Well, this is fascinating. Here's an order from Judge Ted Stewart in a dispute between Novell and its insurer, Vigilant Insurance Company. Novell tried to get them to pay for the SCO v. Novell litigation back in 2004 and they refused, so Novell sued last May. They were seeking to have at least some of their expense to defend from SCO's attacks covered by the insurer, but Judge Stewart just
ruled on summary judgment [PDF] that slander of title isn't included in the policy and SCO's initial complaint was for slander of title only, so Vigilant doesn't have to pay.
The judge distinguishes slander and defamation from slander of title. Novell filed in May of 2009, and it's all done, except for appeals. Here's an interesting paragraph:
Here, there are no allegations from which the Court could find that Novell defamed SCO. As stated above, the definition of "personal injury" in the policies includes electronic, oral, written or other publication of material that libels or slanders a person or organization. Here, there are simply no allegations in the Complaint that Novell made any statements that could be construed as slandering or libeling SCO. Rather, as discussed, the only allegations in the SCO
Complaint concerning statements made by Novell pertain to the ownership of the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights. So all SCO's over the top language and Stuart Singer's dramatic professed indignation at Novell at the trial didn't alter the judge's thinking at all, and his thinking was that it was just two companies each claiming to be the owner of the copyrights. That is the good news for Novell. The bad news is that the insurance company saw it that way too, and the policy doesn't cover slander of title, Stewart ruled, only defamation, which it said Novell was not accused of. It certainly felt like SCO was accusing Novell of defamation, but Stewart found otherwise. This litigation answers another question I had, namely why didn't Novell try harder to get a different judge assigned to the case after the Court of Appeals remanded the case for trial and Judge Dale Kimball stepped down from the case. In the litigation against the insurance company, Novell asked that the matter be sent away from Judge Stewart and given to Judge Kimball, back then the judge on the SCO v. Novell case. In Utah District Court, it's up to the chief judge to decide which judge gets which cases, and she denied Novell's motion to transfer the case. I suspect, then, Novell figured that their later effort to get the case consolidated or assigned to the same judge as SCO v. IBM, the chief judge Tena Campbell, would fare no better. The request was denied in July, just before the Appeals Court ruling in August.
You could say Novell should have read its policy more closely to make sure it was covered for such folk as SCO, but the policy went into effect in November of 2002, and was there anyone on planet earth who would have thought to insure against the types of behaviors we've seen from SCO back in 2002? I'll bet there are a lot of companies trying to insure against crazed corporate intellectual property serial killers now, so to speak, but who was thinking about such things in 2002? You know what is sort of odd? This order was signed on April 27. The jury in SCO v. Novell ruled that SCO doesn't own the copyrights in dispute on March 30, 2010. Yet Judge Stewart never mentions that.
Here is the order as text, followed by the history of the case, with some of the pertinent documents linked in the docket so you can get some of the context. The insurance policy in dispute is Exhibit 1 [PDF] attached to the complaint, and if you want any others on the list, let me know. I tried to get enough to give you the overview.
I can see the judge's reading of the insurance policy as being reasonable, but I can also see why Novell thought it was worth it to try to get the company to have to help out, although even at that, the policy's limits were such it wouldn't have begun to cover all of Novell's costs, I suspect. That is the worst part of what SCO did, the real damage to the market players, damage that never had to happen in the first place, in that SCO never owned the copyrights in dispute it was waving in the air and suing folks about:
**************************
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF UTAH
CENTRAL DIVISION
NOVELL, INC., a Delaware corporation,
Plaintiff,
vs.
VIGILANT INSURANCE COMPANY, a
New York corporation,
Defendant.
______________________________
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND
ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF'S
MOTION FOR PARTIAL
SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND
GRANTED DEFENDANT'S
MOTION FOR SUMMARY
JUDGMENT
Case No. 2:09-CV-496 TS
_______________________________
This matter is before the Court on cross motions for summary judgment concerning
Vigilant's duty to defend Novell in an action in this Court. For the reasons discussed below, the
Court will grant Vigilant's Motion for Summary Judgment and deny Novell's Motion for Partial
Summary Judgment because the Court finds that Vigilant had no duty to defend Novell.
1
I. SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARD
Summary judgment is appropriate "if the pleadings, the discovery and disclosure
materials on file, and any affidavits show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and
that the movant is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law."1In considering whether genuine
issues of material fact exist, the Court determines whether a reasonable jury could return a
verdict for the nonmoving party in the face of all the evidence presented.2The Court is required
to construe all facts and reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to the nonmoving
party.3
II. UNDISPUTED FACTS
A. THE SCO ACTION
The SCO Group, Inc. ("SCO") filed suit against Novell, Inc. ("Novell") on January 20,
2004, in the Third Judicial District Court of Salt Lake County, State of Utah. Novell removed
that action to this Court on February 6, 2004 (the "SCO action").4
2
SCO's complaint contained a single cause of action for slander of title.5 SCO alleged that
it, "through its predecessor in interest, acquired from Novell all right, title, and interest in and to
the UNIX and UnixWare business, operating system, source code, and all copyrights related
thereto" through an Asset Purchase Agreement dated September 19, 1995.6
SCO alleged that "[i]n a bad faith effort to interfere with SCO's exercise of its rights with
respect to UNIX and UnixWare technologies, Novell has, in disregard of its obligations under the
Asset Purchase Agreement, and subsequent to the Asset Purchase Agreement, filed for copyright
protection in the same UNIX technology covered by SCO's copyrights."7
SCO further alleged that "Novell repeatedly claimed publicly in press releases and
otherwise that it, and not SCO, owns the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights."8SCO alleged that
Novell "made such statements with the intent to cause customers and potential customers of SCO
to not do business with SCO and to slander and impugn the ownership rights of SCO in UNIX
and UnixWare, and to attempt, in bad faith, to block SCO's ability to enforce its copyrights
therein."9 SCO alleged that "Novell's false and misleading representations that it owns the
UNIX and UnixWare copyrights has caused and is continuing to cause SCO to incur significant
3
irreparable harm to its valuable UNIX and UnixWare copyrights, to its business, and its
reputation."10
In paragraph 18 of its Complaint, SCO alleged:
Novell, with full knowledge of SCO's exclusive ownership of the copyrights
related to UNIX and UnixWare, has embarked on a malicious campaign to
damage SCO's ability to protect its valuable copyrights in UNIX and UnixWare.
