Opinion · Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Phonometrics, Inc. v. Hospitality Franchise Systems, Inc.

203 F.3d 790

Type
Opinion
Court
Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Jurisdiction
Federal
Date
2000-02-09
Topic
general

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  • noting that such a requirement "would contravene the notice pleading standard, and would add needless steps to the already complex process of patent litigation"

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PHONOMETRICS v. HOSPITALITY FRANCHISE SYST,203 F.3d 790(Fed. Cir. 2000)
PHONOMETRICS, INC., Plaintiff-Appellant, v. HOSPITALITY FRANCHISE SYSTEMS,
INC., (now known as Cendant Corporation) Defendant-Appellee, and MOTEL 6,
L.P., and VAGABOND INNS, INC., Defendants-Appellees, and INTERSTATE HOTELS
CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellee, and ASTON HOTELS AND RESORTS,
Defendant-Appellee, and FAIRMONT HOTEL MANAGEMENT COMPANY,
Defendant-Appellee, and CLUBHOUSE INNS OF AMERICA, Defendant-Appellee, and
ECONOMY INNS OF AMERICA, Defendant-Appellee, and AMFAC RESORTS,
Defendant-Appellee, and BENCHMARK HOSPITALITY, Defendant-Appellee, and CHASE
MANAGEMENT CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellee, and OUTRIGGER LODGING SERVICES,
Defendant-Appellee, and COLONY HOTELS RESORTS (now known as RHI Hotels,
Inc.), and RED LION HOTELS INNS, Defendants-Appellees, and PARK LANE
HOTELS INTERNATIONAL, Defendant-Appellee, and SRS HOTELS, FOUR SEASONS
HOTELS, WESTCOAST HOTELS, NIKKO HOTELS, INTERNATIONAL, EZ-8 MOTEL, INC.,
NENDELS CORPORATION, SUMMERFIELD SUITES HOTELS, GROSVENOR HOTELS GROUP,
PAN PACIFIC HOTELS AND RESORTS, ANA HOTELS INTERNATIONAL, INNCAL, INC.,
RAPHAEL HOTEL GROUP, COASTAL HOTEL GROUP, and ANDREW HOTEL MANAGEMENT
COMPANY, Defendants.
No. 99-1086
United States Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit.
DECIDED: February 9, 2000
Appeal from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Judge Kenneth L. Ryskamp.Page 791
John P. Sutton, Bryan, Hinshaw Barnet, of San Francisco, California, argued for plaintiff-appellant.Donald S. Showalter, Holland Knight, LLP, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, of counsel for Clubhouse Inns of America, argued for all defendants-appellees. On the brief wereJ. BruceMcCubbrey, andGary L. Benton, Coudert Brothers, of San Francisco, California for Red Lion Hotels Inns and RHI Hotels, Inc.;LeslieJ. Lott, Lott Friedland, P.A., of Coral Gables, Florida, for Aston Hotels Resorts;Richard M. Blau, Holland Knight LLP, of Tampa, Florida, for Clubhouse Inns of America;Nathan Lane, III, Graham James, LLP, of San Francisco, California, for Interstate Hotels Corporation;Jonathan R. Bass, Coblentz, Patch, Duffy and Bass, LLP, of San Francisco, California, for Fairmont Hotel Management Company;Shauna Weeks, Arnold Porter, of Los Angeles, California, for Economy Inns of America;C. Hopkins Guy, III, Orrick, Herrington Sutcliffe, of Menlo Park, California, for Hospitality Franchise Systems, Inc. (now known as Cendant Corporation);Noemi C. Espinosa, Brobeck, Phleger Harrison, of Palo Alto, California, for Chase Management Corporation;StephenKaus, Cooper, White Cooper, of San Francisco, California, for Park Lane Hotels International;David E. Bergquist, Hillyer Irvin, of San Diego, California, for Benchmark Hospitality;William E. Crockett, Greenberg Bass, of Encino, California, for Outrigger Lodging Services. Not on the brief, representing AMFAC Resorts wasFrederick Brown, Orrick, Herrington Sutcliffe, of San Francisco, California. Of counsel for RHI Hotels Inc.Page 792wereJeffrey G. BenzandEric N. Hoover, Coudert Brothers, of San Francisco, California; of counsel for Aston Hotels and Resorts wasDavid K. Friedland, Lott Friedland, P.A., of Coral Gables, Florida.
Before RADER,Circuit Judge, SKELTON, and ARCHER,Senior CircuitJudges.
PER CURIAM.
[1] The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida dismissed the patent infringement claims of Phonometrics, Inc. (Phonometrics) against Hospitality Franchise Systems, Inc. and the other hotel operators (collectively, Hotels) under Fed.R.Civ.P.12(b)(6). Because Phonometrics' complaint met the liberal pleading requirements of Rule 12(b)(6), this court reverses and remands.
I.
[2] Phonometrics is the owner of United States Patent No. 3,769,463 ('463 patent). The '463 patent covers an apparatus for automatically computing and recording the cost of a long distance telephone call. Phonometrics sued Hotels for infringing the '463 patent. This court has twice previously construed the claims of the '463 patent.SeeIntellicall, Inc. v. Phonometrics, Inc.,952 F.2d 1384, 21 USPQ2d 1383 (Fed. Cir. 1992);Phonometrics v.Northern Telecom, Inc.,133 F.3d 1459, 45 USPQ2d 1421 (Fed. Cir. 1998) (Phonometrics IandPhonometrics II, respectively).

