In Ivoclar Vivadent AG v. 3M Company, C.A. No. 11-1183-GMS-SRF (D. Del. June 22, 2012), defendant filed a motion to transfer the case to the District of Minnesota where defendant first-filed a declaratory judgment action against plaintiff for non-infringement and invalidity of the same patent. Id. at 1-4. Plaintiff, a Liechtenstein company, opposed defendant’s motion arguing that an exception to the first-filed rule applied “because [defendant] preemptively filed its declaratory judgment action in Minnesota with the intent to dictate venue prior to the formal termination of the [Confidential Disclosure Agreement that contained a covenant not to sue].” Id. at 10-11. Judge Fallon disagreed and ultimately recommended transfer rather than dismissal. Judge Fallon analyzed the Jumara factors and found that all but one factor weighed in favor of transfer or was neutral. Id. at 14-27.
Ivoclar Vivadent AG v. 3M Company, C.A. No. 11-1183-GMS-SRF (D. Del. June 22, 2012)
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