Lam Research Corp. v. Schunk Semiconductor

ORDER DENYING XYCARB’S MOTION TO BIFURCATE AND LAM’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

INTRODUCTION

Pending before the Court are Defendant Xycarb Ceramic’s (“Xycarb”) motion to bifurcate this action into two trials — one for liability and one for damages — and Plaintiff Lam Research Corporation’s (“Lam”) motion for partial summary judgment. The Court finds these motions suitable for disposition without a hearing and therefore VACATES the hearings set for August 28, 2014 (Xycarb’s motion to bifurcate) and September 4, 2014 (Lam’s motion for partial summary judgment). For the following reasons, the Court will DENY both motions.

DISCUSSION

I. Xycarb’s Motion to Bifurcate Trial into Liability and Damages Phases Is Denied

Xycarb has moved to bifurcate the trial into separate liability and damage phases. Xycarb contends that bifurcation will prevent juror confusion given the complicated nature of the damages questions in this case. It further contends that because it is overwhelmingly likely to prevail on the question of liability given this Court’s claim construction, bifurcation will likely eliminate the need for a trial on damages and will allow the parties to avoid expense in…