[3] During the pendency ofPhonometrics IandPhonometrics II, the district court stayed the proceedings in this case. After this court issued its opinion inPhonometrics II, the district court,suasponte, dismissed Phonometrics' claims against Hotels under Rule 12(b)(6). In its order, the district court required Phonometrics to include express allegations of infringement of each claim element in accordance with this court's interpretation of those elements inPhonometrics IandPhonometrics II. To do so, the district court granted Phonometrics twenty days' leave to amend its complaint.

[4] InPhonometrics I, this court explained that the term "digital display," as used in claim 1 of the '463 patent,1encompasses only human readable, not machine readable, displays.SeePhonometrics I,952 F.2d at 1387. InPhonometrics II, this court explained that the phrase "substantially instantaneous" means that the "register displays cumulated costs as they accrue, in real time, and not only once the call has ended."PhonometricsII,133 F.3d at 1465. In its order, the district court essentially required that Phonometrics specifically allege that Hotels use apparatuses that include human readable displays and that the displays show cumulated costs as they accrue in real time.

[5] Rather than amend its complaint, Phonometrics immediately appealed the district court's order to this court. On appeal, the parties raise two issues. First, whether this court has jurisdiction to hear this case. Second, whether the districtPage 793court erred in dismissing Phonometrics' complaint for failure to state a claim.
II.
[6] On the question of jurisdiction, Hotels argue that this court lacks jurisdiction to hear this case because Phonometrics filed its notice of appeal after the district court dismissed the complaint, but before the period for leave to amend had expired. Thus, Hotels argue, Phonometrics did not appeal from a final judgment.See28 U.S.C. § 1295(1994). In reviewing district court judgments in patent cases, this court applies its own law on patent law issues, but with respect to nonpatent issues it generally applies the law of the circuit in which the district court sits.SeeMidwest Indus., Inc. v. Karavan Trailers, Inc.,175 F.3d 1356,1359, 50 USPQ2d 1672, 1675 (Fed. Cir. 1999) (enbancin relevant part). Because the finality of the dismissal in this case is a procedural issue not related to patent law, this court applies the law of the regional circuit, the Eleventh Circuit.Seeid.

[7] Generally, a dismissal with leave to amend is not an appealable final judgment under28 U.S.C. § 1295.SeeJung v.K.D. Mining Co.,356 U.S. 335(1958). However, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has held that dismissal orders with leave to amend, such as the one in this case, become final as of the end of the amendment period granted by the district court.SeeSchuurman v. Motor Vessel "Betty K V",798 F.2d 442,445(11th Cir. 1986). Eleventh Circuit law also provides that a plaintiff may even appeal a dismissal with leave to amend before the expiration of the amendment period granted by the district court, provided that the plaintiff stands on his complaint as dismissed.SeeBriehler v. City of Miami,926 F.2d 1001,1003(11th Cir. 1991). In the instant case, like inBriehler, Phonometrics filed its notice of appeal before entry of final judgment. Then, within thirty days of Phonometrics' filing of its notice of appeal the district court entered final judgment, dismissing the case. Technically, Phonometrics appealed before entry of final judgment, but nevertheless fell within the Eleventh Circuit's rule inBriehler.

[8] Phonometrics' premature notice of appeal put Hotels on notice of Phonometrics' intention to stand on its complaint, and to appeal the final judgment which the district court entered soon thereafter. The Hotels have not identified any prejudice suffered as a result of the premature filing of the notice of appeal. Therefore, based on the lack of prejudice to Hotels and the Eleventh Circuit's rule inBriehler, this court holds that Phonometrics' appeal to this court was timely and not jurisdictionally barred under28 U.S.C. § 1295. To deny jurisdiction at this stage would spin judicial wheels for no practical purpose.
III.
[9] The second issue in this case asks whether the district court erred in dismissing for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted under Rule 12(b)(6). To review a purely procedural question not pertaining to patent law, such as whether a Rule 12(b)(6) motion was properly granted, this court again applies the rule of the regional circuit, the Eleventh Circuit.SeeMidwest,175 F.3d at 1359;cf.Marquip, Inc. v. Fosber Am., Inc.,198 F.3d 1363, 53 USPQ2d 1015, 1020 (Fed. Cir. 1999). The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit reviews dismissals under Rule 12(b)(6)denovo.SeeHarper v. BlockbusterEntertainment Corp.,139 F.3d 1385,1387(11th Cir. 1998). The Eleventh Circuit presumes the truth of allegations in a complaint and liberally construes complaint terms in favor of the plaintiff.SeeMunicipal Utils. Bd. v. Alabama Power Co.,934 F.2d 1493,1500(11th Cir. 1991).

