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“The district court had no case or controversy to continue to consider,” Judge Randall Rader wrote for the panel in Samsung Electronics Co. v. Rambus Inc., 06-1579. “Thus, the trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to perpetuate an attorney fees dispute that was complete.” Rader was joined by Judge Alvin Schall and U.S. District Judge Joseph Farnan Jr., sitting by designation.
The appellate panel vacated the order and remanded the case to the district court with instructions that the case be dismissed.
The appellate ruling comes as Rambus, a frequent courtroom visitor, is enjoying a string of victories. In March, a San Jose federal jury rejected claims by a group of chip makers that Rambus violated antitrust laws. Last week, the D.C. Circuit threw out a Federal Trade Commission ruling that accused Rambus of similar violations.
That’s not to say that the litigation doesn’t have its costs. Although general litigation expenses dipped $2.9 million from the fourth quarter of 2007, Rambus spent $13.2 million in the first quarter of 2008, according to the company.