In particular, Novell has wrongfully asserted ownership over UNIX and
UnixWare technologies by filing for copyright protection in its own name, and has
made numerous false and misleading public representations disparaging SCO's
ownership of the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights and claiming that it, and not
SCO, owns the Unix and UnixWare copyrights.11
The Complaint goes on to detail those statements.12
SCO alleged that "Novell's false oaths and wrongful claims of copyrights and ownership
in UNIX and UnixWare are in bad faith and constitute a knowing and intentional disregard for
the truth."13
As stated, SCO brought a single claim for slander of title alleging:
Novell has slandered SCO's title and rights to its UNIX and UnixWare copyrights
and damaged SCO's business reputation and relationships with potential
customers by making false oaths of ownership to public officials, and by
repeatedly representing both to the public in general and directly to several of
SCO's customers and potential customers that Novell, and not SCO, owns the
UNIX and UnixWare copyrights.14
4 SCO alleged that "Novell's conduct . . . was intentionally and maliciously designed to
destroy SCO's valuable rights to the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights and further destroy SCO's
business livelihood."15SCO sought actual and special damages, punitive damages, a preliminary
and permanent injunction, attorneys' fees, costs, and pre- and post-judgment interest.
B. THE VIGILANT POLICIES
Vigilant and Novell entered into a general liability insurance contract, effective from
November 1, 2002 to November 1, 2003, then renewed to November 1, 2004 (the "policies").
The policies provide, in pertinent part:
Subject to all of the terms and conditions of this insurance, we will pay damages
that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay by reason of liability:
- imposed by law; or
- assumed in an insured contract;
for advertising injury or personal injury to which this coverage applies.16
The policy further states:
Personal injury means injury, other than bodily injury, property damage or
advertising injury, caused by an offense of:
****
D. electronic, oral, written or other publication of material that:
1. libels or slanders a person or organization (which does not include
disparagement of goods, products, property or services) . . . .17
With respect to advertising injury and personal injury, the policy contains an exception
for "Expected or Intended Injury." That exclusion provides:
5
This insurance does not apply to advertising injury or personal injury arising
out of an offense, committed by or on behalf of the insured, that:-
is intended by such insured; or
- would be expected from the standpoint of a reasonable person in the
circumstances of such insured;
to cause injury.18
The policy also contains an "Intellectual Property Laws or Rights" exclusion. That
exclusion states:
This insurance does not apply to any actual or alleged bodily injury, property
damage, advertising injury or personal injury arising out of, giving rise to or in
any way related to any actual alleged:-
assertion; or
- infringement or violation;
by any person or organization (including any insured) of any intellectual
property law or right, regardless of whether this insurance would otherwise apply
to all or part of any such actual or alleged injury or damage in the absence of any
such actual or alleged assertion, infringement or violation.
This exclusion applies, unless such injury: -
is caused by an offense described in the definition of advertising injury;
and
- does not arise out of, give rise to or in any way relate to any actual or
alleged assertion, infringement or violation of any intellectual property
law or right, other than one described in the definition of advertising
injury.19
The policy defines "intellectual property law or right" as any:
- certification mark, copyright, patent or trademark (including collective or
service marks);
- right to, or judicial or statutory law recognizing an interest in, any trade
secret or confidential or proprietary non-personal information;
- other right to, or judicial or statutory law recognizing an interest in, any
expression, idea, likeness, name, slogan, style of doing business, symbol,
title, trade dress or other intellectual property; or
6
- other judicial or statutory law concerning piracy, unfair competition or
other similar practices.20
C. VIGILANT'S DENIAL
Novell provided notice of the SCO action to Vigilant in early 2004. Novell requested that
Vigilant defend Novell in the SCO action and provided Vigilant a copy of SCO's Complaint.
Vigilant denied a defense on February 11, 2004. In its letter denying a defense, Vigilant
stated:
It is Vigilant's position that the allegations and damages set forth by SCO Group,
Inc. would not constitute bodily injury or property damage as defined by the
Policy and for which must arise out of an occurrence, nor has there been an
allegation set forth which would give rise to the offense of personal injury or
advertising injury. Vigilant has also cited the policy exclusion entitled Intellectual
Property Laws or Rights in furtherance of our declination of defense and
indemnification.21
That letter further stated:
It is Vigilant's position that SCO Group's contention of Slander of Title
with respect to their interests in UNIX and Unix Ware copyrights would not
constitute person injury in as much as there has been no libel or slander to a
person or organization.
In addition to this, Vigilant directs your attention to the policy exclusion
entitled Intellectual Property Laws or Rights. It is our position that this exclusion
would be applicable with respect to this copyright issue and would further remove
the claims from coverage pursuant to the Commercial General Liability Policy.22
7
AON, on behalf of Novell as its broker, took exception to the denial of coverage by
Vigilant on March 3, 2004.23
Vigilant, through counsel, responded to AON on April 27, 2004,
and continued in its declination of coverage.24
D. THE INSTANT ACTION
Novell filed the instant action against Vigilant on May 29, 2009. Novell seeks
declaratory relief that Vigilant had a duty to defend Novell against the claims asserted in the SCO
action under the policies discussed above. Both parties now seek summary judgment on the
issue of Vigilant's duty to defend.
