Opinion
Case No. 6:09-cv-1968-Orl-19KRS.
June 29, 2011
ORDER
This case comes before the Court on the following:
1. Objections to Third Declaration of Michael I. Shamos Concerning Obviousness of Claims 50-54, 56-59, 62-67, 69-78, 85-91, and 93 by Voter Verified, Inc. (Doc. No. 197, filed Apr. 11, 2011);
2. Motion to Exclude Opinion Testimony of Michael I. Shamos by Voter Verified, Inc. (Doc. No. 209, filed May 2, 2011); and
3. Memorandum in Opposition to Plaintiff's Motion to Exclude Opinion Testimony of Michael I. Shamos by Premier Election Solutions, Inc. and Diebold, Incorporated (Doc. No. 213, filed May 17, 2011).
Background
On November 19, 2009, Voter Verified, Inc. ("VVI") filed the present action against Premier Election Solutions, Inc. ("Premier") and Diebold, Incorporated ("Diebold"). (Doc. No. 1.) The Complaint, seeking both damages and injunctive relief, alleges that Premier and Diebold (collectively "Defendants") willfully infringed United States Patent Nos. 6,769,613 ("the `613 patent") and RE40,449 ("the `449 patent"). ( Id.) Defendants deny VVI's allegations of infringement and seek a declaratory judgment that: (1) the `613 and the `449 patents are invalid pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §§ 101, 102, 103, and 112; (2) the `613 patent is invalid pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 251; and (3) Defendants are not infringing and have never infringed the `613 and `449 patents. (Doc. No. 34, filed Jan. 13, 2010; Doc. No. 103, filed Apr. 28, 2010.)On April 11, 2011, VVI filed objections to the Third Declaration of Defendants' Expert Michael I. Shamos, Ph.D., J.D. Concerning Obviousness of Claims 50-54, 56-59, 62-67, 69-78, 85-91, and 93. (Doc. No. 197.) At the time the objections were filed, Defendants had served the declaration in question on VVI but had not yet filed the declaration in the record. ( Id. at 1.) On April 25, 2011, Diebold filed a Motion for Summary Judgment on the Invalidity of Claims 50-54, 56-59, 62-67, 69-78, 85-91, and 93 of U.S. Patent No. RE40,449. (Doc. No. 207.) In support of this motion, Diebold filed the Third Declaration of Defendants' Expert Michael I. Shamos, Ph.D., J.D. Concerning Obviousness of Claims 50-54, 56-59, 62-67, 69-78, 85-91, and 93 ("Shamos IV"). (Doc. No. 205, filed Apr. 25, 2011.) On May 2, 2011, VVI filed the present Motion to Exclude Opinion Testimony of Michael I. Shamos. (Doc. No. 209.) On May 17, 2011, Defendants responded in opposition to VVI's objections and Motion to Exclude. (Doc. No. 213.)
Standard of Review
I. Objection to Declaration Considered on a Motion for Summary Judgment
In general, an affidavit or declaration under 28 U.S.C. § 1746 supporting or opposing summary judgment "must be made on personal knowledge, set out facts that would be admissible in evidence, and show that the affiant [or declarant] is competent to testify on the matters stated." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e)(1).
II. Motion to Exclude Expert Testimony
As explained by the Supreme Court in Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579 (1993) and its progeny, Federal Rule of Evidence 702 controls determinations regarding the admissibility of expert testimony. Expert testimony may be admitted into evidence under Rule 702 if: "(1) the expert is qualified to testify competently regarding the matters he intends to address; (2) the methodology by which the expert reaches his conclusions is sufficiently reliable as determined by the sort of inquiry mandated in Daubert; and (3) the testimony assists the trier of fact, through the application of scientific, technical, or specialized expertise, to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue." City of Tuscaloosa v. Harcros Chemicals, Inc., 158 F.3d 548, 562 (11th Cir. 1998) (footnote and citations omitted); Daubert, 509 U.S. at 589 (holding that "under the [Federal] Rules the trial judge must ensure that any and all scientific testimony or evidence admitted is not only relevant, but reliable"); Joiner v. Gen. Elec. Co., 78 F.3d 524, 529-30 (11th Cir. 1996), rev'd on other grounds, 522 U.S. 136 (1997) (concluding that Rule 702 requires that an expert be qualified and that his testimony assist the trier of fact).
