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Westech Aerosol Corporation v. ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc., C17-5068-RBL. (2017)

Court: District Court, D. Washington Number: infdco20170721d99 Visitors: 17
Filed: Jul. 20, 2017
Latest Update: Jul. 20, 2017
Summary: ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION DKT. #30. RONALD B. LEIGHTON , District Judge . THIS MATTER is before the Court on Defendant ITW's Motion for Reconsideration [Dkt. #30] on the Court's Order Denying Defendant's Motion to Dismiss [Dkt. #28]. Plaintiff Westech alleges ITW infringed its patent for a spray adhesive stored in a canister and applied with a spray gun. ITW sought dismissal, arguing Westech had not pled sufficient-enough facts to withstand Aschcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 66
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ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION

DKT. #30.

THIS MATTER is before the Court on Defendant ITW's Motion for Reconsideration [Dkt. #30] on the Court's Order Denying Defendant's Motion to Dismiss [Dkt. #28]. Plaintiff Westech alleges ITW infringed its patent for a spray adhesive stored in a canister and applied with a spray gun. ITW sought dismissal, arguing Westech had not pled sufficient-enough facts to withstand Aschcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 677, 129 S.Ct. 1937 (2009) and Bell Atlantic Corporation v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955 (2007). It made summary-judgment type arguments to dispute the veracity of Westech's claims. This Court concluded Westech had sufficiently put ITW on notice of the claims against it and if ITW wants the Court to decide whether ITW's product infringes Westech's, it should move for summary judgment with supporting evidence. This Court denied ITW's request for dismissal.

ITW asks the Court to reconsider its decision because Westech allegedly knows ITW's product does not infringe its product. ITW provided copies of its correspondence with Westech to demonstrate Westech's familiarity with ITW's product's chemical composition, and to support its argument that Westech avoided pleading such specificity in its complaint to escape having its theory of infringement tested at the motion-to-dismiss stage. ITW contends Westech had to plead these facts.

ITW misconstrues the question before the Court on a motion to dismiss. The Court considers whether the plaintiff has presented a cognizable legal theory supported by factual allegations that raise the plaintiff's right to relief against the defendant above a speculative level. See Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 677; see also Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555. It does not evaluate the merits of plaintiff's claims or question whether the plaintiff has pled everything it knows or not. ITW presents a compelling argument that its product does not infringe Westech's, but it uses a vehicle that leaves this argument outside of the Court's consideration.

Motions for reconsideration are disfavored. The Court will ordinarily deny such motions absent a showing of new legal authority or facts that could not have been brought to its attention earlier with reasonable diligence or a showing of manifest error in the prior ruling. See Local Rule W.D. Wash. CR 7(h)(1). The term "manifest error" is "an error that is plain and indisputable, and that amounts to a complete disregard of the controlling law or the credible evidence in the record." Black's Law Dictionary 622 (9th ed. 2009).

ITW has not brought to the Court's attention new authority or facts that support a conclusion Westech failed to meet its burden under Iqbal and Twombly. That ITW can make the arguments it does, demonstrates it is on notice of Westech's claims against it. Nor has ITW shown the Court committed manifest error in denying ITW's motion for dismissal. ITW's Motion for Reconsideration [Dkt. #30] is therefore DENIED. ITW should present its arguments and supporting evidence in a motion for summary judgment, where the Court can examine as a matter of law whether ITW's product infringes Westech's.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Source:  Leagle

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