III. DISCUSSION
"The duty to defend is broader than the duty to indemnify, but the insurer's obligation is
not unlimited . . . ."25 The Utah Supreme Court has explained that "the duty to defend is
measured by the nature and kinds of risks covered by the policy and arises whenever the insurer
ascertains facts which give rise to the potential of liability under the policy."26 Conversely, when
the allegations, if proven, show "there is no potential liability, there is no duty to defend."27 As a
general rule, "an insurer's duty to defend is determined by comparing the language of the
8
insurance policy with the allegations in the complaint."28 Under Utah law, the Court interprets
insurance policies as it would other contracts.29
With these principles in mind, the Court turns to the arguments made by the parties.
Vigilant argues that it had no duty to defend because the complaint in the SCO action alleged a
claim of slander of title, a claim that is not covered by the policies. Further, Vigilant argues that
there is no claim for defamation contained in the SCO complaint. Finally, Vigilant argues that
two exclusions--the expected or intended injury exclusion and the intellectual property law or
right exclusion--bar coverage. Novell argues that the SCO complaint does contain a claim for
defamation and that the two exclusions do not bar a defense.
As set forth above, the policies' definition of "personal injury" includes electronic, oral,
written or other publication of material that libels or slanders a person or organization, but does
not include disparagement of goods, products, property or services. Both parties agree that
SCO's claim for slander of title does not implicate Vigilant's duty to defend because it is
expressly excluded. Thus, Vigilant would only have a duty to defend if an un-plead, covered
claim could be found in SCO's Complaint. Novell argues that SCO's Complaint sufficiently
pleads a claim that Novell libeled or slandered SCO, which would constitute a covered claim.
9 For consideration of these issues, it is important to recognize the difference between
slander of title and defamation. Slander of title is a type of injurious falsehood.30 Comment g to
the Restatement (Second) of Torts § 623A describes the relationship of injurious falsehood to
defamation as follows:
The action for injurious falsehood is obviously similar in many respects to
the action for defamation. Both involve the imposition of liability for injuries
sustained through publication to third parties of a false statement affecting the
plaintiff. Despite their similarities, however, the two torts protect different
interests and have entirely different origins in history. The action for defamation is
to protect the personal reputation of the injured party; it arose out of the old
actions for libel and slander. The action for injurious falsehood is to protect
economic interests of the injured party against pecuniary loss; it arose as an action
on the case for the special damage resulting from the publication.
****
Although the torts of defamation and injurious falsehood protect different
interests, they may overlap in some fact situations. This happens particularly in
cases of disparagement of the plaintiff's business or product. If the statement
reflects merely upon the quality of what the plaintiff has to sell or solely on the
character of his business, then it is injurious falsehood alone. Although it might be
possible to imply some accusation of personal incompetence or inefficiency in
nearly every imputation directed against a business or a product, the courts have
insisted that something more direct than this is required for defamation. On the
other hand, if the imputation fairly implied is that the plaintiff is dishonest or
lacking in integrity or that he is perpetrating a fraud upon the public by selling
something that he knows to be defective, the personal defamation may be found.
In this case, it is common to sue in defamation because the damages are more
comprehensive. Action may be brought in the same suit for both torts, however,
so long as the damages are not duplicated.31
10
Utah law also recognizes the difference between slander of title and defamation.
[D]espite the similarity in the names of the torts, there is a basic distinction
between the two. They protect separate and unrelated interests. The tort of slander
of title and the related tort of disparagement of property are based on an
intentional interference with economic relations. They are not personal torts;
unlike slander of the person, they do not protect a person's reputation. Slander of
title actions are based only on palpable economic injury and require a plaintiff to
prove special damages, whereas injury to personal reputation may be based on
both tangible and intangible losses and give rise to presumed and general
damages. There are no general or presumed damages in slander of title actions.
Special damages are ordinarily proved in a slander of title action by evidence of a
lost sale or the loss of some other pecuniary advantage. Absent a specific
monetary loss flowing from a slander affecting the saleability or use of the
property, there is no damage.32
To state a claim for defamation under Utah law, a plaintiff "must show that defendants
published the statements concerning him, that the statements were false, defamatory, and not
subject to any privilege, that the statements were published with the requisite degree of fault, and
that their publication resulted in damage."33 There are two types of defamation: libel and slander.
Libel is defined as
a malicious defamation, expressed either by printing or by signs or pictures or the
like, tending to blacken the memory of one who is dead, or to impeach the
honesty, integrity, virtue or reputation, or publish the natural defects of one who is
alive, and thereby to expose him to public hatred, contempt or ridicule.34
11
Slander "means any libel communicated by spoken words."35 "To be defamatory under Utah
law, a communication must impeach an individual's honesty, integrity, virtue, or reputation or
publish his or her natural defects or expose him or her to public hatred, contempt, or ridicule."36
Novell argues that SCO's Complaint, though styled as one alleging a claim for slander of
title, contains allegations that Novell libeled or slandered SCO's business. In support of this
contention, Novell points to various portions of SCO's Complaint where SCO alleged that
Novell's statements claiming ownership of the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights caused harm to
SCO's business and its reputation. Novell argues that its statements asserting ownership
necessarily impugned SCO's business reputation by suggesting to customers that SCO was not
being honest about its rights to UNIX and UnixWare.
If read in isolation, the allegations in SCO's Complaint relied upon by Novell may lend
credence to Novell's claims. However, these statements must be read in the context of the entire
Complaint. The Complaint does not allege that Novell made any direct statements that could be
defamatory toward SCO. Rather, the Complaint only alleges that Novell made false claims of
ownership to the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights, thus slandering SCO's title to that property.
By making these statements, the Complaint alleges Novell damaged SCO's business and
reputation. When read in context, SCO's claims do not allege a claim for defamation of SCO.