Federal Rule of Evidence 702 provides that: "[i]f scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education, may testify thereto in the form of an opinion or otherwise, if (1) the testimony is based upon sufficient facts or data, (2) the testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods, and (3) the witness has applied the principles and methods reliably to the facts of the case." Fed.R.Evid. 702.
Analysis
VVIpresents numerous arguments in its objections, (Doc. No. 197), and its Motion to Exclude, (Doc. No. 209). The Court will address each argument in turn.I. Technical Expertise
First, VVI contends that Shamos fails to specifically set forth his field of technical expertise. (Doc. No. 197 at 4-5; Doc. No. 209 at 2-3.) This argument was considered and rejected in the Order entered on August 9, 2010, ("August 9 Order"), as well as the Order entered on January 1, 2011, ("January 1 Order"). ( See Doc. No. 153 at 4; Doc. No. 174 at 4.) As previously discussed, the declaration filed on June 19, 2010 sets forth Shamos's background and qualifications including his extensive education, admission to practice as an attorney in Pennsylvania, admission to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and nearly 30 years experience as an examiner of electronic voting systems. (Doc. No. 136 ¶¶ 1-18; Doc. No. 136-1.) Paragraph 1 of Shamos IV states that Shamos's background and qualifications are detailed in the declaration filed on June 19, 2010. (Doc. No. 205 ¶ 1.) Thus, Shamos's field of technical expertise is specifically set forth.II. Statement of Law Applied to Formulate Opinion
Paragraph 5 of Shamos IV recites the legal definitions of obviousness Shamos relied upon "[a]s an expert . . . determining claim validity." (Doc. No. 205 ¶ 5.) VVI maintains that this paragraph is improper because it is not "scientific, technical, or otherwise specialized knowledge" in possession of an expert witness that will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence as required by Federal Rule of Evidence 702. (Doc. No. 197 at 5; Doc. No. 209 at 3.)
As stated in the August 9 and January 1 Orders, Shamos is entitled to set forth the legal definition of obviousness he applied in reaching his conclusions. (Doc. No. 153 at 9-10; Doc. No. 174 at 6-7.) Such information is relevant to the Court's determination that Shamos's expert testimony is reliable and admissible. See Fed.R.Evid. 702 (requiring expert testimony to be based on "reliable principles and methods . . . reliably [applied] to the facts of the case"). In reaching this conclusion, the Court distinguishes the situation where an expert improperly attempts to usurp the Court's authority to determine the applicable law. Cf. Montgomery v. Aetna Cas. Sur. Co., 898 F.2d 1537, 1541 (11th Cir. 1990) ("[A] witness . . . may not testify to the legal implications of conduct; the court must be the jury's only source of law." (citations omitted)).
III. Omission of Shamos from Rule 26 Disclosures
VVI next argues that the Court should strike Shamos IV because Defendants filed the declaration without first disclosing Shamos as a fact witness in accordance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26. (Doc. No. 197.) This argument was considered and rejected in both the August 9 and January 1 Orders. (Doc. No. 153 at 3; Doc. No. 174 at 4.) As previously discussed, because Shamos has been designated as an expert witness, (Doc. No. 98 at 1), Defendants were required to disclose him in accordance with the Case Management and Scheduling Order, (Doc. No. 78); Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(a)(2). The Case Management and Scheduling Order provides that expert disclosures were due on or before April 1, 2011, (Doc. No. 78 at 1, 4), and Shamos was disclosed as an expert witness prior to this deadline. ( See, e.g., Doc. Nos. 153, 174.) Thus, Defendants properly disclosed Shamos as an expert witness in accordance with Rule 26(a)(2).
IV. Level of Ordinary Skill in the Art
VVI next contends that Shamos's findings regarding the level of ordinary skill in the art are "not pertinent to the art or inventive steps of the `613 and `449 patents, or with respect to any particular scientific, technical, or specialized knowledge within the meaning of Rule 702 that must be possessed by an expert witness." (Doc. No. 197 at 6; Doc. No. 209 at 3-4.) VVI also argues that Shamos's findings regarding the level of ordinary skill in the art are not relevant to the present controversy. (Doc. No. 209 at 4.)
