![](http://investorshub.advfn.com/images/default_ih_profile2_4848.jpg?cb=0)
Friday, April 08, 2005 12:15:29 PM
THE NEXT ROCKET DOCKET: MARSHALL, TEXAS? (National Law Journal) When the Eastern District of Virginia, which once had the reputation as an IP "rocket docket," became overwhelmed with patent lawsuits several years ago, the judges advised lawyers to go somewhere else.
That "somewhere else" turned out to be the U.S. district court in a place called Marshall, Texas, about 100 miles east of Dallas.
But now Marshall may be approaching the Virginia district's experience. In the last several years, patent lawyers have flocked to Marshall, a small northeastern Texas town of 25,000, because of its speedy court process, patent-enthusiastic judges and juries considered ideal for hearing intellectual property cases. This year alone, the court has seen 59 patent cases, more than triple the total in 2003, which saw just 14 patent suits.
So what's the big legal attraction in a town whose claim to fame is an annual fire ant festival?
The judges, lawyers say. Specifically, District Judge T. John Ward, who joined the bench in 1999 and helped create what is known in legal circles as a rocket docket for patent cases. He did this by adopting rules that encourage the setting of quick trial dates and firm discovery deadlines. And where there have been discovery disputes, he has made himself available.
But more than all that, lawyers say, what may perhaps be Ward's strongest trait is that he actually likes patent cases.
"That to me is the big deal. You could have a rocket docket in Minnesota or New Jersey, but if the judges don't like patent cases, it doesn't make sense. These [Marshall] judges say they like them and they act like they like them," said attorney Daniel F. Perez of Winstead Sechrest & Minick in Dallas.
"They don't put up with any discovery disputes or any shenanigans," said Charles Baker, an intellectual property litigator with Porter & Hedges in Houston. "Some federal judges make it very well known that they don't like to hear these cases."
Baker noted that some defense attorneys are afraid to try cases there because of its pro-plaintiff reputation, which he disagrees with. He said that the rocket docket also turns off some defense lawyers who feel pressured to produce evidence quickly, leaving little time for preparation.
"People have portrayed [Marshall] as a fear factor: 'Oh, this is a terrible thing. These people are abusing the judicial system. It's unfair.' Well, I don't agree with that," Baker said. "The only advantage [for plaintiffs' lawyers] I see is that they can get them to trial quicker. But as a defense attorney, there are ways you can deal with that if you're a competent lawyer."
Baker said that Marshall's large elderly population also provides a good jury pool for intellectual property cases.
"There are a lot of old people who don't have a problem with sitting weeks at a time and listening to complicated issues," Baker said. "But in Houston, you have people who are fighting to get out of a trial."
mschere
Recent IDCC News
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 08/22/2024 12:17:49 PM
- Form 144 - Report of proposed sale of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 08/20/2024 08:06:55 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 08/20/2024 01:05:55 PM
- More than half of connected devices will be haptic enabled by 2028, revealing exciting opportunity for immersive video • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 08/20/2024 08:00:00 AM
- Form 144 - Report of proposed sale of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 08/19/2024 08:19:03 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 08/19/2024 12:28:06 PM
- InterDigital Announces 2024 Investor Day • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 08/01/2024 12:45:00 PM
- Form 10-Q - Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 08/01/2024 12:35:02 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 08/01/2024 12:32:54 PM
- Interdigital Announces Financial Results for Second Quarter 2024 • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 08/01/2024 12:30:21 PM
- InterDigital signs license agreement with Panasonic • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 08/01/2024 08:30:00 AM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 07/26/2024 12:52:36 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 07/26/2024 12:48:39 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 07/26/2024 12:47:00 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 07/26/2024 12:45:22 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 07/26/2024 12:40:30 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 07/26/2024 12:37:32 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 07/26/2024 12:31:56 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 07/26/2024 12:30:03 PM
- InterDigital Announces Date for Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 07/18/2024 12:30:00 PM
- UK Court of Appeal rules in favor of InterDigital in dispute with Lenovo • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 07/12/2024 01:10:00 PM
- InterDigital Announces Convertibility of 3.50% Senior Convertible Notes Due 2027 • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 07/03/2024 08:00:00 AM
- InterDigital signs license agreement with Google • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 07/02/2024 08:00:00 AM
- Form 11-K - Annual report of employee stock purchase, savings and similar plans • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 06/20/2024 12:30:40 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 06/12/2024 08:10:56 PM
FEATURED Element79 Gold Corp Provides Update on Nevada Portfolio • Aug 23, 2024 8:00 AM
PickleJar Unveils Latest Venue Managed Services Innovations in Upcoming Webinar • PKLE • Aug 23, 2024 1:11 PM
Maybacks Adds Award Winning Show to Its Lineup Discusses Maybacks Opportunity • AHRO • Aug 22, 2024 11:30 AM
North Bay Resources Announces First Gold Concentrate at Mt. Vernon Gold Mine, Assays 12 oz/ton Gold, 17.5 oz/ton Platinum, and 8 oz./ton Silver, Sierra County, California • NBRI • Aug 22, 2024 10:28 AM
All Things Mobile Analytic, Inc. Reports Major Growth with Over $11 Million in Revenue • ATMH • Aug 22, 2024 7:19 AM
Unitronix Announces Strategic Entry into Cryptocurrency Space • UTRX • Aug 21, 2024 10:00 AM