Rather, they show a disagreement between Novell and SCO as to what transferred in the 1995
Asset Purchase Agreement. Because of this disagreement, and the cloud placed upon the title to
12
the copyrights, SCO was unable to fully exploit the resources it allegedly owned. It is because of
this inability that SCO's business and/or reputation was damaged, not because of any allegedly
defamatory statements made by Novell concerning SCO.
Novell's argument that by claiming ownership of the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights it
necessarily impugned the honesty and integrity of SCO simply reads too much into the
allegations contained in the Complaint. As one court has stated:
A [pleading] does not contain the "seeds" for a claim of defamation or slander
simply because an opposing party considers some of his adversary's accusations
untrue. If the denial of accusations by an opposing party were sufficient to
suggest a claim for defamation, then every cross-complaint would raise the specter
of such claims. After all, all lawsuits contain allegations of wrongdoing, and
these allegations are usually denied by an opposing party. The fact that an insurer
owes a duty to defend against defamation, slander, or libel does not mean that
every denial of an adversary's accusation establishes the insurer's liability.37
Further, the focus must be on Novell's alleged actions, not the harms allegedly suffered
by SCO.38 Here, there are no allegations from which the Court could find that Novell defamed
SCO. As stated above, the definition of "personal injury" in the policies includes electronic, oral,
written or other publication of material that libels or slanders a person or organization. Here,
there are simply no allegations in the Complaint that Novell made any statements that could be
construed as slandering or libeling SCO. Rather, as discussed, the only allegations in the SCO
13
Complaint concerning statements made by Novell pertain to the ownership of the UNIX and
UnixWare copyrights.
The cases cited by Novell are distinguishable in that they involve different policy
language, different underlying allegations, or both. The policy in Lime Tree Village Community
Club Association, Inc. v. State Farm General Insurance Company,39 provided coverage for "the
publication or utterance of a libel or slander or other defamatory or disparaging material."40
Because the policy provided coverage for both defamation and disparagement, there was no
discussion of whether the statements actually constituted slander or slander of title. Nvidia
Corporation v. Federal Insurance Company,41 involved a policy defining personal injury as "oral
or written publication of materials that slanders or libels a person or organization."42 The court
there found that the allegations that Nvidia engaged in a campaign to publicly sabotage,
disparage, and destroy another company and that Nvidia falsely stated that the other company
was selling pirated or unlicensed goods fell within the terms of this policy.43 These allegations
go beyond merely claiming ownership of copyrights.
14
In Aurafin-Oroamerica, LLC v. Federal Insurance Company,44 the Ninth Circuit found
that a claim for true libel could be found where there was an allegation that claimant "was a
patent infringer--a pejorative allegation of shady business practices . . . ."45 Similarly, the court
in Amerisure Insurance Company v. Laserage Technology Corporation,46 held that "wrongfully
asserting that a competitor's product infringes patents clearly defames the competitor and
disparages his product."47 Here, there are no allegations that Novell ever claimed that SCO
infringed Novell's patents. Further, a claim of copyright ownership is not a pejorative allegation
and is, therefore, different than a claim of patent infringement.
Western International Syndication Corporation v. Gulf Insurance Company,48 involved a
policy defining personal injury as oral or written publication "disparag[ing] a person's or
organization's goods, products, or services."49 Similarly, the policy in Liberty Mutual Insurance
Company v. OSI Industries, Inc.,50 defined the term personal injury as "[o]ral or written
publication of material that slanders or libels a person or organization or disparages a person's or
15
organization's goods, products, or services."51 The policies at issue in those cases allowed for
claims based on product disparagement and the respective courts found a duty to defend based
upon that language. The policy at issue here contains an express statement that it does not
include disparagement of goods, products, property or services.
Novell also directs the Court's attention to Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company v. J.
Lamb, Inc. The policy at issue in that case defined personal injury as "oral or written publication
of material that slanders or libels a person or organization or disparages a person's or
organization's goods, products or services."52 In the underlying action, "Continental alleged that
Lamb had falsely stated to Continental's customers that Continental's products were burdened
with a prior legal right and their purchase of such products would subject them to litigation."53
The court held that such allegations "clearly constituted a publication of matter derogatory to the
plaintiff's title to his property, or its quality, or to his business in general."54 Thus, the court held
that the statements were disparaging, but did not consider whether they were defamatory.55 Here,
the policies at issue do not cover disparagement.
For all of the reasons discussed above, the Court finds that SCO's Complaint does not
allege any conduct which would come within the definition of personal injury as defined by the
16
policies. The allegations in SCO's Complaint show a business dispute concerning copyright
ownership. There are no allegations from which the Court could find that Novell made any
electronic, oral, written or other publication of material that impeached SCO's honesty, integrity,
virtue, or reputation. As a result, there are no allegations of libel or slander of SCO and Vigilant
had no duty to defend Novell in the SCO action. Summary judgment in favor of Vigilant and
against Novell is, therefore, appropriate. Because of this ruling, the Court need not determine
whether either of the two exclusions advanced by Vigilant would similarly bar coverage.
IV. CONCLUSION
It is therefore that Novell's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (Docket No. 17) is
DENIED. It is further
ORDERED that Vigilant's Motion for Summary Judgment (Docket No. 27) is
GRANTED.
The Clerk of the Court is directed to enter judgment in favor of Vigilant and against
Novell and close this case forthwith. The hearing set for May 18, 2010 is STRICKEN.
DATED April 27, 2010.
BY THE COURT:
_________[signature_________________
TED STEWART
United States District Judge
17
1
Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c)(2).
2
See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 249 (1986); Clifton v. Craig, 924
F.2d 182, 183 (10th Cir. 1991).
3
See Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587 (1986);
Wright v. Southwestern Bell Tel. Co., 925 F.2d 1288, 1292 (10th Cir. 1991).
4
The SCO Group, Inc. v. Novell, Inc., Case No. 2:04-CV-139 TS.
5
SCO later filed Amended and Second Amended Complaints. These amended
Complaints do not alter the Court's analysis as Vigilant based its denial on the original
Complaint.
