Ameranth, Inc. v. Domino's Pizza, LLC
- Proceeding
- district
- Area
- civil
- Panel
- Dana M. Sabraw (author)
Analysis
Ameranth moved for reconsideration of an order awarding attorneys' fees and, in the alternative, for certification of that order for interlocutory appeal. The court denied both motions, finding no clear error in the underlying order and determining that interlocutory appeal was not warranted because the case was effectively concluded.
| What the court decided | The model |
|---|---|
Denial of Ameranth's motion for reconsideration“Accordingly, the Court denies Ameranth’s motion for reconsideration.” | agree with court The court applied the correct standard for reconsideration (clear error) and reviewed the specific arguments raised by the plaintiff. While the order does not detail the specific legal analysis for each point, the procedural posture and the application of the 'clear error' standard are consistent with Ninth Circuit precedent. The decision to deny is supported by the court's statement that it reviewed and disagreed with the arguments. |
Denial of Ameranth's motion for certification of interlocutory appeal“Accordingly, Court denies Ameranth’s motion for certification of the Order for interlocutory review.” | agree with court The court correctly identified the statutory requirements for 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b) certification. It reasoned that the case was 'effectively concluded, save for the Court’s determination of the amount of fees to be awarded,' which logically negates the requirement that an immediate appeal would 'materially advance the ultimate termination of the litigation.' This is a sound application of the statute. |
The order itself: sound — The order is procedurally sound. It correctly states the legal standards for both reconsideration and interlocutory appeal. The denial of reconsideration is based on the court's review of the arguments, which is a standard judicial function. The denial of interlocutory appeal is logically consistent with the fact that the case is nearly over, making the 'materially advance termination' prong of § 1292(b) inapplicable. The order is concise but sufficient for these procedural motions.
Opinion
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 AMERANTH, INC., Case No.: 12cv0733 DMS (WVG)
12 Plaintiff, ORDER DENYING AMERANTH’S 13 v. MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION, OR IN THE 14 DOMINO'S PIZZA, INC. and ALTERNATIVE, REQUEST FOR DOMINO'S PIZZA, LLC 15 CERTIFICATION OF Defendants. INTERLOCUTORY APPEAL 16 17 18 19 This case comes before the Court on Ameranth’s motion for reconsideration or, in 20 the alternative, for certification for interlocutory appeal, of this Court’s February 5, 2021 21 Order Granting in Part Defendants’ Second Renewed Motion to Declare This Case 22 Exceptional and Award Attorneys Fees and Non-Taxable Costs. Defendants filed an 23 opposition to the motion, and Plaintiff filed a reply. 24 “Reconsideration is appropriate if the district court (1) is presented with newly 25 discovered evidence, (2) committed clear error or the initial decision was manifestly unjust, 26 or (3) if there is an intervening change in controlling law.” School Dist. No. 1J, Multnomah 27 County, Oregon v. ACandS, Inc., 5 F.3d 1255, 1263 (9th Cir. 1993). Ameranth argues 28 reconsideration is warranted here “to correct multiple manifest errors of law and fact upon 1 which the Order is based in order to prevent serious injustice,” (Mem. of P. & A. in Supp. 2 of Mot. at 1), which the Court construes as a “clear error” argument. 3 To prevail on this argument, Ameranth must show there is a “definite and firm 4 conviction that a mistake has been committed[.]” Latman v. Burdette, 366 F.3d 774, 781 5 (9th Cir. 2004) (citing In re Banks, 263 F.3d 862, 869 (9th Cir. 2001)). Ameranth identifies 6 numerous instances of alleged “clear error” in the Court’s Order, from the Court’s analysis 7 of the Pizza Hut settlement and the Menusoft vacatur to whether Ameranth reassessed its 8 case after the Federal Circuit’s decision in Apple, Inc. v. Ameranth, Inc., 842 F.3d 1229, 9 1245 (Fed. Cir. 2016). The Court has reviewed and considered each of those arguments, 10 but disagrees with Ameranth that there was any “clear error” in the Court’s Order. 11 Accordingly, the Court denies Ameranth’s motion for reconsideration. 12 Next, Ameranth moves the Court, in conclusory fashion, to certify the Order for 13 interlocutory appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b). This section states: 14 When a district judge, in making in a civil action an order not otherwise appealable under this section, shall be of the opinion that such order involves 15 a controlling question of law as to which there is substantial ground for 16 difference of opinion and that an immediate appeal from the order may materially advance the ultimate termination of the litigation, he shall so state 17 in writing in such order. 18 19 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b). “Both the legislative history of Section 1292(b) and the case law 20 emphasize that . . . courts should only grant interlocutory appeals under rare 21 circumstances.” Fujitsu Ltd. v. Tellabs, Inc., 539 Fed. App'x 1005, 1006 (Fed. Cir. 2013). 22 Here, Ameranth identifies three “critical legal questions” for the Federal Circuit, on which 23 the Court’s conclusions are allegedly “in tension with other legal authority[,]” and argues 24 the Federal Circuit’s resolution of these questions “will advance [the] ultimate 25 determination of this action.” (Mem. of P. & A. in Supp. of Mot. at 24-25.) However, the 26 Court disagrees with these arguments. In particular, the Court disagrees with Ameranth’s 27 assertion that interlocutory review of the exceptional case ruling will “materially advance 28 the ultimate termination” of this litigation. On the contrary, this case is effectively 1 || concluded, save for the Court’s determination of the amount of fees to be awarded. Under 2 || these circumstances, the requirements for interlocutory appeal are not met. Accordingly, 3 Court denies Ameranth’s motion for certification of the Order for interlocutory review. 4 IT IS SO ORDERED. 5 ||Dated: May 10, 2021 em Dh 6 an Yn. Hon. Dana M. Sabraw, Chief Judge United States District Court 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28