly. Peterson also
argues that the margin calculus for Golden Blount’s profit should include several
additional expenses, and adds that the damages award should not include 802 EMBs
that it bought back from distributors because those units never led to the formation of
infringing devices. Golden Blount responds that the damage calculation was not clearly
erroneous.
The district court’s choice of a damages theory is reviewed for abuse of
discretion while factual findings concerning damages are reviewed for clear error. See
In re Cambridge Biotech Corp., 186 F.3d 1356, 1369 (Fed. Cir. 1999). Any trebling of
damages based on a finding of willfulness is reviewed for abuse of discretion. See
Amsted Indus. Inc. v. Buckeye Steel Castings Co., 24 F.3d 178, 183 (Fed. Cir. 1994).
infringe” by withdrawing the products that it had sold to distributors. In a February 6,
2003 order, the district court ruled that “[t]he figures will not take into account any
returns.” Its March 7, 2003 final judgment and its September 2, 2004 findings used the
3,723 figure.
04-1609, 05-1141, -1202 29
“To recover lost profits damages, the patentee must show a reasonable
probability that, ‘but for’ the infringement, it would have made the sales that were made
by the infringer.” Rite-Hite Corp. v. Kelley Co., Inc., 56 F.3d 1538, 1545 (Fed. Cir. 1995)
(en banc). The patentee may rely upon the four-factor test articulated in Panduit to
prove entitlement to lost profits damages. Id. “The Panduit test requires that a patentee
establish: (1) demand for the patented product; (2) absence of acceptable non-infringing
substitutes; (3) manufacturing and marketing capacity to exploit the demand; and (4) the
amount of profit it would have made.” Id. (citing Panduit, 575 F.2d at 1156).
For the most part, we find no clear error in the district court’s application of
Panduit and calculation of lost-profit damages. Golden Blount proffered sufficient
evidence from which the district court could find that “but for” Peterson’s sale of the
EMB, which enabled the end-user to make the product covered by the ’159 patent, the
end-user would have turned to Golden Blount to satisfy its demand for the patented
product. We reject Peterson’s argument that the district court clearly erred in finding
that the parties competed for sales of two-burner installations. Peterson stipulated that
the EMB is made to be attached to Peterson’s primary burner. A properly configured
assembly infringes regardless whether the primary burner was bought years earlier or
on the same day as the secondary burner. Moreover, based on the testimony of Hanft,
who had sold some Peterson products in the past, the district court found that it was
“standard practice in the industry” to sell the ember burner as part of the purchase of the
entire burner assembly.6 Although this evidence was not irrefutable, it was sufficient to
6
In a September 19, 2002 motion, Peterson conceded that “retail
stores . . . put the ember flame boosters together with the [primary] burners,” which
further supports the standard industry practice finding.
04-1609, 05-1141, -1202 30
shift the burden of production to Peterson. See id. at 1545 (“The patentee need only
show that there was a reasonable probability that the sales would have been made ‘but
for’ the infringement . . . . The burden then shifts to the infringer to show that the
inference is unreasonable for some or all of the lost sales.”). By coming forward with no
quantitative evidence to rebut this testimony, Peterson left itself open to the inferences
reasonably drawn by the district court. We also reject Peterson’s arguments regarding
the profit margins on each lost sale. The district court based its findings on both
documentary and testimonial evidence, and Peterson has failed to convince us that
these findings were clearly erroneous.
However, as to the 802 EMBs allegedly returned to Peterson before being
assembled into an infringing configuration, there is evidence that Peterson did receive
802 EMBs as returns from distributors, but the district court made no findings as to
those returns. See supra note 5. If the 802 EMBs were returned before having been
sold to retailers and thereafter assembled into an infringing configuration, they should
not have been included in the damages calculus. Golden Blount begs to differ, arguing
that once the district court found one act of direct infringement by a Peterson customer,
the district court could presume that each sale of an EMB to a distributor constituted
one additional act of contributory or induced infringement, which in turn gave rise to a
cognizable lost sale. However, it is horn-book law that “[l]iability for either active
inducement of infringement or contributory infringement is dependent upon the
existence of direct infringement.” Joy Techs., Inc. v. Flakt, Inc., 6 F.3d 770, 774 (Fed.
