Google in on the Tiffany v. eBay fray

February 10, 2007 in Google, Tiffany + Co., eBay, litigation

A little digging revealed that Google entered the Tiffany v. eBay fray as an interested party on the side of eBay. Google attorney Ashok Ramani, partner at San Francisco litigation boutique Keker & Van Nest, applied to practice in New York State on the case (pro hac vice). Court approval of his involvement and admittance to practice law in New York is below. As is shown in the time line below, the case was referred to a magistrate court judge for settlement negotiations on 11/7/06 and the parties had a conference call with the magistrate on 12/20/06. Maybe this is standard puffery to get in good graces with the court? [Edit: turns out it is required] Strangely, the one news source that picked up on the settlement referral was this story in Women’s Wear Daily. This is a bit bizarre in light of the press coverage the case got in 2004 when it was initiated and has received intermittently since. [Edit: not bizarre at all - every civil suit in SDNY that is seeking monetary damages must go through settlement negotiations]. No news sources reported on Ashok Ramani’s involvement in the litigation.

  1. 6/18/04 COMPLAINT against eBay Inc. filed by Tiffany (NJ) Inc., Tiffany and Company
  2. 6/18/04 SUMMONS ISSUED as to eBay Inc.
  3. 7/15/04 AMENDED COMPLAINT filed by Tiffany (NJ) Inc., Tiffany and Company.
  4. 10/1/04 ANSWER to Amended Complaint with JURY DEMAND filed by eBay Inc.
  5. 8/11/05 MOTION to Amend/Correct Answer to Amended Complaint filed by eBay Inc.
  6. 11/3/05 NOTICE OF CASE REASSIGNMENT to Judge Kenneth M. Karas. Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald no longer assigned to the case.
  7. 3/31/06 ORDER denying 14 Motion to Amend/Correct Answer.
  8. 4/14/06 MOTION for Ashok Ramani to Appear Pro Hac Vice. Document filed by Google, Inc.
  9. 5/4/06 STIPULATION AND ORDER; that the trial of this case shall be by the court sitting without a jury.
  10. 5/11/06 ORDER granting Motion for Ashok Ramani to Appear Pro Hac Vice.
  11. 11/6/06 Trial will begin on 5/14/07. Plntfs’ response to motion in limine must be submitted no later than
  12. 11/20/06 Deft’s reply is due no later than 12/15/06.
  13. 11/7/06 ORDER REFERRING CASE TO MAGISTRATE JUDGE. Order that case be referred to the Clerk of Court for assignment to a Magistrate Judge for Settlement. Referred to Magistrate Judge James C. Francis.
  14. 11/20/06 OPPOSITION BRIEF TO MOTION IN LIMINE filed by Tiffany
  15. 12/15/06 REPLY MEMORANDUM OF LAW in Support re: MOTION in Limine filed by eBay Inc.
  16. 12/20/06 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge James C. Francis : Telephone Conference held on 12/20/2006

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