Eastern District of Virginia: The Rocket Docket


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Litigation | EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA: THE ROCKET DOCKET

Wiley Rein's Rocket Docket team, composed of our most experienced litigators, is notable for both is size and its demonstrated ability in assisting clients to successfully navigate through the Eastern District of Virginia's fabled Rocket Docket-the fastest federal trial docket in the country for complex commercial cases. The average Rocket Docket case has a life expectancy of only eight months from filing to trial, and the court strictly enforces a 90 to 120-day discovery period. Continuances are rare, if not non-existent, and motions are heard weekly to ensure speedy resolution. Its "business friendly" reputation adds to the appeal of this most efficient court.

Our litigators possess in-depth knowledge of the Rocket Docket and its unusual rules and predilections, and use it to our clients' advantage, in matters ranging from the BlackBerry patent matter to work done for creditors in the US Airways bankruptcy, the largest chapter 11 case filed in the Eastern District of Virginia. For those plaintiffs able to file in the Eastern District of Virginia, the reputation of the court alone can help resolve significant cases very quickly. Because of the speed with which this court dispenses justice, it has become an especially advantageous venue for patent cases. For other business litigants who seek rapid determination of their rights as well, this court is often an attractive forum in which to be a plaintiff. For defendants, this court can pose both pitfalls and opportunities. Wiley Rein has both vast experience and a proven track record in this court.

Selected representative matters include:

Secured, on behalf of client NTP Inc., a $612.5 million patent infringement settlement with Research in Motion Ltd. (RIM), the maker of BlackBerry wireless email devices. The settlement, one of the largest ever of its kind, resolved a fiercely contested, high-profile patent case stemming from a 2002 jury trial in which we successful argued that RIM's core BlackBerry line of wireless email products, software and services willfully infringed NTP patents.
Successfully represented client in federal court in Richmond, obtaining dismissal of a ten-count complaint filed by Cavalier Telephone LLC, a competitive carrier in Virginia. The court dismissed the entire complaint, including antitrust, false advertising and Communications Act claims (Cavalier Telephone, LLC v. Verizon Virginia Inc., 208 F. Supp. 2d 608 (E.D. Va. 2002), aff'd, 330 F.3d 176 (4th Cir. 2003), cert. denied, (124 S. Ct. 1144 (2004)).
Represented major creditors in both US Airways chapter 11 cases, the largest chapter 11 cases ever filed in the Eastern District of Virginia (In re US Airways Group, Inc., et al., Case No. 02-83984-SSM (Bankr. E.D. Va. 2002) and In re US Airways Group, Inc., et al., Case No. 04-13819-SSM (Bankr. E.D. Va. 2004)).
Represented a plaintiff in trademark action. (Talent Plus, Inc. v. Pers. Decisions Int'l Corp., Civil Action No. 03-239 (E.D. Va. 2003)).
Successfully represented Spirit Airlines, Inc. in a cybersquatting action. On September 30, 2003, the court ruled in favor of our client Spirit Airlines, Inc., granting it control of the Internet domain name "spiritairlines.com" and awarding $100,000 in damages.
Served as Liquidating Trustee of Fairchild Dornier Aviation of North America, successfully liquidating the American affiliate of this major aviation enterprise. Firm attorneys brought dozens of avoidance actions and other litigation that have resulted in the realization of millions of dollars of additional value to the bankruptcy estate (In re Dornier Aviation of (North America) Inc., Case No. 02-82003-SSM (Bankr. E.D. Va 2002)).
Favorably settled a claim for unpaid commissions and a counterclaim for violation of a non-compete agreement. (Terry v. Sytel, Inc., Civil Action No. 02-784 (E.D. Va. 2002)).
Obtained a judgment against infringers of client's intellectual property rights in domain name dispute, including emergency injunctive relief to halt the use of pornography on websites accessed by children. (Ty, Inc. v. virtualbeaniebabies.com, Civil Action No. 01-1701 (E.D. Va. 2002)).
Prevailed on claims involving attempted domestication of Canadian judgments in which a court granted summary judgment before trial. On appeal to the Fourth Circuit, the victory was affirmed in part and certified in part to the Virginia Supreme Court, after which the case settled very favorably to our client. (Jaffe v. Accredited Cas. & Sur. Co., Civil Action No. 00-1913 (E.D. Va. 2002), aff'd in part and certified in part, 294 F.3d 584 (4th Cir. 2002)).
Successfully defended a client regarding an affinity marketing arrangement that was terminated. (Memberdrive.com, Inc. v. HRB Mgmt., Inc. Civil Action No. 02-829 (E.D. Va. 2002)).
Represented Genesis Insurance Co. when it intervened to protect its interests in a shareholder action. (Andrews v. Primus Telecom Group, Civil Action No. 01-956 (E.D. Va. 2002)).
Successfully settled a suit involving race and sex discrimination. (Alexander v. Visa U.S.A./Inovant, Inc, Case No. 1:02-CV-01135 (E.D. Va. 2002)).
Served as chapter 7 trustee in the Computer Learning Centers, Inc. case, successfully liquidating 25 schools in 10 states and raising $30,000,000 to benefit more than 9,000 mostly consumer and employee creditors in the largest and most complex chapter 7 case ever to be filed in the Eastern District of Virginia. (In re Computer Learning Centers, Inc., Case No. 01-80096-SSM (Bankr. E.D. Va. 2001)).
Obtained a favorable settlement in an in rem Complaint under the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act. (Westvaco Corp. v. Meadwestvaco.net, Civil Action No. 01-1404 (E.D. Va. 2001)).
Litigated what is believed to be the first domain name cybersquatting case to go to trial under the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act, making new law on several issues including whether bad faith is a required element of an in rem ACPA claim. The case involved claims of trademark infringement, unfair competition and dilution. (Harrods, Ltd. v. Sixty Internet Domain Names, 110 F. Supp. 2d 420 (E.D. Va. 2000)).
Favorably settled a suit involving the Family and Medical Leave Act. (Saunders v. Document Mgmt. Indus. Ass'n, Civil Action No. 00-1193 (E.D. Va. 2000)).
Protected a client's rights in a trademark infringement, dilution and unfair competition action, resulting in a favorable consent order entered by the court. (Mars, Inc. v. NATCO Sales & Mktg., Inc., Civil Action No. 99-730 (E.D. Va. 1999)).
Favorably settled a suit regarding breach of contract. (Elliott v. Gambro Healthcare, Inc., Case No. 2:99-CV-1029 (E.D. Va. 1999)).
Successfully pursued a Declaratory Judgment Action against the California holder of a trademark after a client's receipt of a "cease and desist" letter in Virginia. The Court granted our motion for summary judgment, resulting in the extinguishment of the opposition's trademark. The case involved claims of trademark infringement, anti-dilution, fictitious name and unfair competition. (FCW Gov't Tech. Group, Inc. v. GMW Communications, Inc., Civil Action No. 97-2089 (E.D. Va. 1998)).
Obtained a defendant's jury verdict on all counts in a hotly contested Title VII case brought by a highly paid manager.(Phillips v. Telos Corp., Civil Action No. 95-897 (E.D. Va. 1996)).