The level of ordinary skill in the art is a factual question relevant to the issue of the obviousness of the `449 patent. See Graham v. John Deere Co. of Kansas City, 383 U.S. 1, 16 (1966) ("While the ultimate question of patent validity is one of law," the question of obviousness is based on several underlying factual inquiries including the "level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art."). Here, Shamos properly sets forth his technical expertise in the field of electronic voting, states that the patent pertains to the art of electronic voting, and then provides his opinion that in November of 2000 one of ordinary skill in the art of electronic voting would have been familiar with the voting systems in use, would have an enhanced understanding of computers, printers, memory, optical scanners, and other electronic equipment regularly used in electronic voting, and would be familiar with how to integrate traditional electronic components. (Doc. No. 205 ¶¶ 6-7.) This opinion will assist the trier of fact to determine a relevant factual question, mainly the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. To the extent VVI disagrees with Shamos's opinion on this issue, such a factual dispute is not properly addressed in an objection to a declaration or a Daubert motion.
VVI additionally argues that Shamos's opinion regarding the level of ordinary skill in the art is improper because it is not based on Shamos's personal knowledge of the prior art. This argument was considered and rejected in both the January 1 and August 9 Orders. (Doc. No. 174 at 5, 7; Doc. No. 153 at 8.) As previously discussed, an expert witness need not have personal knowledge of the facts that form the basis of his opinion. Daubert, 509 U.S. at 592 ("Unlike an ordinary witness, see Federal Rule of Evidence 701, an expert is permitted wide latitude to offer opinions, including those that are not based on firsthand knowledge or observation." (citing Fed.R.Evid. 702-703)). Accordingly, the Court rejects VVI's challenge to Shamos's opinion regarding the level of ordinary skill in the art.
V. Prior Art Exhibits
VVI next contends that Shamos IV fails to set forth any basis in fact for the conclusion that exhibits 2 through 21 qualify as prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102(a) or (b). (Doc. No. 197 at 6; Doc. No. 209 at 6.) However, even if VVI had submitted evidence to support its argument that these exhibits fail to qualify as prior art or maintained that, in light of the undisputed facts, the references fail to qualify as prior art, such an argument is not properly addressed in the context of objections to a declaration or a motion to exclude. See Cordis Corp. v. Boston Scientific Corp., 561 F.3d 1319, 1332-33 (Fed. Cir. 2009) (finding that whether an asserted reference qualifies as prior art under § 102(b) is a question of law based on the underlying facts of each particular case); In re Klopfenstein, 380 F.3d 1345, 1347 (Fed Cir. 2004) (determining that when no facts are in dispute, the question of whether a reference represents a printed publication is a question of law) (citing In re Cronyn, 890 F.2d 1158, 1159 (Fed. Cir. 1989)). Accordingly, the Court rejects VVI's present challenge to the references attached to Shamos IV as exhibits 2 through 21 and declines to determine at this juncture whether the references qualify as prior art for the purpose of analyzing the validity of the `449 patent.
VVI additionally argues that Shamos's reliance on The Risks Digest references renders Shamos IV improper because The Risks Digest references do not qualify as prior art. (Doc. No. 197 at 7.) This argument is without merit to the extent the Court previously determined, on summary judgment, that the Benson, McLaughlin, and Hyde Articles, which were published in The Risks Digest, do in fact qualify as prior art. (Doc. No. 155 at 9.)
VI. Opinion on Ultimate Issue
VVI next contends that Shamos's opinions are improper because they embrace the "ultimate issue" of invalidity. (Doc. No. 197 at 8; Doc. No. 209 at 6-7.) However, this argument was considered and rejected by the Court in both the January 1 and August 9 Orders. (Doc. No. 174 at 7; Doc. No. 153 at 10). As previously discussed, Shamos is entitled to give his expert opinion on the issue of a patent's validity. (Doc. No. 153 at 10) (citing Ashland Oil, Inc. v. Delta Resins Refractories, Inc., 776 F.2d 281, 294 (Fed. Cir. 1995) ("Opinion testimony rendered by experts must be given consideration, and while not controlling, generally is entitled to some weights. . . . Lack of factual support for expert opinion going to factual determinations, however, may render the testimony of little probative value in a validity determination." (citations omitted)); see also Fed.R.Evid. 704(a) ("[T]estimonyin the form of an opinion or inference otherwise admissible is not objectionable because it embraces an ultimate issue to be decided by the trier of fact.").
