[Sealed] Beats [Sealed] Because of [Sealed]

Posted on | November 13, 2008 | No Comments

2009-1013  Laserfacturing v. Daimler Chrysler
SD/TX 7-cv-00207
Judge Melinda Harmon

Laserfacturing appeals from a sealed judgment and sealed order issued by Judge Melinda Harmon ruling on a bunch of sealed motions filed by Daimler Chrysler.  The asserted patent is 5,595,670, directed to a method of high speed welding.   

On its face this is perhaps the most egregious abuse of sealing documents in all the patent cases I have reviewed–even the Final Judgment is sealed.  Perhaps things are either (1) so bad that everyone is embarrassed to have it public, or (2) contains the secret of Chrysler's stellar financial and automotive success.  Seriously, it had better contain the formula for Coke®, workable cold fusion, AND next week's PowerBall numbers. 

It appears to be another rubber-stamp where the parties get to self-select what is filed under seal without any judicial oversight or consideration of the the public's rights or the Constitution's requirements.  Let's see how secret the Federal Circuit keeps it.

Anyway, not much to report, but here is a pdf of the docket.   

Counsel:

Laserfacturing: Goldstein Faucett & Preberg (Houston)

Daimler Chrysler: Dickstein Shapiro (DC); Akin Gump (DC; Houston)

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