[10] The Eleventh Circuit has made clear that the dismissal standard is extraordinary, and one not to be taken lightly.SeeBrooks v. Blue Cross Blue Shield ofPage 794Fla., Inc.,116 F.3d 1364,1368(11th Cir. 1997) ("A complaint may not be dismissed because the plaintiff's claims do not support the legal theory he relies upon since the court must determine if the allegations provide for relief onanypossible theory. . . . We hasten to add that this motion is viewed with disfavor and rarely granted. . . . Dismissal of a claim on the basis of barebone pleadings is a precarious disposition with a high mortality rate.") (citations omitted).

[11] In the landmark case ofConley v. Gibson, the Supreme Court explained:
[T]he Federal Rules of Civil Procedure do not require a claimant to set out in detail the facts upon which he bases his claim. To the contrary, all the Rules require is "a short and plain statement of the claim" that will give the defendant fair notice of what the plaintiff's claim is and the grounds upon which it rests. The illustrative forms appended to the Rules plainly demonstrate this. Such simplified "notice pleading" is made possible by the liberal opportunity for discovery and the other pretrial procedures established by the Rules to disclose more precisely the basis of both claim and defense and to define more narrowly the disputed facts and issues. . . . The Federal Rules reject the approach that pleading is a game of skill in which one misstep by counsel may be decisive to the outcome and accept the principle that the purpose of pleading is to facilitate a proper decision on the merits.


[12]Conley v. Gibson,355 U.S. 41,47-48(1957). The Supreme Court's and Eleventh Circuit's high standards for dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6) are clearly not met by the facts of this case.

[13] The Rule 12(b)(6) pleading requirements for a complaint of infringement cannot be extended to require a plaintiff to specifically include each element of the claims of the asserted patent. Such requirements do not require a patentee to amend its claims to include specific allegations about each limitation once a court has construed the claims of the patent. To impose such requirements would contravene the notice pleading standard, and would add needless steps to the already complex process of patent litigation. Instead, a patentee need only plead facts sufficient to place the alleged infringer on notice. This requirement ensures that an accused infringer has sufficient knowledge of the facts alleged to enable it to answer the complaint and defend itself.

[14] In this case, Phonometrics' complaint alleges ownership of the asserted patent, names each individual defendant, cites the patent that is allegedly infringed, describes the means by which the defendants allegedly infringe, and points to the specific sections of the patent law invoked. Thus, Phonometrics' complaint contains enough detail to allow the defendants to answer. Rule 12(b)(6) requires no more.SeeCanadyne-Georgia Corp. v.Nationsbank, N.A. (SOUTH),183 F.3d 1269,1275-76(11th Cir. 1999) ("[T]he Federal Rules `do not require a claimant to set out in detail the facts upon which he bases his claim.' . . . [A] motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim should not be granted unless it appears to a certainty that the plaintiff would be entitled to no relief under any state of facts which could be proved in support of his claim.") (citations omitted). This court discerns no reason that a plaintiff in a patent suit should face the requirement of rewriting its complaint each time a ruling in the case is issued. A rule of that nature would add many meaningless steps to the litigation process.

[15] This court, aware of the long history of this case, has great confidence in the district court's understanding of this case. As a matter of procedure, however, the liberal pleading standards of Rule 12(b)(6) do not permit dismissal of Phonometrics' complaint for failure to state a claim. Thus, this court remands to the district court for further proceedings.Page 795
COSTS
[16] Each party shall bear its own costs.

[17]REVERSED AND REMANDED.
  1. 1. An electronic solid state long-distance telephone call cost computer apparatus for computing and recording the cost of each long-distance telephone call initiated from a given calling telephone, actuated by the lifting and replacement of the calling telephone to operate switch means coupled to the calling telephone, and further actuated by a call-completion signal generated in the telephone system when a called party answers at a called telephone, the computer apparatus comprising:

    * * *
    call cost register means, including adigital display, for providing asubstantially instantaneousdisplay of cumulative call cost in dollars and cents;


    * * *

    '463 patent, col. 8, ll. 24-43 (emphasis added). ↩