Straight Path IP Group, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

STRAIGHT PATH IP GROUP, INC., No. C 16-03463 WHA Plaintiff, No. C 16-03582 WHA v.

CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.,

Defendant. ORDER ADOPTING SPECIAL

MASTER’S REPORT AND

R AE TC TOO RM NM EE YN ’SD FA ET EIO S N FOR

STRAIGHT PATH IP GROUP, INC.,

16 Plaintiff, 17 v.

APPLE INC.,

19 Defendant. 20 INTRODUCTION This post-merits patent suit has devolved into a protracted fee dispute — “one of the least socially productive types of litigation imaginable,” as Justice William Brennan put it. Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424, 442 (1983) (dissenting). Prior orders found patent owner’s exceptional infringement theory entitled defendants to fees and appointed a special master who reviewed billing records, heard arguments, and now recommends an award. This order ADOPTS that reasoned recommendation and finally puts this suit to bed. STATEMENT A prior order details the…