21
May
By Eric Schweibenz
On May 19, 2009, Chief ALJ Paul J. Luckern issued an Order granting complainant Gertrude Neumark Rothschild’s motion to consolidate Certain Light Emitting Diode Chips, Laser Diode Chips and Products Containing Same (Inv. No. 337-TA-674) and Certain Short-Wavelength Light Emitting Diodes, Laser Diodes and Products Containing Same (Inv. No. 337-TA-640).

ALJ Luckern determined that “both the 640 Investigation and the 674 Investigation involve the same complainant (as well as the same administrative law judge and staff attorney), the same allegations of domestic industry, the same asserted patent (U.S. Patent No. 5,252,499), and the same asserted claims (independent claim 10 and dependent claims 12, 13 and 16).”  Thus, in view of the overlap in factual and legal issues between the two investigations, ALJ Luckern found that the most efficient course was to consolidate the two investigations.  ALJ Luckern also determined that consolidation “would (i) conserve the parties’ and the Commission’s resources, (ii) avoid the need for two hearings, and (iii) avoid potentially difficult procedural and legal complications that could arise by having to determine whether and to what extent any rulings in the 640 Investigation could affect issues in the 674 Investigation if the investigations proceed on separate, independent tracks.”

ALJ Luckern attached a procedural schedule for the consolidated investigation to his Order.  The new procedural schedule provides that the evidentiary hearing in the consolidated investigation will commence on November 16, 2009.

Also on May 19, ALJ Luckern issued an Order setting a target date of June 7, 2010 for the consolidated investigation.  The Order further provides that ALJ Luckern’s final initial determination in this matter will be issued no later than February 8, 2010.