GTE Wireless, Inc. v. Qualcomm, Inc.

ORDER GRANTING QUALCOMM’S OBJECTIONS TO THE MAGISTRATE COURT’S ORDER DENYING A SHORT STAY OF NARROW DISCOVERY AND GRANTING STAY OF DISCOVERY OF QUANTIFICATION OF CERTAIN DAMAGES

I. Introduction

On December 3, 1999, Defendant Qualcomm (“Defendant”) brought before the Magistrate Court a motion for a partial stay of discovery of the quantification of damages pending this Court’s ruling on Defendant’s motion for summary adjudication, currently set for hearing on May 8, 2000. Specifically, Defendant argues that Plaintiff GTE Wireless (“Plaintiff’) is barred from recovering damages and as a result, it would create an undue burden on Defendant to allow discovery of potential damages before ruling on summary adjudication of that issue.

On December 22, 1999, the Magistrate Court denied Defendant’s motion to stay discovery on the quantification of damages. The Magistrate Court found that it was not immediately evident that Defendant would prevail on its motion for summary adjudication and that it would not be in the best interests of efficiency to stay discovery. In response to this Order, Defendant timely filed objections on January 14, 2000 pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure…