Putting in the Defendant’s Case: Tactical, Practical and Strategic Consideration



PUTTINGINTHEDEFENDANT’SCASE:TACTICAL,PRACTICALANDSTRATEGIC
CONSIDERATIONS

by
FrançoisM.Grenier
*
LEGERROBICRICHARD,Lawyers,
ROBIC,Patent&TrademarkAgents
CentreCDPCapital
1001Square-Victoria-BlocE–8
thFloor
Montreal,Quebec,CanadaH2Z2B7
Tel.(514)9876242-Fax(514)8457874
www.robic.ca-info@robic.com

Introduction
Whenthetimecomestoputforwardthedefendant’scaseattrial,needless
tosaythatpreparationshouldbecompletedandallissuesshouldbe
masteredbydefendant’sleadcounsel.Apatenttrialleaveslittleroomfor
improvisationandgoodadvocacyoftendependsonexcellentpreparation.
Deepandcompleteknowledgeofevenapparentlyinsignificantdetailswill
bebeneficialwhentheinevitableunexpectedhappens.Therefore,good
physicalarrangementofthetrial”papers”(pleadings,exhibits,expert
evidence,caselaw,factualsummariesofwitnessesanticipatedstatements,
etc.)isimportant.Patenttrialsarelongandtechnical,mayinvolvemany
issuesandtheunderstandingofnumerousdocuments.Apatentisbyitself
difficulttoreadandunderstandforlayman(patentsaremeanttobe
understoodbypersonsknowledgeableintheart).Therefore,evenforlawyers
workingintandem,leadcounselshouldalwayshaveknowledgeofallthe
facts(knowwherethestuffisintheboxes).
Thefollowing,ifwellpreparedandaccomplishedwithapurposewillprovide
agoodfoundationuponwhichthecasecanbebuilt:
-Thepleadings(StatementofClaim,Rule400;Statementof
Defence,Rule402;Reply,Rule403)shouldprovideaprecisestatementofthe
materialfactsonwhichbothpartieswillrely(Rules408,415).Anissuewhich
hasnotbeenpleadedisnotanissueinthecase[J.M.Voightv.BeloitCorp.,
(1991),36C.P.R.(3d)322].
-TheAffidavitofDocuments(Rule447,ss.)willdiscloseall
documentaryevidencerelevanttoallmattersinissue(seealsoRule407).



















































LEGERROBICRICHARD,1992.
*Lawyer,FrançoisM.GrenierisaseniorpartnerinthelawfirmLEGERROBICRICHARD,g.p.and
inthepatentandtrademarkagencyfirmROBIC,g.p.Publication48.



Generally,onlydocumentsdisclosedinanAffidavitofDocumentsor
producedonexaminationfordiscoverymaybeusedinevidenceattrial
(Rule494.(7)b)).
-Theexaminationfordiscovery(Rule455,ss.),whenallquestionsto
advanceaparty’scaseordamageitsopponent’scaseshouldhavebeen
asked.
-Expertaffidavits(Rule482).Inpatentcases,wherefocusinthe
caseoftenfirstappears.
Before,finalpreparationcommences,thetoolsprovidedbytheRulesto
narrowtheissuesshouldhavebeenused(referenceaftertrial,Rule480;pre-
trialconference,Rule491).
Theaboveshouldtellcounselwhathisparty’scaseisandwhatisthecaseof
theopposingparty.
Theopeningstatement
BeforetheFederalCourtofCanada,pursuanttoRule494.(1),acounsel,
immediatelybeforeintroducinganyevidence,openshiscasebymakinga
shortstatementgivinganoutlineofthefactsthatthepartyproposestoprove
andtheapplicablelaw.Theopeningstatementisimportantandshouldnot
beimprovised.UndertheRules,thedefendant’sopeningstatementis
supposedtobegivenwhentheplaintiffclosesitsevidence.However,if
defendant’scounselhopethatthecourtwillunderstandanythingastothe
directiontakenbyhiscross-examinationofplaintiff’switnesses(especially
expertwitnesses),leaveshouldbeaskedtomakethedefendant’sopening
statementimmediatelyaftertheplaintiff’sopeningstatement.Usually,leave
issograntedbythecourt.Hereinafteraretheessentialqualitiesofagood
openingstatement:
-Short:Defendant’sopeningstatementshouldnotlastmorethan
30to60minutes.Plaintiff’scounselwillprobablyhaveinhisopening
statementgiventothecourtanunderstandingofthetechnologytowhich
thepatentrelates.Theopeningstatementisnottheclosingargument.
-Mostlyfactual:Eventhoughaconciseoutlineoftheapplicable
lawmustbegiven,rememberthatthelawonissuessuchasinfringement,
obviousnessandanticipation(mostcommonissuesinpatentcases)isstatic
andknowntothejudges(often,bothsidesrelyonthesamecaselaw).The
applicabilityofthelawwilldependonthefactsthatwillbeproven.



