Blawgletter just noticed these docket entries in Verizon Services Corp. v. Vonage Holdings Corp., No. 1:06-cv-00682-CMH-BRP (E.D. Va.):
| 04/03/2007 | 523 | Emergency Motion For An Order Directing Plaintiffs To Withdraw Restraining Notices Issued In New York State by Vonage Holdings Corp., Vonage America, Inc.(UNDER SEAL) (nhall) (Entered: 04/03/2007) |
| 04/03/2007 | 524 | NOTICE of Hearing on Motion [523]Emergency Motion For An Order Directing Plaintiffs To Withdraw Restraining Notices Issued In New York State : Motion Hearing set for 4/3/2007 02:00 PM before District Judge Claude M. Hilton. (nhall) (Entered: 04/03/2007) |
| 04/03/2007 | Per CMH Chambers Reset Deadlines as to [523]Emergency Motion For An Order Directing Plaintiffs To Withdraw Restraining Notices Issued In New York State. Motion Hearing set for 4/3/2007 02:00 PM before District Judge James C. Cacheris. (nhall) (Entered: 04/03/2007) | |
| 04/03/2007 | Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge James C. Cacheris : Telephone Conference w/counsel held UNDER SEAL on 4/3/2007. (Court Reporter R. Wilson.) (dper) (Entered: 04/04/2007) | |
| 04/03/2007 | 525 | ORDER filed UNDER SEAL pursuant to telephone conference. Signed by Judge James C. Cacheris on 4/3/07. (dper) (Entered: 04/04/2007) |
Note that a hearing on Vonage’s motion happened the same day Vonage filed it and that a different district judge heard the motion and signed an order — all under seal.
Apparently, Vonage didn’t like some kind of "restraining notices" that Verizon "issued" in New York. Perhaps the notices relate to an impending permanent injunction against Vonage’s use of VoIP technology that infringes Verizon patents. Vonage lost a jury trial on Verizon’s patent infringement claims earlier this year.
The court originally set a hearing on Vonage’s motion to stay the injunction pending appeal on March 30 but moved it to April 6.
Blawgletter can only guess at the need for secrecy. We’ll keep an eye out for further developments.
Barry Barnett
