Apple has Samsung suit trial date expedited

Apple continued a string of wins against Samsung in its legal battles by speeding up the trial date for its core lawsuit against Samsung in the US. The Northern District of California court issued an order (below) issued an order setting the trial for July 30, 2012. While half a year later than the February 2012 date Apple had wanted, it would be much earlier than the March 2013 Samsung had suggested by targeting the median date for trial starts.

For the iPhone maker, the more favorable date was part of a rally after Judge Lucy Koh denied attempts to 'streamline' the case by having Samsung's newly included counterclaims broken out. Apple had already been shot down in an attempt to speed up the overall process.

Samsung also just recently won the exit of potentially conflicting lawyers. The Korean company had been alarmed after it learned that some attorneys from Bridges & Mavrakakis representing Apple had recently been involved in supporting Samsung, possibly leading to them having inside knowledge of Samsung's workings that could be used in Apple's case.

The advantage to Apple should come in the scope of the trial as well as the timing. Apple is making a large number of claims and is facing extra claims from Samsung; the mid-2012 date gives Samsung less time to prepare its defense. With 18 other cases active around the world, the schedule raises the likelihood that Apple will have a major US verdict against Samsung before other cases complete and risk handing any wins to Samsung. [via Florian Mueller]

By Electronista Staff