Cir. 1993). In applying this rule to the damages issue in this case, Standard Havens
04-1609, 05-1141, -1202 31
Products, Inc. v. Gencor Industries, Inc., 953 F.2d 1360, 1372-74 (Fed. Cir. 1991), is
instructive.
In Standard Havens, Gencor appealed a jury verdict finding that it had
contributed to and induced infringement of a patent by selling asphalt plants that would
lead to infringement of asserted method claims, and awarding lost profits covering the
sales of ten asphalt plants. Id. at 1365. Reviewing this award, we noted that for three
of the sales, although Gencor bid for the sale by advertising its infringing plant, the
plants actually delivered were, in fact, non-infringing. Id. at 1374. Standard Havens
argued that the “bait and switch” tactic caused it to lose sales of its own plants.
However, we sided with Gencor and remanded for the district court to recalculate the
award based on three fewer infringing plants, explaining that “because a contributorily
infringing counterflow plant was not actually sold in those three instances, there was no
direct infringement of the ’938 patent and, thus, no contributory infringement.” Id.We believe that Peterson’s shipping an EMB to its distributor but later receiving it
as a return before it was assembled into an infringing combination is analogous to
Standard Havens. Although the patentee in each case argues that there is a lost sale
on which it is entitled to a lost profit, there can be no cognizable lost sale on which to
base a damages award under the patent laws without an act of infringement to warrant
it. See id. at 1374; see also 35 U.S.C. § 284 (2000) (“Upon finding for the claimant the
court shall award the claimant damages adequate to compensate for the
infringement . . . .” (emphasis added)); Rite-Hite, 56 F.3d at 1545 (recognizing that the
loss of a sale must be caused by an infringing act). If 802 EMBs were returned before
assembly into an infringing configuration, there would be 802 fewer acts of direct
04-1609, 05-1141, -1202 32
infringement and Peterson would be liable for 802 fewer acts of contributory or inducing
infringement. If there were 802 fewer acts of contributory or inducing infringement,
Golden Blount would have lost 802 fewer sales.
Because the district court failed to address the 802 EMBs allegedly returned to
Peterson in its September 2, 2004 findings of fact, we vacate the damages award and
remand for the limited purpose of determining whether the 802 EMBs were in fact
returned to Peterson by Peterson’s distributors before having been assembled into an
infringing configuration. If the 802 EMBs were so returned, then the damages award
should be recomputed using the reduced number of units sold to distributors. If the 802
EMBs were not in fact returned or were assembled into an infringing configuration prior
to being returned, the original damage award should be reinstated. We have
considered the remaining arguments and find them to be without merit.
E. Attorney fees
Based on the finding of willfulness, the district court found the case exceptional
and awarded Golden Blount attorney fees in the amount of $622,015. Peterson argues
that the district court clearly erred in marking the case exceptional because it clearly
erred in its willfulness finding. Peterson also asserts that the district court clearly erred
in granting attorney fees because the application was submitted on September 8, 2004,
and “[t]ime for further post trial motions expired on September 1, 2004.”
An exceptional case finding is one of fact reviewed for clear error. Enzo
Biochem, Inc. v. Calgene, Inc., 188 F.3d 1362, 1370 (Fed. Cir. 1999). Once a case is
deemed exceptional, any award of attorney fees is reviewed for abuse of discretion. Id.
04-1609, 05-1141, -1202 33
Because Peterson’s challenge to the attorney-fees award was based on its
argument that the district court clearly erred in finding willfulness, an argument we have
rejected, we have no reason to disturb the district court’s exceptional case
determination or its award of attorney fees. Peterson’s argument that Golden Blount
filed its motion for attorney fees out of time also lacks merit. As discussed supra
Part II.A, the August 18, 2004 Minute Order was not a final judgment and thus the
fourteen-day period specified in Rule 54(d)(2)(B) did not begin running on that date.
The application for attorney fees was timely filed within fourteen days after entry of the
September 2, 2004 findings.
III. CONCLUSION
Because the district court did not clearly err in finding that Peterson willfully
infringed the ’159 patent, we affirm the district court’s judgment of willful infringement
and the award of attorney fees based principally thereon. However, because the district
court failed to address whether the 802 EMBs allegedly repurchased by Peterson
should have been included in the calculation of damages, we vacate the damages
award and remand that limited aspect of the case to the district court for further
proceedings consistent with this opinion.
AFFIRMED-IN-PART, VACATED-IN-PART, AND REMANDED
IV. COSTS
No costs.
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