VVI additionally argues that in reaching his opinions with respect to obviousness, Shamos "omits the explicit analysis required by KSR Int'l Co. v. Teleflex, Inc., 127 S. Ct. 1727 (2007)," and instead applies impermissible hindsight to synthesize a range of references. (Doc. No. 197 at 9; Doc. No. 209 at 7.) The Court disagrees. In the Legal Principles section, Shamos cites the obviousness statute, 35 U.S.C. § 103, and sets forth the appropriate legal standards for evaluating obviousness announced in the case law, including KSR. (Doc. No. 205 ¶ 5.) Shamos then applies these principles throughout his obviousness analysis. ( See, e.g., id. ¶ 33) (noting the differences between claim 49 and the prior art and discussing why the addition of the missing claim element would have been obvious to one having skill in the art during the relevant time period).
Finally, VVI objects to Shamos's opinion regarding the existence of objective evidence of nonobviousness, commonly referred to as "secondary considerations." (Doc. No. 209 at 7-8.) As the Supreme Court recently reaffirmed, "`secondary considerations [such] as commercial success, long felt but unsolved needs, failure of others, etc., might be utilized to give light to the circumstances surrounding the origin of the subject matter sought to be patented.'" KSR, 550 U.S. at 406 (quoting Graham, 383 U.S. at 17-18). In fact, "when secondary considerations are present, though they are not always dispositive, it is error not to consider them." In re Huai-Hung Kao, 639 F.3d 1057, 1067-68 (Fed. Cir. 2011) (citation omitted); Pfizer, Inc. v. Apotex, Inc., 480 F.3d 1348, 1372 (Fed. Cir. 2007) ("Although secondary considerations must be taken into account, they do not necessarily control the obviousness conclusion."). To the extent VVI disagrees with Shamos's opinion that there is no evidence of secondary considerations, (Doc. No. 197 at 9-10), this is a factual dispute that will not be addressed in the context of an objection or a Daubert motion. Accordingly, Shamos's opinion regarding the existence or nonexistence of secondary considerations is relevant to the obviousness determination.
VII. Federal Rule of Evidence 702
In its Motion to Exclude, VVI contends that Shamos's testimony should be excluded under Daubert and Federal Rule of Evidence 702 because Shamos failed to apply the methodology for evaluating obviousness set forth in KSR and instead engaged in improper hindsight analysis to combine a maze of prior art references. (Doc. No. 209 at 10.) VVI further maintains that Shamos's conclusions of obviousness are unsupported "bottom-line" conclusions based on no particular expertise or other specialized knowledge and are therefore irrelevant and inadmissible.
While the opening paragraph of VVI's Motion to Exclude states that Shamos should be excluded from testifying "on the matter of obviousness of the U.S. Patent RE40,449, or regarding any other issue in this case," (Doc. No. 209 at 1), the Motion only addresses the propriety of Shamos's obviousness opinions. The Motion to Exclude provides no further argument or objections relating to "any other issue in the case." Accordingly, the Court declines to address the propriety of Shamos's testimony relating to "any other issue," aside from obviousness, in this Order.
In Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579 (1993), the Supreme Court determined that trial courts must act as gatekeepers to ensure that speculative, unreliable expert testimony does not reach the jury. Id. at 597. In order to accomplish this task, trial courts are instructed to "make certain that an expert, whether basing testimony upon professional studies or personal experience, employs in the courtroom the same level of intellectual rigor that characterizes the practice of an expert in the relevant field." Kumho Tire Co., Ltd. v. Carmichael, 526 U.S. 137, 152 (1999) (discussing the objective of " Daubert's gatekeeping requirement"). As previously discussed, expert testimony may be admitted into evidence under Rule 702 if: "(1) the expert is qualified to testify competently regarding the matters he intends to address; (2) the methodology by which the expert reaches his conclusions is sufficiently reliable as determined by the sort of inquiry mandated in Daubert; and (3) the testimony assists the trier of fact, through the application of scientific, technical, or specialized expertise, to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue." Tuscaloosa v. Harcros Chemicals, Inc., 158 F.3d 548, 562 (11th Cir. 1998) (citing Fed.R.Evid. 702); see Daubert, 509 U.S. at 589 (holding that "under the [Federal] Rules the trial judge must ensure that any and all scientific testimony or evidence admitted is not only relevant, but reliable.").
