Cedar Lane Technologies Inc. v. Blackmagic Design Inc.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CEDAR LANE TECHNOLOGIES INC., Case No. 20-cv-01302-VC

Plaintiff,

ORDER IMPOSING SANCTIONS AND

v. REFERRING ATTORNEY RABICOFF

TO STANDING COMMITTEE ON

BLACKMAGIC DESIGN INC., PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

Defendant.

While representing plaintiff Cedar Lane Technologies in this patent infringement suit, Isaac Rabicoff and Kirk Anderson: (i) repeatedly flouted Rule 15 by filing multiple amended complaints without seeking leave from the Court or consent from defendant Blackmagic Design; (ii) made objectively frivolous and misleading arguments in defending their defective filings; and (iii) failed to appear at a hearing on Blackmagic’s motions to strike and dismiss. The Court issued an order to show cause why Rabicoff and Anderson should not be sanctioned for this conduct. In response, both attorneys made misleading statements about the procedural history of the case. Rule 11 sanctions are warranted against Anderson because, as he now admits, he took positions in his filings that were objectively frivolous. Sanctions pursuant to both Rule 11 and the Court’s inherent authority are warranted…