6
Docket No. 19, Ex. 3 at ¶ 1.
7
Id. at ¶ 4.
8
Id. at ¶ 5.
9
Id. at ¶ 6.
10
Id. at ¶ 7.
11
Id. at ¶ 18.
12
Id. at ¶ 19.
13
Id. at ¶ 20.
14
Id. at 24.
15
Id. at 27.
16
Docket No. 19, Ex. 1 at 3.
17
Id. at 30.
18
Id. at 14.
19
Id. at 17.
20
Id. at 27.
21
Docket No. 19, Ex. 5 at 2.
22
Id. at 5.
23
Docket No. 29, Ex. A.
24
Id., Ex. B.
25
Deseret Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass'n v. U.S. Fid. & Guar. Co., 714 P.2d 1143, 1146 (Utah
1986).
26
Id.
27
Id. at 1147.
28
Fire Ins. Exch. v. Estate of Therkelsen, 27 P.3d 555, 560 (Utah 2001) (quotation marks
and citation omitted).
29
Benjamin v. Am. Mut. Ins. Co., 140 P.3d 1210, 1213 (Utah 2006).
30
Jack B. Parson Co. v. Nield, 751 P.2d 1131, 1134 (Utah 1988) (stating that slander of
title is also known as injurious falsehood); Robert D. Sack, Sack on Defamation, § 13.1.1
(Practicing Law Institute 2007) (explaining that injurious falsehood describes two common law
torts: slander of title and disparagement of quality).
31
Restatement (Second) of Torts § 623A cmt. g.
32
Bass v. Planned Mgmt. Servs., Inc., 761 P.2d 566, 568 (Utah 1988).
33
West v. Thompson Newspapers, 872 P.2d 999, 1007-08 (Utah 1994).
34
Utah Code Ann. § 45-2-2(1).
35
Id. § 45-2-2(2).
36
Cox v. Hatch, 761 P.2d 556, 561 (Utah 1988).
37
Storek v. Fid. & Guar. Ins. Underwriters, Inc., 504 F.Supp. 2d 803, 808 (N.D. Cal.
2007).
38
See Atlantic Mut. Ins. Co. v. J. Lamb, Inc., 100 Cal.App.4th 1017, 1032 (Cal. Ct. App.
2002) ("Coverage for personal injury is not determined by the nature of the damages sought in
the action against the insured, but by the nature of the claims made against the insured in that
action.").
39
980 F.2d 1402 (11th Cir. 1993).
40
Id. at 1404.
41
2005 WL 2230190 (N.D. Ill. Sept. 6, 2005).
42
Id. at *1.
43
Id. at *8.
44
188 Fed.Appx. 565 (9th Cir. 2006).
45
Id. at 566.
46
2 F. Supp.2d 296 (W.D.N.Y. 1998).
47
Id. at 304.
48
222 Fed.Appx. 589 (9th Cir. 2007).
49
Id. at 592.
50
831 N.E.2d 192 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005).
51
Id. at 199.
52
100 Cal.App.4th at 1025 n.4.
53
Id. at 1034-35.
54
Id. at 1035 (quotation marks omitted).
55
Id. at 1035 n.13.
**********************************
**********************************
History
Doc. No. |
Dates |
Description |
1 |
Filed: | 05/29/2009 |
Entered: | 06/01/2009 |
|
Complaint |
Docket Text: COMPLAINT against Vigilant Insurance (Filing fee $ 350, receipt number 4681030746), filed by Novell, Inc.. (Attachments: # (1) Civil Cover Sheet, # (2) Exhibit 1, # (3) Exhibit 2, # (4) Exhibit 3, # (5) Exhibit 4, # (6) Exhibit 5) Assigned to Judge Ted Stewart (bhw)
|
3 |
Filed: | 05/29/2009 |
Entered: | 06/01/2009 |
|
Declaration |
Docket Text: DECLARATION of David A. Gauntlett filed by Novell, Inc.. (asp)
|
2 |
Filed & Entered: | 06/01/2009 | |
Notice PHV Requirements |
Docket Text: NOTICE OF REQUIREMENTS for appearance phv mailed to attorney David Gauntlett and Joseph McMillen, for Plaintiff Novell, Inc. (bhw)
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4 |
Filed: | 06/02/2009 |
Entered: | 06/03/2009 |
Terminated: | 06/03/2009 | |
Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice |
Docket Text: MOTION for Admission Pro Hac Vice of Joseph S. McMillen, David A. Gauntlett, Registration fee $ 30, receipt number 4681030828, Fee Status: Paid. filed by Plaintiff Novell, Inc.. (asp)
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5 |
Filed & Entered: | 06/03/2009 | |
Order on Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice |
Docket Text: DOCKET TEXT ORDER granting [4] Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice of Joseph S. McMillen for Novell, Inc., David A. Gauntlett for Novell, Inc.. Attorneys admitted Pro Hac Vice may download a copy of the District of Utahs local rules from the courts web site at http://www.utd.uscourts.gov . Signed by Judge Ted Stewart on 06/03/2009. No attached document. (asp)
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6 |
Filed & Entered: | 06/03/2009 | |
Summons Returned Executed |
Docket Text: **RESTRICTED DOCUMENT** SUMMONS Returned Executed by Novell, Inc. as to Vigilant Insurance served on 6/2/2009, answer due 7/2/2009. (Bradshaw, Alan)
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7 |
Filed & Entered: | 06/10/2009 | Terminated: | 07/10/2009 | |
Motion to Reassign Case |
Docket Text: MOTION to Reassign Case Based Upon Related Case filed by Plaintiff Novell, Inc.. (Attachments: # (1) Text of Proposed Order Proposed Order)(Bradshaw, Alan)
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8 |
Filed & Entered: | 06/10/2009 | |
Memorandum in Support of Motion |
Docket Text: MEMORANDUM in Support re [7] MOTION to Reassign Case Based Upon Related Case filed by Plaintiff Novell, Inc.. (Bradshaw, Alan)
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9 |
Filed: | 06/22/2009 |
Entered: | 06/23/2009 |
Terminated: | 06/29/2009 | |
Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice |
Docket Text: MOTION for Admission Pro Hac Vice of Stephen L. Newton, Lenell Topol McCallum, Registration fee $ 30, receipt number 4681031357, Fee Status: Paid. filed by Defendant Vigilant Insurance. (asp)
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10 |
Filed & Entered: | 06/29/2009 | |
Order on Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice |
Docket Text: DOCKET TEXT ORDER granting [9] Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice of Stephen L. Newton for Vigilant Insurance. Attorneys admitted Pro Hac Vice may download a copy of the District of Utahs local rules from the courts web site at http://www.utd.uscourts.gov . Signed by Judge Ted Stewart on 06/29/2009. No attached document. (asp)
