Judge Richard A. Posner, of the U.S. District Court in Northern Illinois, criticized Apple and their attorneys for “frivolous filings” for the company’s ongoing patent dispute with Motorola.
Posner’s words are especially significant considering his influence in the legal world. On top of being an appeals judge, Posner is the most-cited U.S. legal scholar of the 20th century according to Florian Mueller of FOSS Patents.
Mueller made a valiant attempt to collect every Apple-Samsung lawsuit filed in the last year. With more than 50 separate suits between the two companies it’s amazing it took the dispute with Motorola to elicit a response from the vocal judge.
Posner’s comments were in response to a motion from Apple seeking to prevent Motorola Mobility from deposing a certain expert. The details remain under seal but Posner claimed on half of Apple’s motion was “frivolous,” and the other was “untimely.”
According to Mueller Apple drew criticism from Posner because the iPhone maker attempted to use an expert’s wife’s medical condition to block a deposition. Apple then filed a second attempt to block the expert’s deposition only three days later, this time without citing health issue.
"The next such motion, and I shall forbid (Apple) to file any motions without first moving for leave to file," Posner said in his decision.
Source: FOSS Patents [via Apple Insider]
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