Apple Asks for Verdict After Samsung 'Misconduct'

With a major patent trial barely underway, Apple Inc. (IW 1000/48) has asked a judge to rule against Samsung Electronics Co. (IW 1000/12), asserting that lawyers for the South Korean firm improperly disclosed information excluded in court in a bid to sway jurors.

An Apple court document released Thursday said Samsung issued a statement to the press with data excluded from the trial, which began in San Jose, Calif., Monday on patent infringement over smartphones and tablet computers.

"Apple seeks a finding that Samsung and its counsel have engaged in bad-faith litigation misconduct by attempting to prejudice the jury," the motion to Judge Lucy Koh said.

"Samsung apparently believes that it is above the law, and that it -- not this court -- should decide what evidence the jury should see."

According to court documents, Samsung provided media with a statement Tuesday expressing displeasure with the judge's exclusion of evidence.

"Samsung was not allowed to tell the jury the full story and show the pre-iPhone design ... in development at Samsung in 2006, before the iPhone," said the statement from the South Korean firm.

"The excluded evidence would have established beyond doubt that Samsung did not copy the iPhone design. Fundamental Fairness requires that the jury decide the case based on all the evidence."

Apple said in its motion that releasing the statement represented "misconduct" because it could influence the jury.

"Samsung already has been sanctioned four times in this case for discovery abuses," Apple's motion said.

"Most recently, Samsung was sanctioned for destroying evidence. Litigation misconduct is apparently a part of Samsung's litigation strategy -- and limited sanctions have not deterred Samsung from such misconduct."