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11 |
Filed & Entered: | 07/01/2009 | |
Notice of Appearance |
Docket Text: NOTICE of Appearance by Kristine M. Larsen on behalf of Vigilant Insurance (Larsen, Kristine)
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12 |
Filed & Entered: | 07/01/2009 | |
Answer to Complaint |
Docket Text: ANSWER to Complaint with Jury Demand filed by Vigilant Insurance.(Larsen, Kristine)
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13 |
Filed & Entered: | 07/01/2009 | Terminated: | 07/13/2009 | |
Motion to Strike |
Docket Text: MOTION to Strike Prayer for Attorneys Fees (Rule 12(F)) filed by Defendant Vigilant Insurance. (Larsen, Kristine)
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14 |
Filed & Entered: | 07/01/2009 | |
Memorandum in Support of Motion |
Docket Text: MEMORANDUM in Support re [13] MOTION to Strike Prayer for Attorneys Fees (Rule 12(F)) filed by Defendant Vigilant Insurance. (Larsen, Kristine)
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15 |
Filed & Entered: | 07/01/2009 | |
Notice (Other) |
Docket Text: NOTICE of Interested Parties by Vigilant Insurance (Larsen, Kristine)
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16 |
Filed: | 07/01/2009 |
Entered: | 07/02/2009 |
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Notice From the Court re Initial Scheduling |
Docket Text: NOTICE FROM THE COURT re: Initial Scheduling The court's IPT Clerk will now set the case for the Initial Pretrial Scheduling Conference (asp)
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17 |
Filed & Entered: | 07/02/2009 | Terminated: | 04/27/2010 | |
Motion for Partial Summary Judgment |
Docket Text: MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment filed by Plaintiff Novell, Inc.. (Attachments: # (1) [Proposed] Order)(Gauntlett, David)
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18 |
Filed & Entered: | 07/02/2009 | |
Memorandum in Support of Motion |
Docket Text: MEMORANDUM in Support re [17] MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment filed by Plaintiff Novell, Inc.. (Gauntlett, David)
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19 |
Filed & Entered: | 07/02/2009 | |
Affidavit in Support of Motion |
Docket Text: AFFIDAVIT of Jim F. Lundberg in Support re [17] MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment filed by Plaintiff Novell, Inc.. (Attachments: # (1) Exhibit 1 to Lundberg Declaration, # (2) Exhibit 2 to Lundberg Declaration, # (3) Exhibit 3 to Lundberg Declaration, # (4) Exhibit 4 to Lundberg Declaration, # (5) Exhibit 5 to Lundberg Declaration, # (6) Exhibit 6 to Lundberg Declaration)(Gauntlett, David)
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20 |
Filed & Entered: | 07/09/2009 | |
Notice of Initial Pretrial Conference |
Docket Text: NOTICE OF INITIAL PRETRIAL CONFERENCE: (Notice generated by Theresa Brown) The Attorneys Planning Meeting Report and Proposed Scheduling Order forms, available on the court web site at http://www.utd.uscourts.gov/documents/formpage.html, should be prepared 30 days before the Initial Pretrial Conference hearing date.
NOTICE TO COUNSEL, The Court may enter a scheduling order and vacate the hearing if counsel (a) file a stipulated Attorneys Planning Meeting Report; and (b) e-mail a Proposed Scheduling Order to ipt@utd.uscourts.gov 30 days before the scheduled hearing. See instructions at http://www.utd.uscourts.gov/documents/ipt.html
Initial Pretrial Conference set for 9/9/2009 10:30 AM in Room 102 before Magistrate Judge David Nuffer. (tab)
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21 |
Filed & Entered: | 07/10/2009 | |
Notice of ADR |
Docket Text: NOTICE OF ADR, e-mailed or mailed to Plaintiff Novell, Inc., Defendant Vigilant Insurance. (asp)
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22 |
Filed & Entered: | 07/10/2009 | |
Order on Motion to Reassign Case |
Docket Text: DOCKET TEXT ORDER denying [7] Motion to Reassign Case. So Ordered by Judge Tena Campbell on 7/10/09 (docket text only - no attached document) (alt)
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23 |
Filed & Entered: | 07/10/2009 | Terminated: | 07/13/2009 | |
Motion for Extension of Time |
Docket Text: Joint MOTION for Extension of Time Re: the Briefing Schedule for the Parties' Summary Judgment Motions and, Joint MOTION to Strike the Request for Attorneys' Fees in Plaintiff's Complaint (Without Prejudice) filed by Defendant Vigilant Insurance. (Larsen, Kristine)
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24 |
Filed & Entered: | 07/13/2009 | |
Order on Motion for Extension of Time |
Docket Text: ORDER granting [23] Motion for Extension of Time. Signed by Judge Ted Stewart on 07/13/2009. See order for details. (asp)
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25 |
Filed & Entered: | 07/13/2009 | |
Order on Motion to Strike |
Docket Text: ORDER granting [13] Motion to Strike ; granting [23] Motion to Strike. Signed by Judge Ted Stewart on 07/13/2009. (asp)
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26 |
Filed & Entered: | 07/14/2009 | |
Notice of Hearing on Motion |
Docket Text: NOTICE OF HEARING ON MOTION re: [17] MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment : (Notice generated by Chambers/slm) Motion Hearing set for 10/6/2009 03:00 PM in Room 142 before Judge Ted Stewart. (slm)
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27 |
Filed & Entered: | 07/27/2009 | Terminated: | 04/27/2010 | |
Motion for Summary Judgment |
Docket Text: MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Defendant Vigilant Insurance. (Attachments: # (1) Text of Proposed Order)(Larsen, Kristine)
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28 |
Filed & Entered: | 07/27/2009 | |
Memorandum in Support of Motion |
Docket Text: MEMORANDUM in Support re [27] MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Defendant Vigilant Insurance. (Attachments: # (1) Exhibit 1 - 5 (Unpublished Cases), # (2) Exhibit 6 - 7 (Unpublished Cases Continued), # (3) Exhibit 8 - 10 (Unpublished Cases Continued))(Larsen, Kristine)
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29 |
Filed & Entered: | 07/27/2009 | |
Affidavit in Support of Motion |
Docket Text: AFFIDAVIT of Michael J. Rettig in Support re [27] MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Defendant Vigilant Insurance. (Attachments: # (1) Exhibit A - March 3, 2004 Letter, # (2) Exhibit B - April 27, 2004 Letter)(Larsen, Kristine)
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30 |
Filed & Entered: | 07/27/2009 | |
Request |
Docket Text: REQUEST for Judicial Notice re [27] MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Defendant Vigilant Insurance. (Attachments: # (1) Exhibit C, # (2) Exhibit D, # (3) Exhibit E)(Larsen, Kristine)
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31 |
Filed & Entered: | 07/27/2009 | |
Memorandum in Opposition to Motion |
Docket Text: MEMORANDUM in Opposition re [17] MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment filed by Defendant Vigilant Insurance. (Attachments: # (1) Exhibit 1 - 5 (Unpublished Cases), # (2) Exhibit 6 - 7 (Unpublished Cases Continued), # (3) Exhibit 8 - 10 (Unpublished Cases Continued))(Larsen, Kristine)
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32 |
Filed & Entered: | 07/27/2009 | |
Affidavit in Opposition to Motion |
Docket Text: AFFIDAVIT of Michael J. Rettig in Opposition re [17] MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment filed by Defendant Vigilant Insurance. (Attachments: # (1) Exhibit A - March 3, 2004 Letter, # (2) Exhibit B - April 27, 2004 Letter)(Larsen, Kristine)
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33 |
Filed & Entered: | 07/27/2009 | |
Request |
Docket Text: REQUEST for Judicial Notice re [31] Memorandum in Opposition to Motion, filed by Defendant Vigilant Insurance. (Attachments: # (1) Exhibit C, # (2) Exhibit D, # (3) Exhibit E)(Larsen, Kristine)
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34 |
Filed & Entered: | 08/10/2009 | |
Attorney Planning Meeting |
Docket Text: REPORT OF ATTORNEY PLANNING MEETING. (Gauntlett, David)
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35 |
Filed & Entered: | 08/10/2009 | Terminated: | 08/16/2009 | |
Motion for Scheduling Order |
Docket Text: MOTION for Scheduling Order SCHEDULING ORDER AND ORDER VACATING HEARING filed by Plaintiff Novell, Inc.. (Gauntlett, David)
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36 |
Filed & Entered: | 08/17/2009 | |
Scheduling Order |
Docket Text: SCHEDULING ORDER: Initial Pretrial Conference vacated. Amended Pleadings due by 9/9/2009. Joinder of Parties due by 9/9/2009. Discovery due by 5/31/2010. Motions due by 6/30/2010. Final Pretrial Conference set for 11/22/2010 02:30 PM in Room 142 before Judge Ted Stewart. 5 day Jury Trial set for 12/6/2010 08:30 AM in Room 142 before Judge Ted Stewart. Signed by Magistrate Judge David Nuffer on 08/17/2009. (asp)
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37 |
Filed & Entered: | 08/24/2009 | |
Memorandum in Opposition to Motion |
Docket Text: MEMORANDUM in Opposition re [27] MOTION for Summary Judgment PLAINTIFF NOVELL, INC.'S OBJECTIONS TO VIGILANT INSURANCE COMPANY'S REQUEST FOR JUDICIAL NOTICE filed by Plaintiff Novell, Inc.. (Gauntlett, David)
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38 |
Filed & Entered: | 08/24/2009 | |
Declaration |
Docket Text: DECLARATION of Samer S. Aboutalib re [27] MOTION for Summary Judgment DECLARATION OF SAMER S. ABOUTALIB IN SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFF NOVELL, INC.'S OPPOSITION TO VIGILANT'S CROSS-MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND REPLY TO VIGILANT'S OPPOSITION TO NOVELL'S MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT filed by Novell, Inc.. (Gauntlett, David)
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39 |
Filed & Entered: | 08/24/2009 | |
Request |
Docket Text: REQUEST for Judicial Notice re [27] MOTION for Summary Judgment EQUEST FOR JUDICIAL NOTICE IN SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFF NOVELL, INC.'S OPPOSITION TO VIGILANT'S CROSS-MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND REPLY TO VIGILANT'S OPPOSITION TO NOVELL'S MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT filed by Plaintiff Novell, Inc.. (Attachments: # (1) Exhibit 7 to RJN, # (2) Exhibit 8 to RJN, # (3) Exhibit 9 to RJN, # (4) Exhibit 10 to RJN, # (5) Exhibit 11 to RJN, # (6) Exhibit 12 to RJN, # (7) Exhibit 13 to RJN)(Gauntlett, David)
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40 |
Filed & Entered: | 08/24/2009 | |
Memorandum in Opposition to Motion |
Docket Text: MEMORANDUM in Opposition re [27] MOTION for Summary Judgment PLAINTIFF NOVELL, INC.'S OPPOSITION TO VIGILANT'S CROSS-MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND REPLY TO VIGILANT'S OPPOSITION TO NOVELL'S MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT filed by Plaintiff Novell, Inc.. (Gauntlett, David)
