Mobile Hi-Tech Wheels v. CIA Wheel Group

ORDER DENYING DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR A NEW TRIAL OR JUDGMENT AS A MATTER OF LAW [164]

I. INTRODUCTION

This was a patent infringement case brought by Plaintiff Mobile Hi-Tech Wheels against Defendant CIA Wheel Group. Both companies manufacture high-end wheels and rims. Plaintiff alleged that one of Defendant’s wheels infringes Patent D501,173 (Vehicle Front Face) (“'173 Patent”), which was issued on January 25, 2005 to Plaintiff. The '173 patent is a design patent for a vehicle-wheel front face. On February 9, 2006, the Court entered summary judgment in favor of Plaintiff that the '173 was valid, finding that genuine issues of material fact existed as to the substantial similarity of the accused infringing wheel to Plaintiffs '173 patent and as to the '173 patent’s point of novelty. (Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment, Feb. 9, 2006.) , The Court found that the '173 patent was presumptively valid and that Defendant had failed to overcomé this presumption of validity. (Id.)

On October 17, 2006, counsel began opening arguments in the trial. However, the Court declared a mistrial after it became apparent that issues concerning the…