MORRYDE INTERNATIONAL INC v. AIRXCEL INC

Summary

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana sets the scope and schedule for expedited discovery concerning MORryde’s motion for a preliminary injunction. Discovery is limited primarily to alleged irreparable harm, prior art, and patent inventorship, with deadlines established for written discovery, depositions, expert disclosures, and the evidentiary hearing. The court also grants Airxcel’s motion to stay all other case deadlines pending resolution of the preliminary-injunction motion.

Holdings

1. The court permitted limited expedited discovery into MORryde's alleged irreparable harm, including price erosion, business and customer losses, and the RV entry-step market, and into the likelihood of success on the merits only as to prior art and inventorship in the context of patent invalidity. General discovery into claim scope and inequitable conduct was not permitted because it risked converting the evidentiary hearing into a full bench trial.
2. The court granted Airxcel's motion to stay all case deadlines pending resolution of MORryde's preliminary-injunction motion because Airxcel showed good cause, the stay would not unduly prejudice MORryde, and the stay was likely to simplify the issues, streamline trial, and reduce duplicative litigation.

Questions Presented

1. What limited discovery would be productive and appropriate before the evidentiary hearing on MORryde's motion for a preliminary injunction?
2. Whether Airxcel established good cause for staying all regular case deadlines pending resolution of MORryde's preliminary-injunction motion.

Disposition

other