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41 |
Filed: | 08/24/2009 |
Entered: | 08/26/2009 |
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Notice of Deficiency |
Docket Text: NOTICE OF DEFICIENCY re [37] Memorandum in Opposition to Motion. The document 37 was filed as a Memorandum in Opposition to Motion, however the images is a Request for Judicial Notice. The clerk requests the filer of the original document to refile the pleading. The new pleading will receive a new document number on the docket. Also, please do not use ALL CAPS when filing pleadings. Documents 37-40 have ALL CAPS as part of the docket text. Any text you add is italicized in order to stand out, therefore ALL CAPS is not necessary. (asp)
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|
Filed & Entered: | 08/26/2009 | |
Objections |
Docket Text: OBJECTIONS to [30] Request Plaintiff Novell, Inc.'s Objections to Vigilant Insurance Company's Request for Judicial Notice filed by Plaintiff Novell, Inc.. (Gauntlett, David)
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43 |
Filed & Entered: | 09/11/2009 | |
Reply Memorandum/Reply to Response to Motion |
Docket Text: REPLY to Response to Motion re [27] MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Defendant Vigilant Insurance. (Attachments: # (1) Exhibit, # (2) Exhibit, # (3) Exhibit, # (4) Exhibit, # (5) Exhibit)(Larsen, Kristine)
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44 |
Filed & Entered: | 09/11/2009 | |
Objections |
Docket Text: OBJECTIONS to [39] Request,, Novell's Inc's Request for Judicial Notice filed by Defendant Vigilant Insurance. (Larsen, Kristine)
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45 |
Filed & Entered: | 09/11/2009 | |
Response (NOT to motion) |
Docket Text: Defendant's RESPONSE re [42] Objections, by Plaintiff to Vigilant's Request for Judicial Notice filed by Defendant Vigilant Insurance. (Larsen, Kristine)
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46 |
Filed & Entered: | 10/02/2009 | |
Notice of Hearing on Motion |
Docket Text: AMENDED NOTICE OF HEARING ON MOTION re: [17] MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment : (Notice generated by Chambers/slm) Motion Hearing RESET for 12/8/2009 03:00 PM in Room 142 before Judge Ted Stewart. (slm)
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47 |
Filed & Entered: | 10/06/2009 | |
Notice of Hearing on Motion |
Docket Text: AMENDED NOTICE OF HEARING ON MOTION re: [17] MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment, [27] MOTION for Summary Judgment : (Notice generated by Chambers/slm) Motion Hearing set for 1/21/2010 02:30 PM in Room 142 before Judge Ted Stewart. **PLEASE NOTE THAT AN ADDITIONAL MOTION HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE HEARING** (slm)
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48 |
Filed & Entered: | 12/18/2009 | |
Notice of Supplemental Authority |
Docket Text: NOTICE of SUPPLEMENTAL AUTHORITY by Novell, Inc. re [17] MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment (Attachments: # (1) Exhibit 1 to Ntc of Suppl Authority) (Gauntlett, David)
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49 |
Filed & Entered: | 12/22/2009 | |
Response (NOT to motion) |
Docket Text: RESPONSE re [48] Notice of Supplemental Authority, filed by Defendant Vigilant Insurance. (Larsen, Kristine)
|
50 |
Filed & Entered: | 01/11/2010 | |
Notice of Hearing on Motion |
Docket Text: AMENDED NOTICE OF HEARING ON MOTION re: [17] MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment, [27] MOTION for Summary Judgment : (Notice generated by Theresa Brown) Motion Hearing re-set for 5/18/2010 03:00 PM in Room 142 before Judge Ted Stewart. (tab)
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51 |
Filed & Entered: | 01/13/2010 | |
Notice of Withdrawal of Counsel |
Docket Text: NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF COUNSEL of Joseph S. McMillen on behalf of Novell, Inc. (McMillen, Joseph)
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52 |
Filed & Entered: | 01/19/2010 | Terminated: | 01/20/2010 | |
Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice |
Docket Text: MOTION for Admission Pro Hac Vice of Andrew M. Sussman, Registration fee $ 15, receipt number 4681035196, Fee Status: Paid. filed by Plaintiff Novell, Inc.. (asp)
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53 |
Filed & Entered: | 01/20/2010 | |
Order on Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice |
Docket Text: DOCKET TEXT ORDER granting [52] Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice of Andrew M. Sussman for Novell, Inc.. Attorneys admitted Pro Hac Vice may download a copy of the District of Utahs local rules from the courts web site at http://www.utd.uscourts.gov . Signed by Judge Ted Stewart on 01/20/2010. No attached document. (asp)
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54 |
Filed & Entered: | 04/26/2010 | |
Notice of Supplemental Authority |
Docket Text: NOTICE of SUPPLEMENTAL AUTHORITY by Novell, Inc. re [17] MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment SECOND NOTICE OF SUPPLEMENTAL AUTHORITY PURSUANT TO LOCAL RULE 7-1(b)(5) (Attachments: # (1) Exhibit 1 to Second Notice of Supplemental Authority) (Gauntlett, David)
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55 |
Filed & Entered: | 04/27/2010 | |
Order on Motion for Partial Summary Judgment |
Docket Text: MEMORANDUM DECISION denying [17] Motion for Partial Summary Judgment ; granting [27] Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge Ted Stewart on 04/27/2010. (asp) |
|