-Tothepoint:Noteveryfactslikelytobeprovenshouldbe
commentedupon.Putforwarddefendant’stwobestpointsforeveryissue
and”advertised”them.
-Positive:Defendant’scounselshouldcommentonthe
defendant’scaseinapositivefashion.Asadefendant,youmustshowthat
yoursuccesswillatleastpartlydependontheevidenceyouwillpresent
beforeyoushowthattheplaintiff’scasehasweaknesses.Asdefendant’s
counsel,youmustmakesurethatthe”rottenguyprinciple”willnotapplyin
yourcaseandthatanyprejudicetowardsyourclientwilldisappearearlyon.
Trytoputthedefendant’scaseinabroadercontext(forexample,
advantagesoffreecompetitiontothepublic).Thedefendantiseasily
laballedasacopierattackinglegitimaterightsonlytogetoffthehook.
-Interesting:Makepromisesyoucandeliver;makethejudge
awareoftwoorthreekeyelementsthatthatplaintiffwouldliketoprovebut
willunlikelybeabletoprove;setupyourclosingargument.
Youropeningstatementshouldnotbetheequivalentofyourclosing
argument.Therefore,nosingleaspectofyourcaseshouldbeoverstated
andbearguedindetails.
Thedefendant’switnesses
TheRulesoftheFederalCourtsimplystatethatwitnessesatthetrialofany
actionshallbeexaminedvivavoceandinopencourt(Rule494.(5)).
Witnessesinchiefcanonlyusedocumentsreferredtointhepleadings,the
affidavitofdocumentsordocumentsproducedduringthediscoveries(Rule
494.(7)).Obviously,noparticularorderofwitnessesisimposedbytheRules.
Basiclogicalconsiderationsapply:
-Theflowoffactualevidenceshouldbe,asmuchaspossible,
logical(whennecessary,itshouldevenbechronological[forexample,issues
relatingtowhowasfirsttoinvent]).
-Havethewitnessesunderwhichyouhavenocontroltestifyfirst,
especiallythoseundersubpeona.Witnesseswillbeinabetterdispositionif
they
didnotwaitfortwodaysinthecorridorbeforegivingtheirtestimony.
-Shortfactualwitnessesshouldbeheardfirstifthelogicofthe
testimonyissafeguarded(arrangementscanbemadeinadvancewith
opposingcounselsastothetimingofthevariouswitnesses).



-Defendant’sexpertwitnessesshouldbecalledwhenthefacts
uponwhichhisopinionissoughtarealreadyproven.Focusonthecasemay
belostiftoomanyopinionsgivenbytheexpertsdependonevidenceofthe
underlyingfactstobeputforwardlaterinthecase.
-Usually,thedefendant,ordefendant’srepresentative,shouldbe
heardlastto”plugtheholes”,ifany.
Iftheneedarises,defendant’scounselshouldnothesitatetocalltheplaintiff
orplaintiff’srepresentativeashisownwitness.Theplaintiffisadversedtothe
defendant’sinterestandmaybecros-examinedatwill(Article307,C.P.C.,
Quebec).Callingtheopposingpartyasyourfirstwitnessdependingonthe
issuesinthecasemaythrowtheothersideoffbalance.
Inpreparingthedefendant’switnessesandpreparingthecross-examination
ofthewitnessesyouanticipatetheothersidewillcall,youmustremember
thatyourwitnesseswillhavetosaysubstantiallywhattheysaidbeforeor
wrotebefore.Asmentionedabove,beforetrial,leadcounselshouldhavea
goodknowledgeofallpriorstatementsgivenbyanypersonlikelytoappear
asawitnessattrial.
Twotothreemonthsbeforetrial,allwitnessesshouldbemettogooverthe
facts.Havethemtelltheirstoryandavoidtellingthemwhatkindofstoryyou
wouldliketohear.Remindthemofwhattheysaidorwrotebefore.Discuss
allfactualaspectsofthecasewhichtheymighthaveknowledgeof.Atthat
firstformalmeeting,youshouldnothavealistofquestionsprepared.This
shouldnotbeafinalrehearsaloftheirtestimony.Youshouldratherhavean
extremelygoodknowledgeofthefactualaspectsofyourcaseandtryto
seeifspontaniously,thefactsgivenbythewitnessesmatchthefactsthatyou
haveknowledgeof.Youshouldnotbeafraidtoexplaintoyourwitnesses,in
generalterms,whatyourcaseisandwhatyouaretryingtoachievewiththeir
testimony.Itmaynotbenecessarytodothiswithawitnesstestifyingona
verysimplequestionoffact,forexampleawitnesscalledonlytorecognizea
signatureonadocumentorawitnesstestifyingonanumberofitemssoldto
aparticularoutlet.Showyourwitnessesallexhibitsthatwillbefiledduring
theirtestimony.
Theweekbeforethetrial,meetallyourwitnessestogetherandthistime,have
yourquestionsready.Thisshouldbefinalrehersalbeforetrial.Askyour
questionsinthesequenceyouwillaskthemattrial.Listencarefullytowhat
yourwitnessesaresaying.Donotconcentrateonthequestionsonlysince,up
toacertainextent,theyarenotimportant.Theanswersareimportantsince
youcannotaskleadingquestionstoyourwitnesses,makesurethatthe
answersyouarelookingforarecomingnaturallywithoutunduesuggestion.