In order to meet the reliability element, the proposed testimony must be "relevant to the task at hand"; in other words, the testimony must "logically advance[] a material aspect of the proposing party's case." Allison v. McGhan Med. Corp., 184 F.3d 1300, 1312 (11th Cir. 1999) (internal citation omitted). The "basic standard of relevance [] is a liberal one," Daubert, 509 U.S. at 587, but if an expert opinion does not have a "valid scientific connection to the pertinent inquiry," it should be excluded. See id. at 591-92; see also McDowell v. Brown, 392 F.3d 1283, 1299 (11th Cir. 2004).
In the present case, Shamos is qualified to testify competently regarding the obviousness of the `449 patent, which involves electronic voting. Shamos holds a number of relevant degrees, including a Ph.D. in computer science from Yale University and a J.D. from Duquesne University, and he is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania. (Doc. No. 136-1 at 1; Doc. No. 136 ¶ 4.) Shamos has also been admitted to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office since 1981. ( Id.) Shamos serves as a statutory examiner of computerized voting systems for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and has examined voting systems for the duly constituted authorities in Massachusetts, Delaware, Nevada, and West Virginia, performing over 120 electronic voting system certification examinations. ( Id. ¶¶ 5, 8.) In addition, Shamos has authored three papers on electronic voting and has testified in a number cases involving electronic voting. ( Id. ¶¶ 12, 16.) In light of his uncontested educational background and professional experience, the Court finds that Shamos is competent to testify regarding the obviousness of the `449 patent.
Next, the methodology Shamos relies upon to reach his conclusions is sufficiently reliable. In the Legal Principles section of Shamos IV, Shamos cites the obviousness statute, 35 U.S.C. § 103, and sets forth the appropriate legal standards for evaluating obviousness, including the relevant case law. (Doc. No. 205 ¶ 5.) Shamos then applies these principles throughout his obviousness analysis. ( See, e.g., id. ¶ 33) (noting the differences between claim 49 and the prior art and discussing why it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art to implement these differences)).
Finally, the opinions disclosed in Shamos IV will assist the trier of fact, through the application of scientific, technical, or specialized expertise, to understand the evidence and to determine matters at issue. In KSR Supreme Court confirmed that in evaluating the obviousness of a claims"
"the scope and content of the prior art are to be determined; differences between the prior art and the claims at issue are to be ascertained; and the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art resolved. Against this background, the obviousness or nonobviousness of the subject matter is determined. Such secondary considerations as commercial success, long felt but unsolved needs, failure of others, etc., might be utilized to give light to the circumstances surrounding the origin of the subject matter sought to be patented."KSR, 506 U.S. at 406 (quoting Graham, 383 U.S. at 17-18). Shamos provides opinions, based on his technical expertise, relating directly to these underlying issues, including (1) the scope and content of the prior art, (2) the level of ordinary skill in the art, (3) the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue, and (4) the existence of secondary factors. Moreover, Shamos provides opinions specifying why differences between the prior art and the claimed subject matter would have been obvious to one of skill in the relevant art. See 35 U.S.C. § 103 (stating that a patent may not be obtained . . . "if the differences between the subject matter sought to be patented and the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains."). Thus, the opinions disclosed in Shamos IV are relevant to the issue of obviousness and will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence and to determine the issues.
In sum, Shamos is qualified to testify competently regarding the obviousness of the `449 patent, the methodology Shamos employed in reaching his conclusions regarding the obviousness of the `449 patent is sufficiently reliable, and the testimony assists the trier of fact, through the application of scientific, technical, or specialized expertise, to understand the evidence and to determine matters in issue. Accordingly, Shamos's testimony on the matter of the obviousness of the `449 patent will not be excluded.
Conclusion
Based on the foregoing, the Objections to Third Declaration of Michael I. Shamos Concerning Obviousness of Claims 50-54, 56-59, 62-67, 69-78, 85-91, and 93 by Voter Verified, Inc. (Doc. No. 197, filed Mar. 11, 2011) are OVERRULED. The Motion to Exclude Opinion Testimony of Michael I. Shamos by Voter Verified, Inc. (Doc. No. 209, filed May 2, 2011) is DENIED. DONE and ORDERED in Orlando, Florida.