Yourwitnessesshouldberelaxandnatural.Explainhowthingsaredonein
court,thevariousrolesplayedbythepeoplepresentandhowthecasewill
evolve.Telltheminadvancethattheymightbeexcludedfromthecourt
roomifthedemandismadeandthatyoumayyourselfmakesucha
demand.
Witnessesarecalledtohelpthecourt,notyouoryourcase.Makethemfeel
theimportanceoftheirrole,theywillperformbetter.
Telltheminadvancethatmostlikely,theywillbecross-examinedbycounsel
fortheotherside.Explainhowacross-examinationisconductedandthe
purposeofit.Witnessesshouldbetoldtolistencarefullytothequestions
askedandthesuggestionsmade.Tellthemthattheydonothavetoagree
automaticallywiththesuggestionsmadejusttopleaseeverybody.Explain
thatwhentheydonotknoworrememberafact,”Idon’tremember”and”I
don’tknow”areacceptableanswerswhenthewholeofthetestimonyis
credible.Witnesses,bynature,feelthattheymustanswereveryquestions
asked,becausetheythinkitistheirduty.
Often,witnessesyoudonotcontrolmustbecalled.Somewillrefuretosee
youbeforetrial.Thetestimonyofthesewitnessesmustbepreparedvery
carefully.Beingyourownwitnesses,leadingquestionswillnotbepermitted
unlessthewitnessisconsideredhostiletoyourcasebythecourt.Only
essentialquestionsmustbeasked.Openendedquestionsaretobeavoided.
Thetestimonyofthesewitnessesshouldbeshort.Preparealistofthefacts
thatyouwantthiswitnesstoestablish,lookforyouranswerandifyougetit,
leavethesubject.Onceyouhaveasatisfactoryanswer,donotlookfor
more.Youmayspoilwhatyouhave.
Cross-examinationsshouldbepreparedbeforetrialandadaptedafterthe
evidenceisheardincourt.Knowinadvancewhatyouwanttoachieve,
isolatethestatementsyouwishtocontradictorofwhichyouwishtodiminish
theimpact.Donotcross-examineoneverysmallpointsorevenon
somethingyouknowtobeuntrueifitdoesnothurtyourcase,unlessyou
wanttoattackthecredibilityofthewitness.Generally,youwillhaveagood
ideaoftheidentityofthewitnessestheothersidewillcalland,asforyour
ownwitnesses,youshouldhavestatementsinvariousformsconcerningthe
issuesonwhichtheywilltestify.
Evenifyoudonotknowtheidentityofthewitnessthatwilltestityona
particularissue,prepareacross-examinationontheissueratherthanofa
witnessinparticular.



Alwaysbeconciousofthepersonyouarecross-examining.Youdonotdeal
inthesamemannerwithanoldladyasyoudowithamaturebusiness
woman.Thismayseemobvious,butIhaveseenmanylawyershavinggone
toofarwithawitnessandfindingthemselveswithacryingoldladyanda
madjudge.
Whatevidenceshouldbeleadinchiefandrebuttal
Inpreparingyourwitnessesandyourcase,takeintoconsiderationthe
applicableburdenofproofinpatentcases.Thepatenteebenefitfroma
presumptionofvalidityofitspatent.Allyoumustproveisinfringement.If
thereislitteralinfringement(ifdefendant’sproduct”reads”ontheclaims)and
ifthatwasestablishedduringdiscovery,theevidenceinchiefmaybevery
shortandcounselfortheplaintiffmayresthiscasebeforetheendofthe
firstdayoftrial.
Ifestablishinginfringementrequiresinterpretationofthepatent,evidence
mighthavetobeleadbytheplaintiffwithrespecttothesignificanceof
certainwordsorexpressionsfoundinthepatentandtheworkingofcertain
partsofthedefendant’sapparatus.Inthatcase,beattentive.The
significanceofwordsandexpressionsusedinthepatent,asexplainedby
plaintiff’sexpert,willremainconstantandalsoappliedtoyourdefenceof
invalidity,wheretheburdenofproofrestsquarelyonthedefendant’s
shoulders.
Conclusion
Beingwellpreparedenhanceyourchancesofwinningthecaseforyour
client.Also,anditisofsomeimportance,ifyouarewellprepared,youwillbe
relaxandwillperformbetter.



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